Tuesday 22 January at 13:28 : The Gauteng Provincial Government and the ING Renault FI Team, today the 22nd of February 2008, announced a partnership aimed at promoting Gauteng as the home of competitive sport.

Gauteng Province is the economic powerhouse of South Africa and home to the cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

The Province contributes in excess of 34% to South Africa's GDP (and almost 10% of Africa's GDP), and is home to most of the region's financial, construction and manufacturing sectors. Furthermore, the Province is also emerging as a Globally Competitive City Region, competing for investment and tourism with other global regions – and it is well-placed to increase its global market share in these sectors, thanks to world-class infrastructure and logistics systems.

Following the success and exposure generated by the ING Renault F1 Team's Roadshow in Johannesburg's Sandton suburb last July, which attracted some 80,000 spectators, the Gauteng Provincial Government hopes to use this new partnership as a platform for increasing its international profile, and generating further inward investment.

The partnership between ING Renault F1 Team and the Gauteng Government, set for an initial period of one year, will aim to help promote the Gauteng province internationally culminating in a new F1 Roadshow event through the streets of Johannesburg scheduled for July 27th 2008. This partnership will also a feature a competition to be run throughout the Gauteng Province that will mark a unique first for the Renault F1 Team and for South Africa: offering a chance for one winner to drive the Renault F1 Team 2007 race car!

Renault already has a strong presence in the region, and has recently announced that the new Renault Sandero will be produced in South Africa from 2009. This partnership will undoubtedly further strengthen the brand in this important market.

ING Renault F1 Team Managing Director Flavio Briatore commented: "We are delighted to welcome the Gauteng Provincial Government as a partner of the team, and are very excited about the communications activities that we will put in place. South Africa is a fast-growing country and this partnership will form a key element in its image-building campaign and development."

Mr Paul Mashatile, MEC of Department of Finance & Economic Affairs of The Gauteng Provincial Government, added: "The partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government and ING Renault F1 Team aims to increase further the marketability of Gauteng as an investment and tourism destination, as well as consolidating the region as Africa's home of sport. This partnership will enable us to showcase our competitive advantages to a wider audience, and to add further impetus to some of our strategic automotive and related manufacturing sectors."