The
Williams F1 team has confirmed that it will take part in the Moscow City Racing event the weekend after the British Grand Prix [13 July], with
Nico Rosberg driving one of the team's FW30 machines against the stunning backdrop of the Kremlin.
The event marks the first demonstration of
Formula One in Moscow, despite the Midland team taking its entire operation to the capital for its launch a couple of years ago,, and over a million Muscovites are expected to witness the free six-hour landmark event, which will be staged on a street circuit taking in the centuries-old citadel of early Tsarist Russia, as well as running along the embankment of the Moskva river.
“This is just great!" Rosberg enthused, "I know Williams race cars have demonstrated in some impressive locations - from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to downtown Buenos Aires or in the centre of London - over the years but, for a spectacle, driving past the Kremlin will take some beating.
"I have never been to Russia, and I have always wanted to visit Moscow, so the whole trip will undoubtedly be really fascinating. There is clearly a massive appetite for Formula One in Russia, and it is great to be contributing to spreading the sport's popularity.”
The Moscow event builds on a recent trend for taking Formula One to the streets, with
Renault's 'roadshow' programme and Rotterdam's Bavaria City Racing - organised by the same group as the Russian spectacle - helping to pioneer fan-friendly
F1. Russia is among the countries bidding to join the F1 world championship in the coming years, despite various plans to construct circuits around the nation having fallen through.
“It was with great pleasure that we accepted the offer to take part in Moscow City Racing," team owner Sir Frank Williams commented, "This will be our first visit as a team to Russia, a country of great interest to us.
"Demonstrating our cars at such a global landmark is an extraordinary privilege and I will personally be fascinated to make the journey to Moscow and see the reaction to Formula One at first hand.”
