An exceptional route to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to South Africa – 24.000 kilometres on Continental-tires

Hanover (pps) Road to South Africa – heading for South Africa. A remarkable project supported by Continental Corporation and Kia Motors. On 5 April, nine adventurers will start in Hamburg in order to arrive in Johannesburg on 11 June, just in time to watch the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, after having crossed 17 African countries and 24.000 kilometres.

Andreas Wiese (35) who already started the development of this adventurous project during the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, is working on the very last details with his team for months: “Our team consists of nine persons in all, including a doctor and two mechanics. It’s our intention to bring the enthusiasm of the 2006 World Cup to South Africa and we really want to arrive in time to the opening game in Johannesburg.”

Continental as Official Sponsor provides the tickets for the whole team. In order to watch the opening of the sporting event of the year live, the last preparations are in full swing for Wiese and his two friends Oliver Franke (47), managing director of the travel agency “Franke Spezialreisen” and David Gohla (29). An off-road-training and a tour through the giraffe- and rhinoceros enclosure of the Serengeti-Park in Hodenhagen have been done to be able to control the vehicles in extreme situations as well. The three men have to plan their project very meticulously because the tour from Hamburg to Johannesburg will only go according to plan with an elaborate planning including alternative routes, early visa application and vaccinations for all team members.

As Official Sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, the Continental Corporation supports this unique project for several reasons. On the one hand, the efficiency of the present tire generation can be demonstrated. For the first section of the route from Hamburg to Casablanca the cars will be equipped with the ContiCrossContact UHP. With this tire model, Europe’s leading tire manufacturer offers a street tire. The characteristics, like extremely short braking distance, safe wet weather conditions and a precise handling, are especially designed for 4x4-vehicles.

Across Africa, the ContiCrossContact AT will be used. With this product, Europe’s leading tire manufacturer offers a tire ideal for use on cross-country drives and roads. In addition, the tire for 4-wheel drive cars is especially made for drivers who also drive along unpaved roads, silty and sandy tracks.

On the Road to South Africa this will be the tire equipment for the 22.000 kilometres from Casablanca to Johannesburg.

Alexander Lührs, head of media and public relations for passenger car tires at Continental: “Like the whole team, we are looking forward to the start of the tour next week. We are supporting this project because we want the football-fans throughout the world to become more acquainted with some African countries. In Europe, for example, only less is known about the World Cup participants Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Nigeria. But I think it’s very exciting to learn how the people there are preparing for the first football World Cup on African soil. At the end of the Road to South Africa this will have changed, for sure.”

An own website for the project has already been generated at www.road-to-south-africa.de where the adventurers give exceptional insights into the fascinating African football culture on the way to the 2010 World Cup – with daily reports and regularly updated videos which will parallel be linked to network-platforms like, for example, Facebook and Youtube. There is also a detailed report about the tour at www.ContiSoccerWorld.de - the soccer website of the Continental Corporation.

Contact

Alexander Luehrs

Head of Media & Public Relations / Passenger & Light Truck Tire Division

Continental AG

Phone: +49 (0) 511 - 938 2615

Fax: +49 (0) 511 – 938 2455

E-Mail: alexander.luehrs@conti.de

www.ContiSoccerWorld.de

http://mediacenter.conti-online.com