:: 2008 Formula 1 ING Australian Grand PrixBy: Carmine Pascuzzi; photos by Matt DellerThe most eagerly anticipated Formula one season in years, the return of the V8 Supercars and a concert by rock legends KISS have combined to create strong early sales for the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix. General admission ticket sales are significantly higher than at the corresponding time for the last two years. Tickets to the March 13-16 event, which are frozen at 2007 prices, are selling at levels not seen since the ten year celebrations of the Grand Prix in 2005. GP Chief Executive, Drew Ward, in his first year at the helm, is pleased that so many Australians are embracing this year’s Grand Prix and its host of new features. “I’m just delighted that people like the many new innovations we’ve introduced to this year’s Grand Prix and are saying they want to be a part of it. Our team has been working hard to make sure that both the on-track and off-track entertainment offering at Albert Park will be the best in the event’s thirteen year history." Since it was first held in 1996, the Melbourne race has had the honour of opening the international Formula One season, except for 2006 when the race date was moved to make way for the Commonwealth Games. The 2007 season went down as one of the most thrilling ever, with a three-way race for the title that ended with Ferrari‘s Kimi Raikkonen edging McLaren team-mates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in the tightest race for the drivers’ championship in 21 years. A spying scandal that played out like a Hollywood smash hit rocked the sporting world and led to a record US $100 million fine being imposed on McLaren for allegedly obtaining and using confidential data from Ferrari. This has set the scene for a blockbuster season-opener in just seven weeks’ time when the eyes of the world will turn to Albert Park. The F1 action will be complemented by a world-class support category line-up headlined by the V8 Supercars - arguably the strongest touring car category in the world. V8s will create the ultimate showdown between Holden and Ford - The V8 Supercars Manufacturers’ Challenge. The Celebrity Challenge race has had a complete overhaul and this year there will be more than twenty sporting legends take to the track in the all-new Fiat 500. After stellar football careers, AFL superstars Nathan Buckley, Glenn Archer and Luke Darcy will be jostling for pole position in this year’s celebrity race. They’ll be joined by Wallaby Ben Tune and women’s tennis stalwart, Nicole Pratt, together with iconic figures from cricket, netball, surfing and a range of other sports – all to be announced in the coming weeks. In another first for the GP, all kids aged 12 and under will be admitted FREE of charge EVERY DAY of the event in general admission, when accompanied by a paying adult. Mr Ward said, “We’ve significantly increased the range of activities for kids - young and old – once they get to Albert Park. You’ll see more rides, more simulators, more displays and more roving entertainers than ever before. All of the race paddocks, with the exception of the F1 Paddock, will be open to the public. We really want to enhance the spectator experience at the event to enable people to get as close to the action as possible. What we’re saying is come and have your photo taken next to the car, meet the driver and chat to the mechanics. That sort of interaction is important.” With adult tickets starting at just $39 for Thursday, up to just $99 for Sunday, and no charge for kids 12 and under, the Grand Prix represents exceptional value for money. The four-day carnival will culminate in a spectacular two-hour KISS concert, FREE for all race-goers at the circuit on Sunday, March 16. For bookings or more information, visit the official website or call Ticketek on 131 931. ********************************************************** **The Search to find Australia’s next F1 driver** The search is on to find Australia’s next F1 driver with budding racers invited to compete in go-kart time trials at the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix. In a brand new innovation for the March 13-16 event, the largest temporary go-kart track in Australia will be assembled at Albert Park. Grand Prix ticket holders will have the chance to hit the track in a special “Road to F1” search designed to unearth the country’s best new racing talent. It will be the first time that go karts have been featured at the Grand Prix as an attraction open to the public. With kids aged 12 and under granted free admission to the GP when accompanied by a paying adult, the go-kart track will provide even more entertainment for them to enjoy on circuit – at no extra cost to parents. The massive track infrastructure will be provided by Melbourne’s leading go-kart venue, Sunshine based Ace Karts, and is the latest of a series of new features