It is 2011, the last years of ADSL connections, why would you still want internet via your phone line while there are new opportunities around the corner! This is what Vodafone must have thought earlier that year to promote Fiber Optic. They appeared with one of the best publicity stunt in existence, organizing the Grand Prix of Roggel. The three fastest citizens from Roggel were to compete against Jenson Button in his McLaren. Who would race a couple of round though the little village in Limburg, not that far from my home. Just inches from citizens their gardens and full throttle through the village center. Spoiler alert, Jenson Button did not win.
The idea is simple; to promote Fiber Optic organize a Grand Prix in the commune Leudal that will be one of the first in the Netherlands with all citizens able to connect to it. Better said Vodafone loves speed, therefore they organized this race with Jenson Button against the fastest three citizens of Roggel. The three fastest had to compete in a qualification session against nine others. All of them were quickest in thing like quickest archer, sprinter and so on.
The Grand Prix of Roggel was to be held the 12th of September 2011, only one day after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza where Button finished third with his McLaren. The preparations for the event started in July that year when the council gave his agreement on the event. It would be a positive input for the growth of the region, because it’s not only Vodafone that will gain a positive output from it. During the weeks to follow visibility, studies were completed. These studies had to be done to see if it would be possible at all to have a Formula One car racing through the streets. As well for the safety, as the McLaren would go 260+ KPH. There was one obstacle a road that needed a new pavement as it was too bumpy. Eventually the track would be 2,6km long.
The promotion of the event was done on a big scale. While the local media promoted it via socials like Facebook, twitter and Instagram. Local stores would appear with special Button Burgers. The logo of Leudal was even visible on the side of the car during the 2011 Belgium Grand Prix.
For the Grand Prix of Roggel McLaren shipped in the McLaren MP4-23. This was the car where Lewis Hamilton would win his first title with in 2008. The concept was that Jenson Button had five laps on to set a quickest time. In the qualification on the simulator, the quickest lap was a 0:54.00. A time Button was unable to beat. His quickest lap was a 1:01.00 seven seconds slower. After Button had his quickest laps done the three lucky once were to set their quickest time on the simulator. Two crashed and only one was able to set a fast time, it was even one second faster than during the qualification session. The winner got a trophy and Button would enjoy a piece of Kersen Vlaai. Eventually Button would do some demo rounds on the street circuit to enjoy the fans next to the track, which were plenty!
The most interestingly about the Grand Prix of Roggel was the track they made for the simulator. While the cockpit view came straight out of Johnny Herbert’s Grand Prix Championship 1998 game plain simple. The track design was far from simplicity. It was in full detail, you saw the track in the Formula One car itself. Included with traffic signs, houses, gardens and streets in detail. It did remind me of a project years prior that featured a street circuit on the streets of Hitchin for F12002 and F1C.
The Grand Prix of Roggel is one of those events you would go to with your friends. Have a couple of beers and enjoy the sound of a screaming V8 engine and the smell of burned rubber. I don’t think there is a better way to enjoy your Sunday. Even though this was mostly a publicity event from Vodafone.
