Tank Lanning
To mark the announcement of the Springbok ambassadors for the premium German vehicle brand, BMW invited a few of us blogger types to hurtle round the Swartkops racetrack in a low flying jet with a few of the Boks …
Jean De Villiers, Heyneke Meyer, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies, Chiliboy Rallepelle, Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen and Jannie du Plessis were announced as the playing ambassadors while Victor Matfield cashed in as the non-playing ambassador.
Matfield will act as host for BMW’s VIP hospitality suites at local matches as well provide content for the company’s rugby-specific website.
Not the worst gig given that each playing ambassador receives a brand new BMW 335i Sport, while De Villiers, Meyer and Matfield will also have to find space in the garage for a BMW X6 XDrive40d.
So we all got to drive a few of these magnificent beasts round the race track – I was first in the queue for the anti nausea pills after being hurled around the back of a 3 series by first BMW’s Guy Kilfoil, and then the blonde haired Bok flank (see the video below) – and then they strapped us into an egte Afrox BMW race car (mine was a particularly tight squeeze) and proceeded to try and break the sound barrier!
My reticence when lunch was served was a new and hopefully unique feeling … But oh so worth it. What an experience!
A few pics of the day then …
“The new BMW 3 Series epitomises speed, power and dynamism in every respect and delivers ultimate performance in every field. Even more significantly, this car is locally built and exported around the world,” explains Guy Kilfoil, the man looking after the BMW sponsorship of the Boks. “Because of this, the BMW 3 Series is the perfect vehicle to embody BMW’s involvement with Springbok Rugby. It highlights all of the reasons we’re involved in the sport.”
“It’s a real privilege for me to be one of BMW’s Springbok Ambassadors and to be driving these brilliant cars,” explains Springbok Captain, Jean de Villiers. “At the Boks we strive to be the best in the world and this is shared by BMW, probably one of the most iconic car brands in the world. This passion for performance is clearly evident in the products we’re driving.”
I so get the anti nausea pills. That would have me throwing my breakfast in quick time 🙂
Pretty cool that these cars are made in SA.
Great brand development as well – ” … BMW 3 Series epitomises speed, power and dynamism in every respect and delivers ultimate performance in every field … and exported all over the world.”
Just like the Boks and SA Rugby Players 🙂
WOW! These guys are lucky. Not many people in SA can afford a BMW any more.