aimed at offering spectators at the Grand Prix more entertainment than ever before. Drew Ward, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, is encouraging all budding go karters to register for the chance to showcase their talents at the country’s premier motor sport event. “Some of the world’s best drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, made their start in go karting,” said Mr Ward. If you reckon you’ve got what it takes, we invite you to show your stuff at The “Road to F1” promotion will feature a series of heats in a range of age brackets: 7 – 11 years; 12 – 15; 16 – 17; and 18 years +. Participants will aim to set the fastest lap time, with winners in each age group receiving a tour of the F1 garages, entry into a special motor sport development camp and other great prizes. In addition, a special celebrity go kart challenge will be staged on Saturday, March 15 featuring leading personalities. The track will be erected on Aquatic Drive (the car park area leading to The Point restaurant) and will cover an area of around 4,500 square metres. The search for Australia’s next Formula One driver is being run is being run in conjunction with the Confederation of Australian Motor Sports (CAMS). ***************************************************** **New format for 2008 Grand Prix Rally - Registrations now open** The Grand Prix Rally, an official support event to the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix, is back in a brand new format and registrations are now open. The Rally starts in Adelaide on Sunday, March 9, and concludes at the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Thursday, March 13. This exciting event follows the the heritage of the original Grand Prix rally era which was run from Melbourne to Adelaide but is now run in reverse, from Adelaide to Melbourne. Register your entry now to re-live the glory days, when the Grand Prix Rally was a real challenge and catered for a wide variety of competitors, when the rally crossed two states and showcased the Formula One race, when it was a privilege to have your entry accepted, when personalities flocked to compete and when people planned their whole year around the great event. The Rally mirrors the early years with overnight stops in the Barossa, Mildura, Shepparton and Geelong before concluding in Melbourne for three action-packed days at the track. The event offers first-class functions and social activities, including for the first time a competitor lounge at the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix track with the experience and thrill of a lap of the track at the Formula One race in Melbourne. Two passes into the great race are included with each vehicle entry. The itinerary includes: Start in Adelaide on Sunday, March 9 - with scrutineering and a welcome function on Saturday, March 8 in Adelaide. A great mix of navigation, time trial, auto tests, circuit and other various driver competitions on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – with exciting social functions along the way. Black Tie Gala Dinner on Friday, March 14 - two tickets per vehicle entry. For the first time a competitor lounge at the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix track with the experience and thrill of a lap of the track at the Formula One race in Melbourne - two passes into the great race are included per vehicle entry. The cost of the Rally is $3995 per vehicle which includes both driver and navigator, additional crew are $500 each, and additional Gala Dinner tickets at $150 per person. For more information or to register please visit the official website ************************************************************** Women’s Surfing World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore, will swap her surfboard for the all new Fiat 500 in the Celebrity Challenge race at the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix. The girl they call “Happy Gilmore” joins an all-star list that now features: Luke Darcy – 226-game Aussie Rules champion with the Western Bulldogs; All Australian team (2002); Charles Sutton Medal (Western Bulldogs Best & Fairest – 2001). Glenn Archer – 311-game Aussie Rules hero with the Kangaroos (North Melbourne); Players’ Choice Shinboner (selected as the player most epitomizing the heart and soul of the Kangaroos); Norm Smith Medallist (1996); All Australian team (1996, 1998, 2002) Ben Tune - Australian Rugby Union winger; member of 1999 World Cup winning Wallaby squad. Nicole Pratt – icon of women’s tennis; Australian Federation Cup team (1998 – 2007); fourth round Australian Open (2003 – first Australian woman to reach the fourth round in ten years); second round Sydney Olympics (2000); third round Athens Olympics (2004) All drivers will take to the wheel of the Fiat 500, winner of 2008 European Car of the Year. Gilmore, who turned 20 just days ago, is the first rookie in the