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PolicyAbout usView Subscription OffersThe Examiner's complete view of propertyHome/Local Sport/Local FootyBarry Oliver | F1 fundraiser fires up for relief and recovery effortBy Barry
OliverUpdated January 24 2020 - 3:32pm, first published 2:23pmBy Barry OliverUpdated January 24 2020 - 3:32pm, first published 2:23pmFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyUNIQUE: A charity auction
put together by the F1 fraternity in aid of the bushfire appeal is offering some once-in-a-lifetime experiences including a meet and greet at the Australian GP with Lewis Hamilton and
Valtteri Bottas. The devastation caused by months of bushfires in Australia has been tragic and heartbreaking, but the response from individuals, businesses, communities, celebrities and
sporting groups has been outstanding.
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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue To say thank you seems
totally inadequate. I applaud you all, especially our courageous fire fighters. Heroes one and all.
I'm proud to say the response from the motorsport fraternity was swift and incredibly generous with drivers, teams, affiliated companies and Motorsport Australia joining forces to add to the
relief process.
Formula 1 teams, manufacturers, drivers and the sport's governing body the FIA have donated dozens of auction items, many of which are unique and normally out of reach.
There will be two auctions, the first covering a wide range of F1-related experiences running till Sunday February 9 while the second for products and merchandise runs till Sunday February
16.
Items are listed on the official Formula 1 website.
Formula 1 consulted with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and together they have selected Red Cross Australia, Country Fire Authority Victoria, the foundation for Rural and Regional
Renewal and WWF Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund as the beneficiaries of the auctions.
Several drivers have put themselves up for a meet and greet experience during the Australian GP in March in the exclusive F1 paddock including Mercedes Benz drivers Lewis Hamilton and
Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull Racings Max Verstappen and Alex Albon, McLaren F1s Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, Racing Points Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll plus Williams drivers George Russell
and Nicholas Latifi.
Team bosses Mattia Binotto (Ferrari), Toto Wolff (Mercedes) and Clare Williams (Williams) have also offered meet and greet opportunities.
There are team factory visits on offer from McLaren and Renault and also an opportunity to train with the Renault Sport Academy.
A lap around the Albert Park circuit in the FIA Safety Car is on offer as well as an opportunity to have lunch with F1 Managing Director of Motorsport Ross Brawn.
Daniel Ricciardo has donated his gloves and boots used during his first season with the Renault team while Kevin Magnussen has donated the helmet he will wear in the AGP.
In addition there are 2019 race-worn driving suits from Verstappen and Albon, Romain Grosjean (Haas) and Daniil Kvyat (Scuderia Toro Rosso).
Lewis Hamilton has already donated $500,000 to assist the wildlife volunteer efforts and the Rural Fire Services.
The Australian motorsport fraternity has also been incredibly generous and supportive and it is ongoing.
Josh Burdon, here at Bathurst in the Nissan last year, is hoping the bad luck that plagued him last year in the 12-hour does not repeat. Burdon of Success
Third generation driver Josh Burdon from Hobart will be aiming to make amends in next weekend's Liqui Moly Bathurst 12-hour GT3 sports car race after a throttle sensor failure curtailed a
possible podium finish last year.
The 27-year-old and team mates Katsumasa Chiyo and Tsugio Matsuda were running strongly in the top four by mid-race in their Nissan GTR Nismo GT3 and due to smart strategy calls were on
track for a possible podium.
After losing 11 laps fixing the problem Burdon drove the final stint of the race, demonstrating his class by recording the fastest lap on his second last lap and finishing 15th.
There are 21 GT3 cars in the 40-car field this year so the trio know it's going to be tough in their refreshed KC Motor Group Nissan GTR up against the factory-backed teams and the best
sports car endurance drivers in the world.
"I feel we have as good a chance as anybody else of achieving a podium result," the Hong Kong-based driver said.
Burdon has a very busy schedule of events coming up this year as a professional driver which is a well-deserved reward for his efforts since going overseas in 2012.
There will be a major announcement soon regarding those plans and it's great to see another Tasmanian talent flying the flag.
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