Despite bids to bring the sport back to a street circuit in Cape Town, F1 returned to South Africa nearly 1500 kilometres away in Johannesburg, as Ferrari put on a demonstration run around Soccer City in the FNB Precinct of Johannesburg on Saturday, 15 February, for the launch of Shell V-Power Nitro+, the latest in the oil giant’s line of high-tech fuels.
Excitement and spectacle were the order of the day as the Scuderia returned to South Africa for its first street show of 2014. Featuring a 2009-spec F60 with test driver Marc Gene at the wheel, the Soweto suburb played host to the launch of Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuel onto the South African market.
A 1.48km ‘track’ allowed Gene to put on a show either side of lunch, completing several laps and thrilling the crowd with drag starts and breathtaking slides, all accompanied by the sound of the car’s eight-cylinder engine, running at over 17,000 rpm.
Cementing ongoing ties with Shell, the Formula 1 car was filled at a conventional Shell filling station with new Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuel after which it completed several laps of the temporary street circuit, including a display of simulated pit stops by the F1 Clienti crew to give the public an idea of just how quick and involving pit stops can be.
In the break between F1 runs, a parade of road-going Ferraris – organised by South African importer Viglietti – was led by a 458 Italia, again driven by Gene. The Southern Equitorial Ferrari Automobili Club (SEFAC) said the South African Ferrari family has grown in leaps and bounds since the very first Ferrari was imported in 1957. Today, SEFAC is the South African home to over 430 passionate and enthusiastic Ferrari owners with modren classics such as Ferrari 458 Spider, F12 berlinetta, 612 Scaglietti, 599 GTO, F430 Scuderia Spider 16M and California.
“That was a great day,” Gene told the Ferrari website, “It’s always fun to bring an F1 car up close to the people, which is something that never happens at a grand prix. I am pleased to have been able to do this for the South African people, especially the youngest ones, to show them the excitement of these types of car that haven’t been seen in this country for a while.”
Thousands of spectators turned out for the event, starved of F1 action in South Africa since 1993, when Alain Prost claimed victory in the last grand prix at Kyalami. Since then, there have been rumours of a replacement, notably on the streets of Cape Town, without the country actually returning to the calendar.
Bernie Ecclestone has made no secret of his desire to return F1 to South Africa, and was thought to have been particularly enamoured by Cape Town’s bid. As long ago as 2011, the Cape Town Grand Prix Bid Company – which itself was founded by local man Igshaan Amlay in 2007 following a 12 year research and development project – presented a 5.3km circuit which skirted recognisable landmarks such as Table Mountain, Cape Town Stadium, Table Bay Harbour and the V&A Waterfront. However, concerns about the cost of hosting an F1 event, added the obvious investment in infrastructure, caused the plans to be put on hold.
Even though Ecclestone claimed to have been offered an alternative to run on the streets of Durban, South Africa remains without a grand prix, leaving its people to have their appetite sated by demonstrations such as that put on by Ferrari at the weekend.
Ferrari launches the exotic new California T
The Pininfarina-designed California is the oldest member of the Ferrari family. The iconic car maker will soon launch the 2014 Ferrari California T. The model is known to epitomise elegance, sportiness, versatility and exclusivity: characteristics that have distinguished every California model since the 1950s.
The California T boasts striking standards of innovation while retaining signature features such as the successful 2+ concept, a refined cabin and, of course, the retractable hard top (RHT) which transforms it from a chic coupé into a sleekly sophisticated spider in a mere 14 seconds.
Maranello’s engineers have created an entirely new 8-cylinder turbo engine which delivers absolutely superb levels of performance, blistering pick-up and the most exhilarating soundtrack any turbo has ever yielded.
This is also the first time virtually zero turbo lag has been achieved on an engine of this type, guaranteeing instantaneous response to commands and, as with naturally-aspirated power units, a torque curve that increases constantly across the rev range thanks to Variable Boost Management.
The direct-injection, 3855 cc turbo 8-cylinder is mounted very low in the chassis in a mid-front position and delivers 560 cv at 7500 rpm, which translates into a specific power output of 145 cv/l – the highest in its category – as along with maximum torque of 755 Nm. Figures that give the California T extraordinary acceleration over the 0 to 100 km/h sprint which it covers in just 3.6 seconds.
As in Formula 1 this season, a turbo is used to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Compared to the outgoing model, fuel consumption is down by around 15%* despite 70 cv more power and a 49% increase in torque. Emissions are down to 250 g/km over the combined cycle which equates to a 20% reduction in the CO2/cv ratio (0.44 g/cv). The California T’s engine also benefits from several other solutions used on the single-seater, not least compact, very low inertia twin-scroll turbines to ensure ultra-sharp throttle response.
The California T will be launched at the Geneva Motor show in March. To admire the gorgeous 2014 model visit www.ferrari.com for photos and news.
Technical Specifications
Engine
Type direct-injection 90° V8
Total displacement 3,855 cc
Maximum power
412 kW (560 cv) at 7500 rpm
Maximum torque
755 Nm (77 kgm) at 4750 rpm
Performance
0-100 km/h 3.6 s
Fuel Consumption*
10.5 l/100 km
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