Motor ace gears up for Belfast
IT is not every day that Belfast can be compared with Monaco.
However, for a short period on Saturday evening, Ulster's capital city will play host to a sight more common with the Mediterranean Principality.
In a one-off occasion, the streets of the city centre will reverberate to the roaring engine noise of a Formula One car, expertly piloted by a former Grand Prix driver.
David Coulthard – who won 13 Formula One races in a career spanning 14 years – is predicted to reach a top speed of up to 170mph on thoroughfares normally used to more stringent restrictions.
The racing ace is scheduled to be under starter's orders at the City Hall front gates, before guiding his gleaming RB6 car via Donegall Square East, Wellington Place, Donegall Square North and Chichester Street. The quick-thrill ride under the cover of darkness – expected to last for 30 minutes – will involve a series of laps of the designated area.
As part of the Red Bull City Limits challenge, Scottish-born Coulthard will be accompanied by the full Red Bull garage team, who were in Bahrain last weekend for the opening race of this year's Formula One championship.
Organisers are expecting thousands of Ulster racing fans to converge in the city for the racing master class.
A spokesperson for Red Bull racing told the News Letter that Belfast and Caracas in Venezuela were the only two locations chosen worldwide for the unique parade of the Formula One car.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's highly-anticipated event, she said: "The excitement is going to be amazing – it will be quite a spectacle.
"It is not too often the man on the street gets the opportunity to see or hear a real Formula One car so that is why it was decided to bring it to the streets of Belfast.
"David will basically race the car as fast as he can, obviously within the limits of safety.
"This is the real deal – it is a number two car and could yet feature in a future Grand Prix. It is also the real garage and the real team, who will be at the next Grand Prix in Australia and were at Bahrain last weekend."
While the live action is not scheduled to "rev" into gear until 8pm, the high-tech car will be on display at Stormont tomorrow morning, before being showcased inside the grounds of Belfast City Hall from 12pm to 4pm.
Coulthard, deemed the most successful British Grand Prix driver in the history of the sport based on the number of points accumulated, retired from competitive racing in 2008.
After winning the Italian Grand Prix in 1997, the Scot dedicated his win to Princess Diana who died only days earlier.
Speaking ahead of his trip to Belfast, the 38-year-old said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit Belfast and bring Formula One a bit closer to the people of the city.
"I know Belfast is renowned for its love of motorsports and I'm sure I'll get an amazing welcome as always."
Access to the site will be via Donegall Place, Arthur Street, Upper Arthur Street, Donegall Square East and Donegall Square West from 7.30pm tomorrow evening.
Disability access is available via Wellington Street.
Commuters can expect diversions in the city centre area from 6.15pm to 9pm.
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
