11/08/2011
NEWS STORY
Jenson Button is to take to the streets of Manchester in his McLaren on bank holiday Monday.
From Friday 27th to Monday 29th of August, Vodafone VIP will be hosting the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Fan Zone in Albert Square, which Vodafone customers and up to 3 of their friends can access.
The installation will contain a bespoke Kart track, and a number of interactive F1 experiences, including a pit stop challenge, a sit in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car, an F1 simulator and an exhibition of race suits and helmets. Throughout the weekend there will also be a pit garage on the forecourt of the Hilton Deansgate in which customers can have garage tours.
The highlight of the weekend will be on bank holiday Monday, when Button will drive his F1 car through the streets of Manchester, starting in Deansgate.
Vodafone customers stand to enjoy the best views of the spectacle from a specially erected grandstand thanks to Vodafone VIP, a reward scheme which offers exclusive gifts and money can't buy experiences. Button will also be treating one lucky Vodafone customer to a thrilling drive through Manchester city centre in a McLaren MP4-12C, and he will end the day with an on-stage, public Q&A appearance.
The three day celebration is part of Vodafone's initiative to give more people the chance to experience F1 first-hand. Previous Vodafone events have taken place in central London and at the McLaren Technology Centre, so by staging this in the North West, Vodafone are looking to take the sport to a wider audience and reward as many of their customers as possible.
"Driving a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes car through Manchester is going to be pretty cool," said Button. "We do a lot of demos round the world where we get to have some fun with the cars and entertain the crowds, so it is great to come home to do one. I'm looking forward to putting on a show, creating some noise, smoke and hopefully entertaining the crowds. There's also the chance for the spectators to win some great prizes so I hope Manchester and its Vodafone VIP customers are going to be out in force."