history of the sport to take the world title. She joins fellow Queenslander Mick Fanning as the world surfing champion for 2007. ********************************************************* Australian cricket legend, Michael Slater, is the latest sporting hero to sign on for the Celebrity Challenge race at the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix. The man who occupied the top of the Australian test batting order for close to a decade will join an all-star list that now features AFL superstars, Nathan Buckley, Glenn Archer and Luke Darcy; Australian Rugby Union winger and member of 1999 World Cup winning Wallaby squad, Ben Tune; women’s tennis icon, Nicole Pratt and reigning Women’s Surfing World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore. “I’m really geared up for the race,” said Slater. “Being a car enthusiast with a love for motor sport, it’s been a dream of mine to have the chance to take a spin on a GP track. I’m really looking forward to improving my driving skills and competing against the other sports people in what is sure to be a very competitive race.” The Celebrity Challenge drivers will battle it out in the first racing version in the world of the all new Fiat 500. ****************************************************************** Powerhouse entertainer Vanessa Amorosi will join KISS as a special musical guest at the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix. The acclaimed Melbourne singer will also perform the Australian national anthem to race goers and a massive worldwide audience before the running of the Formula One race on Sunday, March 16. The singer and her band will then be the special guests playing before KISS at the spectacular concert to close the event on Sunday evening. Vanessa said, “Having raced cars before and being a huge Grand Prix fan, I am excited to be singing the national anthem and to be performing at the post-race Kiss concert.” KISS and Vanessa Amorosi are just two of the big names added to the GP entertainment line-up for 2008. Organisers have also teamed up with Future Entertainment to present Sidetracked - a brand new dance party space at this year's B!G B's Grand Prix. Future Entertainment is behind the hugely successful Summadayze dance party. Sidetracked will feature a top-notch line-up of local and international DJ and music talent including The Cat Empire, Carl Cox, The Potbelleez and Norman J. For bookings or more information, visit here or call Ticketek on 131 931 ****************************************************************** The Australian Grand Prix affiliation with the Miss World franchise continues in 2008, with current Miss World Australia, Caroline Pemberton, confirmed as an ambassador and stylish fixture at all GP events. Caroline will be following in the footsteps of former Miss World Australia, Sabrina Houssami, who was a big hit at last year’s GP. Caroline is coming to Melbourne to use her profile as the reigning Miss World Australia to add a touch of glamour, beauty and sophistication to the country’s premier sporting event, including the Official Welcome, Official Grand Prix Ball and of course all the on-track action. Visitors to this year’s Grand Prix can expect to see Caroline in the paddock, down on pit lane and over at Sidetracked – a dance party featuring Carl Cox, the Cat Empire and The Potbelleez. Sidetracked is presented by Future Entertainment, the people behind Summadayze and the Future Music Festival, featuring two stages of world-class music. “I’m thrilled to be coming to Melbourne for my first Grand Prix,” said Caroline. “To be a part of this truly international event will be fantastic and, as a closet Kiss fan, I can’t wait to see them live in concert. Mark Webber is someone I admire for his charitable work with the Mark Webber Challenge. He has been showing great promise in testing and I will be cheering him on with the rest of the Aussie crowd.” Caroline with be joined by Miss World Poland, Barbara Tatara, who will fly to Oz especially for the GP and is expected to be seen supporting countryman, Robert Kubica, Poland’s only F1 driver. Since being crowned Miss World Australia, Caroline has been busy fulfilling her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ obligations. Her passion for humanitarian work has also led to Caroline’s appointment as: - International Patron for Wakisa – Completing a humanitarian trip to Uganda in July 2007, raising awareness for Wakisa, a pregnancy crisis centre for young women. - Red Cross Ambassador – Raising awareness and funds for the Red Cross to continue its work helping people whose lives have been touched by tragedy or disaster. - Life Education Ambassador – Speaking at schools about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. “Having travelled to some of the poorest places in the world, I believe that we need to see the world as a global community and unite to combat things like