Cape Town – Ahead of making history this weekend with the first-ever Formula E World Championship race in Cape Town on Saturday, seven drivers swapped helmets for rugby balls and joined the Stormers squad for a traditional South African rugby experience on Clifton 4th Beach.
The Stormers players took time out from training ahead of their much anticipated United Rugby Championship clash against the Sharks at the DHL Stadium. The Cape side coached the drivers in kicking and passing challenges. Being professional athletes, their competitive spirit was on show as the drivers were lifted by Stormers forwards in a full line-out practice complete with attempted steals.
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South Africa’s only Formula E driver, Kelvin van der Linde, Envision Racing teammates Sébastien Buemi and Nick Cassidy; NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Jake Hughes and René Rast; Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Günther and NIO 333 Racing’s Sérgio Sette Câmara, took part in the fun-filled beach action, watched by dozens of surprised beach-going fans against the backdrop of the Twelve Apostles peaks.
After their "rigorous" training session, the drivers swapped stories with players Stormers players Seabelo Senatla, Joseph Dweba, Alistair Vermaak, Scarra Ntubeni and Herschel Jantjies, while enjoying some traditional boerewors rolls at the Clifton Lifesaving Club.
Putting some of the @FIAFormulaE drivers' rugby skills to the test with @DHLAfrica. #iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/FZOuMpq4CQ
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) February 24, 2023
“It was a perfect start to the weekend, meeting the Stormers at the beach on my home turf. We had some great conversations about our sport and their sport. Their passion for getting to know more about Formula E is great to see and we look forward to inviting them to our garage over the weekend. And yes, I can feel my muscles hurting from all the training!” said Van der Linde.
Stormers head coach John Dobson says it was exciting getting to be part of the Formula E fanfare that has gripped the city.
“As the DHL Stormers, one of our team’s missions is to make Cape Town smile – and that includes making visitors to Cape Town smile. It was great fun and a privilege for some of our team to spend time with the Formula E drivers and to share a few of their rugby skills, as well as a few laughs.”
This weekend marks the inaugural Cape Town ePrix, with motorsport fans set to see the new GEN3 cars on the track.The vehicles are said to be the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built.
IOL Sport