Franco Colapinto Formula 1 showrun in Buenos Aires attracts over half a million people to the streets

An estimated 600,000 spectators lined a 2 km route along Avenida del Libertador, near the Monumento de los Españoles, to watch 22-year-old Colapinto perform demonstration runs in a 2012 Lotus E20 car as part of a promotional roadshow.

The event marked the return of Formula 1 machinery to Argentina, a country with a rich motorsport heritage but absent from the championship calendar for decades.

Colapinto carried out high speed runs, burnouts and donuts during the display, with fans filling every available vantage point along the circuit.

The Argentine, born in Pilar on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, has built his career racing internationally, progressing from karting in Spain to junior single seater categories across Europe and beyond.

Organisers also staged a demonstration run in a replica Mercedes Benz W196, the car associated with five time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, drawing further cheers from the crowd.

Colapinto told reporters: “It’s such a special moment for me to be able to drive a Formula 1 car on the Buenos Aires streets, truly one of the best days of my life. The love of the fans has been so amazing. This whole event is for them, and I hope they all feel as incredible as I do.”

“I want to give a special thank you to all of them for coming, and as well to the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, Mercado Libre, all the partners that supported this event and my friends and teammates at BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team for helping put the Road Show together.”

“Now we head to Miami to go racing once again. Let’s go!” added the local hero, whose country last held a Grand Prix in 1998, a decade and a half before he was born.