poverty, war zone destruction, famine, disease and unnecessary child mortality,” said Caroline. Caroline recently returned from a three week trip to Kenya, working for Kenya Aid, providing medical care and health services in rural villages. A Sydney resident, Caroline has put her university education on hold during her reign as Miss World Australia, however is looking forward to completing her Psychology degree at the University of New South Wales. The ambitious 21 year-old plans to finish her degree and then continue to study a Masters of Neuropsychology abroad. Her interests and hobbies include travelling, rock and ice climbing, acting and hanging out with the kids at Westmead Children’s Hospital. ********************************************************************* Grand Prix Rev-Up Party for Melbourne The sight and sound of a real Formula One car, V8 Supercar drivers and Aussie sporting legends are just part of the line-up at a Grand Prix party to be held next week in Melbourne’s Federation Square. The people of Melbourne and Victoria are invited to a special Grand Prix Rev Up Party at Federation Square on Tuesday, March 11 starting at 5.00pm and proudly supported by the City of Melbourne. BMW Sauber test driver Christian Klien will be interviewed on stage and his race car started up in the Square to give the public a taste of the Grand Prix action that begins next Thursday, March 13. V8 Supercar drivers Mark Winterbottom from the Ford Performance Racing team and Paul Dumbrell, who drives a Holden Commodore VE with the Autobarn Racing Team, will offer their predictions about the new Manufacturers’ Challenge race series. AFL legends Nathan Buckley, Glenn Archer and Luke Darcy, fresh from a day’s driver training in the all-new Fiat 500, will give us their hot tips on who’s showing early form in the Vodafone Celebrity Challenge. Appearance will also be made by other competitors in the Vodafone celebrity Challenge, including cricketer Michael Slater, world champion netball captain Liz Ellis and surfing world champion Stephanie Gilmore. With heaps of merchandise and ticket give-aways from the Grid Girls, it’s the best formula yet for fun in Fed Square! ***************************************************************** Vodafone Australia has signed on as naming sponsor of the celebrity race for the 2008 FORMULA 1 ING Australian Grand Prix. The “Vodafone Celebrity Challenge” will see 26 sporting legends battle it out at Albert Park from March 13-16 in the all-new Fiat 500. The deal provides Vodafone with branding rights on vehicles, driver’ suits and helmets, as well as signage at the Grand Prix. Vodafone will also now be the presenting partner of GPTV – the closed circuit television broadcast screened at Albert Park. The company will also operate a range of interactive displays for race-goers, including its ‘F1 Pit Stop Challenge’, where spectators have the chance to try their hand at changing wheels on an F1 car. Additionally, Vodafone will also provide race content (images, race results, track schedule etc.) via SMS to patrons who register on circuit. The new deal catapults Vodafone into the Grand Prix’s ‘big league’ sponsor suite, with the company now sitting just behind naming rights sponsor, ING, and long-term partner, Qantas, in terms of overall investment in the Event. Drew Ward, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, believes the new affiliation will create many mutual benefits for both parties. “The Grand Prix is one of this country’s most valuable sponsorship properties. Our new partnership provides Vodafone with an unparalleled opportunity to align its business with the glamour, sophistication, cutting-edge technology and meticulous teamwork associated with the country’s premier international sporting event. We are delighted that one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies has chosen to partner with us and we look forward to building on this alliance over the coming years.” Off-track, Vodafone is giving fans the opportunity to get up close to a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car and even take part in a pit stop challenge. The car will be on display in the F1 Experience area. Race-goers will also be able to receive real time race information from Vodafone direct to their mobile phones, including schedules, race data, updates and images of all the on-track action. ************************************************************ 2008 Grammy Award-winning rap artist and Hollywood actor, Common, visited the Red Bull Racing Team in preparation for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. Common also performed at the Red Bull F1 Season Opening Party.
************************************************************ **Pictures from the Grand Prix Reception & Ball** Grand Prix Reception at Government House
Grand Prix Ball at the Crown Palladium
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