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AMG assault for SA Top Gear fest

As preparations of the 2012 Top Gear festival in Durban heat up, fans of Mercedes-Benz performance division AMG will be well pleased as the German automaker will unleash its 2011 W02 Formula 1 car at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The first car to carry the moniker Mercedes was a racing car, and it made a winning debut back in March 1901. Mercedes-Benz marked 111 years of racing and Nico Rosberg first win in the modern era of the Silver Arrows team at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

Selvin Govender, divisional manager of marketing at Mercedes-Benz South Africa, said: “As motorsport forms a strong part of the rich Mercedes-Benz heritage, it is only fitting that we participate at this level.

SCHECKTER TO WOW SCHOOLKIDS

"Having the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team with their 2011 W02 car to enthrall the fans in Durban is a real draw-card,” said Govender.

The F1 car will be driven by Sam Bird, GP2 winner and the team’s test driver. Also making an appearance will be South Africa’s Jody Scheckter, the 1979 F1 world champion.

Sam Bird said: “It’s a great opportunity to drive our Silver Arrow F1 car through the streets of Durban.  We’re all excited about travelling to South Africa in June.  Everyone at the factory watches Top Gear regularly and I’m sure it will be a great event.”

As part of an ongoing programme to educate and inspire young South Africans, Scheckter will be taking children from local schools on a few laps around the circuit in a C63 AMG sedan.

This activity, together with a special Father's Day promotion will take place on June 17.

Mercedes-Benz will display a number of vehicles from their AMG range:

SLK 55 AMG roadster
CLS 63 AMG
CL 63 AMG
C63 AMG sedan
C63 AMG Black Series

Making a special appearance will be two SLS AMG coupés on the track - one as the official pace car and one with a Top Gear presenter. 

Govender said: “This display provides us with an ideal opportunity to share our adrenalin pumping, high performance cars with the showgoers whilst at the same time show-casing the prowess of the Mercedes-AMG range.”

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