The city of Jerusalem roared on Monday with the sound of race cars speeding around the Old City as part of the second annual Jerusalem Formula road show.
The event, which began on Monday and ends Tuesday, drew thousands of excited fans along the race’s route from the First Station to the Karta parking lot near Mamilla. Traffic was held up in the city for majority of the day.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat explained that the road show was the city’s response to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement as well recent US criticism over Israeli construction in the Givat Hamatos neighborhood.
“We were forced to postpone the event due to Operation Protective Edge this summer, but we are determined to resume our routine in Jerusalem,” Barkat told The Jerusalem Post. “It is especially important that we held it now, in the wake of the criticism by the White House and the EU.”
Barkat estimates that more than 300,000 people are expected to take part in the two day event.
“Our aim is to bring back as many tourists as we can to Jerusalem, and we are expecting many visitors over the Sukkot holiday period.”
Over a dozen international known racing teams are taking part in the event, including cars from Ferrari, Porsche and Audi. The road show is also the first time where a team of young, upcoming Israeli racing stars are making their Israel debut.
Roy Nissany, a Formula Three driver, will drive a Formula Master single seater; Yarin Stern will race in a Formula Three single seater; Bar Baruch in a Formula Four single seater; and Along Day who competes in a German GT Masters series.
