BMW S1000RR Motorcycle
Prominent figures from the worlds of sport and show business, elegant fashion and a good cause: motorsport meets fashion on the runway at the Amber Lounge Fashion Show, which is held every year in Monte Carlo as part of the renowned Formula One race in Monaco.
Formula One drivers and their wives slipped into the role of models again on Friday evening to present the latest collections from various top designers.
However, a charity auction took centre stage at the event, which was held under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. Bavarian motorcycle manufacturer BMW Motorrad donated a BMW S 1000 RR and a VIP package for the 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship race weekend in Silverstone (GBR). The 193 bhp BMW S 1000 RR was signed personally by British pop star Taio Cruz. Cruz also performed his hit “Break your Heart” at yesterday’s show.
The VIP package for the race weekend in Silverstone (29th to 31st July) includes admission for two persons, access to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport hospitality, an exclusive pit box visit, photo opportunities, autographs and a meet & greet session with BMW Motorrad works rider Troy Corser (AUS).
Troy could not attend the event in Monaco in person, as he is in Salt Lake City (USA) this weekend with the FIM Superbike World Championship. He was, however, represented at the fashion show by his wife Sam Corser, who took to the runway herself as a model.
The BMW S 1000 RR and the VIP package were first bought by James Stunt, the fiancé of Petra Ecclestone. But he generously released them back to the auction and the final bidder was Dominic Brett. So the item raised a total of 38.000 Euro for the good cause.
The proceeds from this year’s charity auction go to Special Olympics, the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities. Special Olympics was formed in the USA in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, the sister of John F. Kennedy, and is officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
The initiative is aimed at allowing people with intellectual disabilities to take part in sporting activities and events. Today, Special Olympics works with more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries. They are provided year-round training, and summer and winter games are staged on an alternating, two-yearly basis.
H.S.H. Prince Albert, his fiancee Charlene Wittstock, actor Jason Statham and Boris Becker were among the numerous prominent guests at yesterday’s event at the Le Méridien Beach Plaza Hotel. Tamara Ecclestone opened the show, the compere was BBC presenter Jake Humphrey.
The “models” on the runway included Formula One drivers Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil, Vitaly Petrov, Paul di Resta, Jaime Alguersuari, Sergio Perez, Jerome d’Ambrosio, Heikki Kovalainen and Vitantanio Liuzzi.