Freaking out about speed

It has pitted colleague against colleague and given rise both to pleas for help and allegations of swindling – Car magazine's Speed Freaks Challenge has reportedly set ad agencies alight since its launch several weeks ago.

Car enthusiast Chanelle Bindeman

The challenge gives media planners and strategists the opportunity to win a day testing their skills at the racetrack and driving a Hummer off-road. Competitors earn their place on the grid by playing a virtual racing game and answering a few simple questions about Car and its readers.

“Your game has caused all-out war, broken strong ties… the hunger for the prize has created backstabbing tension between us,” reported one accounts manager. “If passion alone brought anyone anywhere, I'm on my knees for the chance just to drive those OPCs! With less than 24 hours to go, any chance you could slip a hint my way?”

Those sentiments have been echoed around the country as agency speed freaks compete for a place in the regional finals.

The first of these took place in Cape Town on 26 October 2007, where Craig Bellingham of Ripe and Antoinette van der Plas of MEC claimed the chequered flag and the ultimate prize of a fantastic racing experience.

The Johannesburg challenge takes place at the end of November.