Formula I fun

[Plex]

Thousands lined the one-kilometre course from the Warrens Roundabout to Redmans Village, St Thomas, to get a glimpse of Marc Gene at the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car as petroleum giant Shell, through local agents SOL Barbados, gave a public launch of their new fuel, V-Power, yesterday.

From dawn, Barbados' motorsport-loving fans began taking every vantage point possible on the strip for the two-hour once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of seeing a Ferrari Formula 1 car under racing conditions in Barbados.

And test driver Marc Gene did not disappoint as he mastered the slippery road conditions to reach aspeed of 270 kilometres per hour (KPM) on the one-kilometre course.

"The surface was slippery and there was not much grip, but as we adjusted suspension settings I
was able to show the public the power of the Shell V-Power gasolene on the strip," Gene told NATIONSPORT yesterday.

However, he said it was great and he was happy to be part of the initiative, but yet amazed at the turnout of the public.

"I never thought they had so many people on the island and that they were so familiar with Ferrari . . . it was great, but with no run-off areas like we are used to on a racing circuit, it was a strange feeling, but with caution became a great feeling as the session progressed," Gene declared.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Gline Clarke, who was among the spectators, said he was pleased with the way things went and pointed out that Government was always willing to work with the public sector in bringing initiatives to the public.

The minister said that with anything new there would always be pockets of adversity, but the benefits which could accrue to Barbados from such an undertaking were enormous.

"For a little discomfort it was a small price when hedged against the benefits of the undertaking. The entire event was well executed and I would like to thank the police, the marshals and all who contributed to making this exercise the success it was," Clarke explained.

He said too that motorsport was the largest spectator sport and said Government would be working hand-in-hand with private sector interests to give it the assistance it deserves.

Clarke said the acceleration of the car and the 'do-nuts' executed by Gene at the end of the first session, stood out in his mind as the high-point of the morning's proceedings.

"No problems," was the response from Superintendent Wingrove Beckles of the Royal Barbados Police Force who had responsibility for law and order during the event.

"We had no problems from the public . . . they knew what was required of them and for the most part they complied with the guidelines. It was good and the general public appeared to have enjoyed the excitement provided by the presence of Formula 1 cars in Barbados."

Chairman of SOL (simpson Oil Limited) Barbados, Kyffin Simpson, too was also in an upbeat mood at the end of the entire exercise and said he was happy to see everyone happy and thanked God for good weather and an incident-free event.

"I want to thank Ferrari and their team, the police and all who helped to make the launch of Shell V-Power possibile. It was good and everything went well," Simpson added.

Source: http://www.nationnews.com/story/305209844324814.php