It's All Kicking Off In Brazil!

With the GT1 track action ready to get underway at Interlagos tomorrow, some of the Nissan GT1 drivers took the opportunity to visit the Corinthians training ground today for action of a different kind.

The world-famous Corinthians Football Team is in training at the moment for a crucial game this Sunday but one of the team’s biggest stars, Roberto Carlos, took time out to meet the drivers and also a group of children from ‘Time do Povo’.

Time do Povo works locally to bring sports to underprivileged children. The children who came along to Corinthians today had a great time playing a match against the Nissan drivers. It was a fairly even kickabout with the Nissan drivers having the upper hand to start with but soon realising that kids have a lot more stamina than they do!

“It was a lot of fun to have a kickabout with the kids today,” said Peter Dumbreck of the Sumo Power GT team. “We take acres and acres of green grass for granted at home and this is the best grass I have seen since I arrived in Sao Paulo. It’s good for the kids to be able to come down here where the great Brazilian players train and have a fun afternoon. I don’t know all of their stories but it has been really nice to meet them and see such big smiles on their faces. They’ve also promised to support us this weekend!”

Peter was joined on the field by Sumo Power’s Jamie Campbell-Walter and Karl Wendlinger and Henri Moser from Swiss Racing team. After the game the drivers all met Corinthians star, Roberto Carlos, who accepted a $10,000 cheque from Nissan for the Time do Povo charity.

Karl Wendlinger is the Interlagos-expert among the Nissan drivers as he raced here many times in Formula One. He had a great time on the pitch and is now heading back to Interlagos to prepare for the race weekend ahead.

“I’m happy the kids had fun today,” said Karl. “It's a pleasure for us to be here at such an impressive training ground, although I must say it must be hard work to train here in the heat. It was great to meet a top sportsman like Roberto Carlos and shake his hand. I hope they win their game on Sunday and I hope we can have two good races at Interlagos this weekend. I know the circuit well and it will suit the Nissan GT-R so I’m really looking forward to it.”

The track action starts tomorrow morning with the first race on Saturday afternoon. Some of the Time do Povo children will also come along to Interlagos at the weekend to see the GT1 cars in action during Saturday’s qualifying session.


ENDS


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For further information on Nissan in the FIA GT1 World Championship please contact Lindsay Morle on +44 7971 481078 or at lindsay@morle.com.