ING Renault F1 Team star Heikki Kovalainen opens first ever
F1 Second Life® experience
ING Renault F1 Team driver Heikki Kovalainen officially
launched the ING Renault Team's presence in Second Life®
today, becoming the first F1 Team to have fully interactive
Second Life® presence.
The launch was marked by the first ever live 'virtual' Formula
1 press conference held entirely 'in world' in Second Life®,
with media and fans in attendance.
After completing his first Second Life® experience,
Heikki Kovalainen said:
"It's been fascinating to take part in the press conference
today, and to discover the virtual world of Second Life®.
As an F1 driver, I am used to speaking to the press a lot,
and even to big real-life media conferences, but this was
something completely different!
"Obviously, the Second Life® project is all about
finding a new way to meet the fans, and to give them access
to the Formula 1 experience. This seems like a great way to
do it, allowing people from all across the world to come together
in one place, to discuss their passion for our sport. It is
really in line with everything else that the ING Renault F1
Team does to try and take our sport out to the people: events
like the city demonstration Roadshow I will be taking part
in next weekend in Warsaw, for example.
"I will be really interested to see how the community
develops on the team's island, and I am sure I will be making
more visits to Second Life in the future!"
The Finn completed a 15-minute Q&A session with Second
Life® journalists and fans, before taking part in the
first official go-kart race on the island's circuit which,
naturally, he won comfortably!
The island will open to the public on Friday, 25 May as the
ING Renault F1 Team community on Second Life® begins to
grow.
To download a 'virtual tour' animation of the ING Renault
F1 Team Second Life® experience, please click here www.thenewsmarket.com/ing-f1movie.
About the ING Renault F1 Team island
The ING Renault F1 Team island offers visitors unique interactive
experiences, and offers the opportunity to interact with team
members from a front-running F1 team during regular, post-race
events..
Constructed around a challenging racetrack, the ING Renault
F1 Team island is split into 9 zones, each offering visitors
a number of activities designed to increase their understanding
of Formula 1 whilst providing a unique interactive experience:
Race Track. Visitors can buy their race
overall and helmet, then step into go-karts, whose design
has been inspired by Renault's 2007 F1 car, the R27. Visitors
will be able to invite a group of friends and organise a race
to see who really is the fastest out on track - and then experience
the thrill of stepping onto the winner's podium and spraying
the champagne!
Press Conference. F1 fans visitors will
feel what it's like to step into the spotlight as you face
the TV cameras and flash bulbs, just like the drivers they
admire. This area will allow visitors to download the latest
press materials in order to keep up-to-date with team news,
and will include a Message Centre, where team fans can send
questions to the team - which may be used in the regular post-race
podcasts, or answered during the post-race meetings that will
be held with the team after each Grand Prix.
Garage and Pit-lane. For any F1 team, the
garage is the real heart of the matter. Explore a realistic
recreation of the team's facilities when they are at the track,
and learn about the jobs involved in one of the pressure points
of any Grand Prix, the pit-stop. Team members will explain
what their jobs involve, and visitors can simulate the roles
involved in servicing an F1 car - such as changing a tyre,
or operating the jack. This interactive area is designed to
allow visitors to improve their understanding of the work
involved behind-the-scenes every time a Formula 1 car turns
a wheel. Visitors can then relax in the chill-out area' behind
the team's garage, complete with the ever-present tea and
coffee machine.
F1 Factory and Race Shop. The ING Renault
F1 Team island features a factory setting inspired by the
team's Technical Centre in Enstone, UK. This factor space
will offer the opportunity to take a closer look at the R27
race-car, as well as learning more about the design and construction
processes of the car. Visitors can pause for the obligatory
photo opportunity at the wheel of an F1 racer. The Enstone
area will also be the venue for press and public meetings
to be held on the island.
Johnson Human Performance Centre. Physical
fitness is a crucial part of any F1 driver's armoury, and
it's no different on Second Life®®. Test your fitness
by undergoing an F1 driver training programme in the gym,
or see if you can match their agility on the reaction wall'
- and compete against other Second Life®rs for the best
score.
Remote control car game. Remote-controlled
cars can be obtained from the team's official merchandise
store, and provide an instant, fun activity for visitors to
the island. Four people can race each other on the model track,
as they compete to see who can make it to the finish line
in first place.
Grandstands. Dotted around the race track,
the three main grandstands - each named after one of the three
Renault brothers Marcel, Louis and Fernand - offer visitors
the chance to meet and chat, as well as watching the go-kart
action out on track.
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