MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina: F1 burns rubber on Bs. Aires 9 de Julio Avenue

David Coulthard on front 'Casa Rosada'

In an splendid sunny afternoon, Scottish Formula One driver David Coulthard raced his Red Bull yesterday on the 9 de Julio Avenue in front of 80,000 fans who attended the free show downtown to watch a Formula One car in action for the first time in 10 years.

Coulthard drove his Red Bull the same he used during the 2006 season on a street circuit assembled on the downtown avenue from Marcelo T. de Alvear street to Corrientes Avenue, at the foot of the Obelisk the Buenos Aires city emblem. Thousands of fans gathered along the avenue to hear the roaring engine of Coulthard's car, some even climbing trees and traffic lights in order to get a better view probably not as good as the neighbours watching from the buildings' balconies. Several families attended with their children to show them the experience of watching a Formula One car in action. It was the first time in 10 years that a Formula One car raced in Buenos Aires, as the last Argentine Grand Prix was held in the Oscar y Juan Gálvez circuit in 1998, before being pulled out of the Formula One calendar. Around noon, some clouds worried both fans and organizers about the possibility of rain, but by 3pm when Coulthard was starting his engine a bright sun shone to make the most of a unique show, as the Red Bull driver not only raced along the circuit but also did several spins on the track for fans to enjoy. The Scot raced the street circuit in four series of three or four laps each, as the Red Bull's engine needs to be cooled down when racing in such short circuits because it does not get the necessary airflow to refrigerate especially when performing such pirouettes. During one of the intervals, two tango couples danced to the typical Argentine music to entertain the crowd. When Coulthard went back to the track, he even stopped by the couples who danced at the side of the car while the driver accelerated. Before the last spin, a mechanic gave Coulthard an Argentine flag and the Scot drove around the circuit waving to the fans. "I have really good memories of Argentina, as my first pole position in Formula One was here in Buenos Aires back in 1995," Coulthard told a presenter as soon as he stepped out of his car. "It is an honour to race in Argentina, a country with such a big tradition in motor racing 'I always enjoyed coming down here to participate in the Grand Prix,' added the Scot. Next Sunday, Coulthard will race his last Grand Prix in Interlagos, Brazil, as he announced his retirement from Formula One after the current season. The 37-year-old Scot 'currently the oldest driver in the Formula One championship' had won 13 races in 15 years racing in Formula One, and clinched 12 pole positions in his career. By Pablo Krause Buenos Aires HeraldPictures by Gerardo Horovitz (LN)

Categories: Tourism, Argentina.

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