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Thursday March 3, 2005

F1 family lend support to raise funds for tsunami victims

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: The drivers and teams have given strong support to the Sepang International Circuit’s (SIC) charity auction of F1 memorabilia, which will be held during the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix Ice Gala at the KL Mandarin Oriental on March 17 to raise funds for tsunami victims.

Ferrari have agreed to donate a V10 engine used in a previous race. And seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello, are donating their racing suits worn in the 2003 season.

Australian Mark Webber, who is driving for BMW Williams this year, is donating his racing gloves.

Former McLaren Mercedes driver David Coulthard will be giving up his West racing suit.

The SIC chairman, Datuk Mokhzani Tun Mahathir, said that other interesting items to be auctioned off are Jarno Truli’s Renault F1 suit and also the suit of former Malaysian F1 driver Alex Yoong. There will also be personal items from Honda's Jenson Button and Takuma Sato.

Besides F1 memorabilia, other items to be placed under the auctioneer’s hammer include jewellery and fine watches from Audemars Piquet.

Among those who will be gracing the event are the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Cabinet members, celebrities, captains of industry, F1 drivers and team principals and officials from Formula One Management (FOM).

Malaysian actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh will also attend the Gala and Grammy Award winning jazz diva Diana Krall will be the performing artist.

An F1 Gala dinner was last organised by the SIC in 2000 when they hosted the final round of the season in October.

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