Brazil

Round six of the A1 Grand Prix series got underway today with drivers taking part in several free practice sessions at the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Dubai. As well as regular A1 Team Brasil lead driver Nelson Piquet Jr, reserve driver Tuka Rocha was also in action today as he completed the first extra practice session for the team.

All teams were given the benefit this morning of two extra free practice sessions, which lasted twenty minutes each. Tuka took part in the first of these two sessions, completing nine laps and finishing ninth fastest, with a time of 1:49.648. In the second extra practice, Nelson was forced out of the session after just one complete lap when he ran over crash debris from another car on the track, which caused enough damage to the car to mean he had to sit out of the remainder.

Nelson continued driving duties for the rest of the day, completing two further one-hour official practice sessions. In the first of these sessions, which provided his first real opportunity to learn the track, after his problem in the morning, he completed 14 laps and was seventh fastest, with a time of 1:47.552. In the second practice, Nelson notched up a further 17 laps, with a fastest time of 1:47.574.

Nelson Piquet Jr: "Today has not been great. It was a difficult day, we didn't really have any technical problems but on my first run this morning I ran over something from an accident with another car and damaged my own car. This meant we couldn't do that running as we wanted and we just struggled with lap times. We have to improve tomorrow morning."

Tuka Rocha: "The track here at Dubai is nice and the car felt good this morning. I think we have quite a good set-up for this hot race and we hope we will be very competitive. For sure we will be fighting for a win. It is good that I can work with Nelson and we can put our heads together to think about the car."

Emerson Fittipaldi: "Today was basically a shakedown test to see how the car was, we saved tyres for tomorrow and only made short runs because the track is very dusty and conditions will be completely different tomorrow. We used the spare car in the first practice this morning and Tuka did a good job for us. Nelson then concentrated on our programme for the rest of the day. Tomorrow we will be fast."

Austria

A1 Team Austria began its A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Dubai weekend today when driver Mathias Lauda took part in four free practice sessions. All teams benefited today from a further 40 minutes of running when two extra 20-minute practice schedules were scheduled, in addition to the usual two one-hour sessions. A1 Team Austria ran its new car for the first time today, and this is the car with which it will compete the whole weekend.

Mathias Lauda: "I am quite happy with today. Even though the position didn't look good, we were improving the car with every session, and we were running on old tyres. If I can get another three or four tenths quicker I am not too far from being there, and we should be in the top ten. The results did not look good but we are getting quicker and quicker every time we go out so I am not that unhappy."

Germany

A1 Team Germany was in the top ten during all four practice sessions to begin the sixth race weekend of the A1 Grand Prix Series in Dubai. In Friday's first 20 minute session nominee driver Adrian Sutil occupied fifth place, in the second test, used to familiarise the team with the circuit, he set the second fastest lap in 1:47.294 minutes after having completed twelve laps. In the first of the afternoon sessions that followed the man from Graefelfing set sixth quickest time of 1:47.546 minutes in the powerful 520 hp A1 Grand Prix race car. In the second session, which was interrupted for some time by a red flag, he finished in tenth place with a time of 1:47.292 after completing 22 laps.

Adrian Sutil, who had never seen the circuit in the United Arab Emirates, which opened in 2004, before practice this morning, put the results down to a new set-up developed by his team. "At the previous races we often had problems with the rear tyre grip", analysed the 22-year old rising star. "Thanks to several changes made to the front suspension and the improved overall balance resulting from this, we made a step forward on Friday in Dubai."

Further suspension changes made between the first and second free practice sessions brought A1 Team Germany more useful data for analysis. "As a driver you have to get used to different handling traits, however the times show that the car was better from the word go", summarised Sutil.

New Zealand

The New Zealand A1 Grand Prix team is pleased with its opening practice day for this weekend's Round 6 of the World Cup of Motorsport in Dubai.

The team was happy with how its back-up chassis performed in its first outing of the Series and was also pleased to give 2003 IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon his first gallop in the Black Beauty.

Dixon drove in two extra 20 minute sessions given to teams to run in their second chassis before handing over the reins to Matt Halliday for the two official practice sessions.