Mild Seven XLR8: Exhilarating to the end

It was a celebration like no other.

Filipino racing fans had their fill of the Formula One Party of the Year in the recently concluded "XLR8 – The Mild Seven F1 Experience."

XLR8 proved to be completely exhilarating as thousands of F1 revelers came in full force at The Fort to see the official Mild Seven Renault F1 Team race car. Everybody present was fortunate to see in the flesh F1’s rising superstar Jenson Button who led the team to a very strong 4th place finish in the 2002 F1 racing season.

The 22-year old British driver gamely answered questions from the media people, posed for photographs and signed autographs for his eager fans during his several appearances in the day-long event. He is the first F1 driver to have visited the Philippines.

Button even picked the lucky grand prize winner in the Mild Seven F1 raffle – Makati resident Nancy L. Bercasio – who won an all-expense-paid trip for two to Sepang next year to watch the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix. Bercasio intends to bring her boyfriend along to watch Mild Seven Renault F1 Team drivers Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso and other F1 celebrities race against each other.

The day started with a motorcade which was followed by a grand media launch of the race car and team driver. It ended with a three-way live band concert. The last band to perform was a specially-formed All-Star Band, which was composed of members from Wolfgang, Razorback, Spy and Pinikpikan. But all throughout the day, there were F1-themed side events like karting, slot car racing, RC racing, F1 arcade and raffles galore that kept everybody busy.

Button was obviously happy at the warm reception he received. "It’s a thrill to be here," he told his fans. "I have heard so many things about the Philippines and I’m so glad to finally experience it. I hope to come back."

Only in his third season, Button led the Mild Seven Renault F1 team to fourth place in the Constructor’s Championship and earned for himself the seventh place in the Driver’s Championship this year. He is the youngest-ever British driver to compete in F1 and the youngest ever to score a point.

Dick Sugcang, brand marketing director of Mild Seven, expressed complete satisfaction with the outcome of XLR8. He said, "We did this to show our gratitude to the fans of the team and to those who patronize Mild Seven. It is our aim to bring Formula One closer to Filipinos." He also promised to come up with more exhilarating events in the future.