Aside from being the first shopping centre to display the South African racecar leading up to the event, Durban's Gateway Theatre of Shopping provided an escape for the residents living in and around the track who were unhappy with the noise levels on the race days. The retail giant didn't sit back and relax, but saw a gap and went for it.
They provided a shuttle for the residents living around the track and treated them to a gift as they boarded an air-conditioned chauffeur-driven ride from the A1 GP to the shopping centre and back.
However, that is not all, the centre assisted in alleviating the pressures on the road as race enthusiasts parked their cars at Gateway and hopped onto the free shuttles.
For the hundreds of thousands of people who took their cars to the race, the centre provided golf carts to transport the A1 VIP's and the public from the car parks to the stands, as well as the race winners to the winners' podium.
Adrian Raw, Centre Manager, said, “It was a huge opportunity for us to help the city of Durban limit the traffic congestion due to road closures by allowing the public to park their vehicles at the shopping centre and hop on one of our free shuttles. All shuttles were full and race enthusiasts were happy not to have to drive on our already busy roads. Residents living close to the track were pleased to escape the noise pollution.”
