Desert trip for the Renault team
Imagine the scene… two Renault F1 cars in the middle of the desert, on the outskirts of Dubai. Endless sand dunes… We are about an hour’s drive from downtown Dubai and the last thing you would expect to see are two of the fastest cars in the world. Romain Grosjean, Renault’s third driver, and Adam […]
Imagine the scene… two Renault F1 cars in the middle of the desert, on the outskirts of Dubai. Endless sand dunes… We are about an hour’s drive from downtown Dubai and the last thing you would expect to see are two of the fastest cars in the world. Romain Grosjean, Renault’s third driver, and Adam Kahn, Renault Roadshow driver, are behind the wheels of the single-seaters.
They are about to write a page of history: they will be the first to fly a
Formula 1 in the desert. The scene of this unique demonstration takes place on a stretch of asphalt, a highway that runs through the sand dunes.
Aside from the desert, there are few signs of life in this austere environment. Shortly before the demonstration begins, a herd of wild camels crosses the highway, intrigued by the noise and bright colors of the Renault F1 Roadshow. Their curiosity doesn’t last long, and the herd calmly moves on.
Romain Grosjean and Adam Kahn get into their R28 for this unique demonstration. The single-seaters quickly disappear from view and the V8 engine roars in the distance, in the middle of the desert. The scene is almost surreal.
« Driving the R28 in the desert is a unique experience, and it has never been done before, » exclaimed Romain Grosjean as he stepped out of the cockpit of the single-seater.
Adam Kahn, equally delighted, said: « This is my first experience as a Roadshow driver and what a chance to start here in Dubai. Apart from that…
A little dust gone, the surface was smooth and flat, allowing us to go full speed. I really enjoyed it!
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA Vice President for Sport, was also at the wheel of the R28. A multiple rally champion, 14-time Middle East Rally champion, and a car enthusiast, he is no stranger to high-performance cars.
This opportunity to drive the R28 really impressed Mohamed: « I am fortunate to own a number of sports cars, but they cannot be compared to the incredible power of this Formula 1 car. I am very impressed. It’s great that Renault came to Dubai for this Roadshow, it’s a fabulous event. I thank them for giving me the chance to drive the single-seater. »
According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team
