AT&T Williams returns to Moscow

AT&T Williams returned to Moscow on Sunday 19 July for the second successive Moscow City Racing event to take part in the Russian capital. Together with McLaren and Red Bull and a variety of other high octane bikes and cars, the team once again stormed the streets of one of the most historic cities in the world as Kazuki Nakajima drove his 2007 FW29 on several demonstration runs around the 4.5km temporary street circuit. The spectacular backdrop incorporated numerous iconic landmarks including the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil’s cathedral.

This year’s Moscow City Racing surpassed the success of its debut year with this year’s event proving even more popular among the Russian fans as spectators lined the streets and packed the grandstand to witness one of the most spectacular motorsport demonstrations of the year. Following in Nico Rosberg’s tyre treads who represented the team last year in Moscow, Kazuki Nakajima covered seven laps of the track in the 2007 FW29, wowing the crowd with roaring engines, screeching rubber while closing the show with some spectular doughnuts and burn outs.

The team also used the opportunity to promote the forthcoming Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, which Russia will host for the very first time in November this year. The team’s race car carried the conference’s identity as part of AT&T Williams race car livery, together with the Make Roads Safe logo.

Williams F1 has identified road safety as one of three areas where it can and will contribute more broadly to society. The team is working closely with the FIA Foundation and the Commission for Global Road Safety to help communicate and motivate road safety initiatives. The FIA Foundation, originally endowed by the FIA with $300 million from its Formula One television rights, has been a prime mover in calling for concerted and pan-national action on road safety through its Make Roads Safe campaign. Formula One offers many examples of good practice in relation to injury prevention. Despite driving at high speed and in a competitive context, accidents and injuries in Formula One are by comparison, rare, thanks to a highly developed preventative safety environment.

Of the event, Kazuki commented, “It was a really great experience to be in Moscow, and fantastic to see that lots of people came to watch us. I think that shows a lot of potential for a future Grand Prix to be hosted by Russia. I want to thank everyone who made this event possible, it’s definitely something I’ll never forget.”

Frank Williams, Team Principal of the AT&T Williams team who was in Moscow for the demonstration, said, “It was a pleasure to be back in Moscow. The circuit is very good for its purpose in exposing the speed, noise and fury of Formula One cars. To be able to run our cars alongside the Kremlin is a unique and unforgettable experience and this is an outstanding achievement for Moscow and all of its citizens. This was the second year that the team has performed for the benefit of the Russian public in Moscow and we hope we will be invited back next year.”