Budding ‘Schumachers’ Put Money Where Mouth Is…

MEDIA RELEASE December 2004

Budding ‘Schumachers’ Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is…

Wildly individual and meticulously crafted trolleys are currently being assembled around NZ for the 2005 Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix.

The trolley is a New Zealand suburban icon and preparation for the second Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix, a Formula 1-themed race day in Auckland on Sunday February 13th 2005, is in full swing.

The application phase is now over and 80 teams from around the country have been given their L–Plates to design a trolley and take part in the race of a lifetime to become the 2005 Trolley Champion.

After an amazing response from more than 3600 people, over 600 budding trolley designers submitted plans for their specially conceived entries. The selection process was not an easy task however in the end the selectors narrowed it down to just 80 teams.

Successful applicants include a coffin, a Flintstone’s replica, speeding prams and tables, and a variety of vegetable, cultural and cartoon-themed carts.

Teams from as far south as Dunedin and Christchurch will be travelling to the Auckland Domain in February to take part in this free fun day for all the family.

MCs for the event are comedian extraordinaire Radar and XSTV presenter Brooke Howard Smith, while Daniel Carter (All Black), Joe Cotton (former True Bliss, Celebrity Treasure Island) and Stacey Daniels (Flava FM) are preparing their driving skills for a charity race.

In line with the race day theme of Formula 1 motor-racing there will be for the first time ever a 2001 Red Bull Sauber Petronas F1 car on display. The car valued at over NZ$1m was Mika Salo’s actual race car from the 2001 season.

Don’t think for a second that this is going to be an easy race just because it involves trolleys. The driver will have to navigate a 700m downhill series of twisting turns in a one-on-one race against the clock!

Points will be awarded on three evenly weighted criteria; CREATIVITY (originality, innovation and design); PERFORMANCE (the actual performance of the team and trolley before and during the race - with spins, crashes and costumes all taken into consideration) and FINISH TIME (lap time). And the winner gets to walk away with a mere $10,000 in prize money.

For more information on the 2005 Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix, please log onto www.redbulltrolleygrandprix.co.nz or call 0800 4384444

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