Guiding a proper racing Ferrari around Kyalami not just a dream anymore

Driving lightning-fast Ferraris around South Africa’s most iconic raceway, throwing doughnuts on the skidpan, changing tyres as part of a Formula One pit crew and operating a race car on a state-of-the-art simulator might be dream for most, but a reality for Vodacom Red clients.

Throw in rubbing shoulders with a few players from Orlando Pirates and Super Rugby teams and the once-in-a-lifetime experience during the Vodacom Red Track Day at Kyalami last week was complete for the lucky winners selected exclusively from Vodacom Red clients.

The undoubted highlight of the day was the driving experience around Kyalami. Former national saloon car champion Paolo Cavalieri’s Pablo Clark Racing was roped in to provide the all-Ferrari star-studded cast which included three 360 Challenge models, a F430 Challenge and a very rare vintage 250 SWB GTM.

Contestants had the privilege of driving a few laps by themselves around the circuit under the expert guidance of Cavilieri and other racing instructors, which included Jaki Scheckter, son of former F1 driver Ian and nephew of F1 world champion Jody, over the in-car microphone system. But just as the aspiring racers thought they were doing fairly decent, a hot lap in the passenger seat with one of the real racers behind the wheel was a rude reminder that it’s maybe a good idea not to give up the day job just yet.