| Formula One heads for Joburg |
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| Written by Lesego Madumo | |
| Wednesday, 23 January 2008 | |
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A partnership between the ING Renault F1 team and the Gauteng government will boost Joburg’s ratings as a tourism and sporting destination. 
Renault team drivers show off their skills
THE throb of Formula One cars will again be heard in the streets of Sandton, after the Gauteng provincial government forged a long-term partnership with the ING Renault Formula One team as an impetus to showcase the province as an investment and tourism destination. The partnership had been designed to consolidate the province's position as a home of competitive sport, said Paul Mashatile, the MEC for finance and economic affairs. "[It] presents a lot of spin offs for the province's economy." Speaking to the media from the premier's office on Tuesday, 22 January, Mashatile noted that the partnership would expose Gauteng's young people to motor sports and the opportunities it presented. Under the partnership, a Formula One competition will be held each year that will attract scores of petrol-heads and motor-sport enthusiasts to Joburg. Several workshops and other activities related to the sector will also be hosted to empower young people. "We are very excited about the partnership. We hope that [the F1 events] will attract domestic and international audiences," noted Barbara Creecy, the MEC for sports, arts, culture and recreation. "[This] presents a good opportunity for us to showcase Gauteng's great sporting facilities and to illustrate its ability to become a globally competitive city region." Mashatile said that the partnership presented a viable opportunity for Gauteng to position itself on the international stage. "This partnership will further strengthen our efforts to promote Gauteng as an investment and tourism destination and will consolidate our position as the home of competitive sport." Under the partnership, an ING Renault F1 Roadshow will be hosted every July in Sandton. It is expected to promote tourism to the city and create hundreds of jobs. Held for the first time in 2007, it drew almost 80 000 people to the area. 
Barbara Creecy, MEC for sports, arts, culture and recreation, and Paul Mashatile, MEC for finance and economic affairs, discuss the benefits of hosting the ING Renault Formula One team
"Our involvement in this partnership is informed by our desire to stimulate the competitive sports sector of the provincial economy, which we believe has enormous potential to contribute towards increased tourism, job creation and higher economic growth," Mashatile explained. He was optimistic that the partnership would bring the province closer to its strategic objective of increasing its share of the tourism market to 55 percent. "This partnership will also strengthen ongoing efforts aimed at increasing the amount of time and money that tourists spend in our province and the variety of activities that can be undertaken [here]." He was confident that it would have positive spin-offs "in terms of job creation and growing the provincial economy". It would also go a long way towards strengthening Gauteng's position as a major destination for local and foreign investment. "Through this partnership, we will showcase the event hosting, logistical as well as other capabilities of our province." Mashatile asserted that the province's association with motor racing was aligned with its approach to support the automotive sector as one of its many job-creating sectors. "We note with appreciation that our targeted interventions aimed at supporting the automotive industry in Gauteng continue to receive overwhelming support from the private sector." The partnership also presented an opportunity for young people to be exposed to the world of motor sports and to be empowered. "We will continue to work closely with the Gauteng commission to ensure that our association with motor sports and the Renault F1 team in particular benefits the youth of our province. "We have no doubt that our young people will take advantage of the opportunities provided by this partnership." During the ING Renault F1 Roadshow, the Renault F1 team both races its cars through the streets of Sandton and exhibits them for the public.
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