On Monday and Tuesday, four hopefuls took part in a shoot-out in an attempt to win the drive with the British entry in the much-anticipated A1 Grand Prix series.

Ralph Firman and Robbie Kerr were in action yesterday (Monday), while Alex Lloyd and James Rossiter were on-track today.

On Monday, conditions were ideal, Ralph drove in the morning and Robbie the afternoon. Both drivers did 60 laps (75 miles) each.

Unfortunately, Tuesday was a different matter entirely, with the notorious British weather causing problems. In order that both drivers had parity, as the track began to dry following a heavy downpour, it was decided to give Alex and James 20 laps each so that they ran in the same conditions.

Then subsequently put Robbie Kerr back in the car for 20 laps so they could
compare his time in the same conditions..

Unfortunately, the weather deteriorated which meant the shoot-out was abandoned at 15:00.

"It is nice to be driving a single seater again," said Ralph Firman, "as I have not driven one since I was in the actual A1 car. It is very different.

"I also haven't driven here at Brands Hatch since 1996," admitted the former F1 driver. "It is one of my favourite circuits in the UK so it is nice to drive round here. I think Paddock is one of the best corners in the world. Driving here in a quick car has been a good experience for me.

"The Team is obviously very good," he continued, referring to Arden International, which provided the championship winning F3000 car that was used for the shoot-out, and who will run the British team. "They have won lots of championships, which is very impressive. The car was obviously going to be good as it is the one they raced in Formula 3000 with.

"I only had 60 laps," he revealed. "It sounds like a lot, but at Brands Hatch on the Indy circuit it doesn't take very long. It was a good experience and I enjoyed driving."

"It is an exciting project," he said of A1 Grand Prix, the brainchild of Sheikh Maktoum. "It is exciting to be able to race for your country, which has not been possible at this level before. You see lots of people able to play for their local team. Hopefully I will be able to race in GB colours and hopefully win for my country as well."

"It was a brilliant opportunity and I think the whole A1 idea is a fantastic one to have nation versus nation," added former British F3 Champion, Robbie Kerr.

"You have so many young drivers out there now who are trying to make their way through and it is good to have your nation looking at you, and if you are good enough to have the opportunity to represent your country and hopefully do a fantastic job for them.

"I think it went really well today," he added. "Brands is a brilliant circuit for the championship to have its first race. It is a great setting and the spectators in the Grandstands can see all the Indy circuit, although I am hoping we will race on the full (Grand Prix) circuit. This is just a brilliant circuit, one of the best in the country by far. I last raced here in 2002, so it would be nice to get out there again.