WesBank Street Race in Soweto – Details & Video

WesBank will be holding a Street Racing event in Soweto on the 19th, and to get everyone hyped up they have created a short video.

We have included it below, check it out.

Also we’ve included the press release for the event:

The streets of Soweto are set to come alive on the 19th of July as the 2009 WesBank Street Race, Soweto gears into action. WesBank, in partnership with the City of Johannesburg and Motorsport South Africa, will play host to this motorsport spectacular that is set to gather massive crowds from Soweto.

The WesBank Street Race, Soweto is the pinnacle event on the 2009 WesBank Super Series National Circuit Racing calendar and the first street race in a township

WesBank is the official sponsor of the WesBank Super Series and has been involved in Motorsport for more than 25 years.

According to George Nyabadza, General Manager Marketing at WesBank, “We have learned valuable lessons from last year’s launch event in November and will use the knowledge to deliver an even bigger and better event to the people of Soweto.”

An improvement on last year’s launch event is the track. The 900m track along Chris Hani Road (former Old Potch Road) will include an L-Shaped extension into Nicholas Street extending the track to 2,2 km. In addition yellow, water-filled barriers will provide improved track safety.

The race will officially start at 12h00 and entrance to the event is free.

“In order to accommodate all the spectators in 2009, we will put up grandstands that will seat 8000 spectators and there will be ample public parking facilities available,” says Nyabadza.

The participating categories for the day will include the WesBank V8 Supercars, Interfile Superbikes (1000 cc) and Supersport (600cc), Bridgestone Production Cars, Formula Volkswagens and Engen VW Cups. Each category will have 12 high quality entries.

The WesBank Street Race in Soweto will showcase some of the leading racing drivers in SA. Heroes like, Hennie Groenewald, WesBank V8 Supercar champion, Interfile Superbike and Supersport legend Sheridan Morais, Gary Formato former Bridgestone Production Car champion and Tschops Sipuka will entertain the residents of Soweto.

The 2009 WesBank Street Race will consist of Exhibition Parades and Time Trials per category, spectator engagement and a celebrity blacklist. The fastest lap will be awarded the WesBank Street Race, Soweto Trophy.

Chris Hani road will be closed down from 6h00 on Sunday 19th of July to prepare the road for the race, however clear road closure signs will be mounted two weeks prior to the race indicating the alternative routes to be followed. Furthermore, to minimise the inconvenience to the residents of Power Park and the general community, a temporary pedestrian bridge will be erected for easy access to surrounding shops and homes.

Encouragingly the community of Soweto will benefit from the race with the creation of temporary employment as 70% of the contract workforce for the event will be local residents from Soweto. This will also include local vendors who have been allocated a special area on the day to sell and display local delicacies and crafts.

In an effort to grow motorsport in disadvantaged communities and establish a legacy for motorsport in the township, WesBank, the Retail Motor Industry, Motorsport South Africa, and The City of Johannesburg will establish a motorsport skills academy.

The Motorsport Academy will provide opportunities for school leavers who have an interest in a career in motorsport to receive the required technical skills training. The launch event in November 2008 inspired four young Sowetans to enquire about opportunities within this thrilling sport. These youngsters were given the opportunity during the A1 Grand Prix earlier this year and shadowed the Clerk of Course as well as the Course Secretary getting first hand experience on what it takes to host an International Racing Event.

To show their commitment to making a sustainable difference in disadvantaged communities, WesBank will be donating 5 natural food garden starter packs as well as 200 trees to schools in Soweto.

In commemoration of Mandela Day on the 18th of July, WesBank Volunteers and its partners will help clean-up the area around Orlando Dam.

“The magic of this motoring spectacular is in the legacy that will be left behind” says Nyabadza.