Nepal got a taste of Formula One racing this afternoon when two-time world  champion Mika Häkkinen charmed the crowed with high octane drifts and screeching tyres at the Syakar Safety Riding Training Centre in Lalitpur.

The Syakar Safety Riding Training Center erupted in applause when F1 superstar Mika Häkkinen displayed his championship-winning driving skills.

Mika’s visit here is part of Johnnie Walker’s ‘Join The Pact’ campaign, which aims to spread the message of responsible drinking. The campaign encourages drivers to take the pledge that they will not consume alcohol when they drive and conversely to not drive after they have been drinking. The campaign was launched here last November and has accumulated over 28,000 responses online.

Two-Time F1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen after demonstrating his superb driving skills as part of Johnnie Walker’s responsible drinking campaign ‘Join The Pact’ in Dwarko.

“Drinking and driving is a problem everywhere, and that is why we are encouraging people to join. When you drink and drive, your coordination goes off and accidents are more likely to happen”, said Häkkinen.

‘Join The Pact’ was started by Johnnie Walker in 2006, when Häkkinen and other F1 drivers began spreading the importance of responsible drinking worldwide. Mika has visited more than 30 countries to advocate the cause and Nepal is the first country in the region to host him as part of the campaign.

Responsible drinking ambassadors from Nepal join two-time F1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen to advocate responsible drinking.

‘Join The Pact’ is the latest in a slew of efforts to curb drink driving in Nepal. According to the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, an average of 176 drunk drivers were booked daily after the number of weekend  checkpoints in the city were increased from 35 to 60 last year.

Häkkinen is hopeful about the campaign’s influence here and that tragic accidents can be prevented through responsible drinking. “I am confident that when I leave Nepal, if we can save even one life here, it be a great success,” he added.

You can pledge to not drink and drive here at: www.jointhepactnepal.com

Hariz Baharudin