10/05/2005
NEWS STORY
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Former F1 star, Pedro Lamy, set an impressive pace at Silverstone today, as the A1 Grand Prix organizers held a shakedown - or should that be sheikh-down - of what should be the definitive car.
Lamy, fresh from the Nurburgring, where he won the 24-Hour race at the weekend, and ahead of this weekend's round of the FIA GT Championship at Silverstone, posted a best (unofficial) time of 1:37.15, this compares favourably with the pole-winning time (1:36.90) posted by Tonio Liuzzi for the British round of the F3000 championship in 2004.
All the more impressive is the fact that not only was this the Portuguese driver's first time in the A1 Grand Prix car, it is his first drive in a single-seater for several years.
Lamy contested 32 Grands Prix between 1993 and 1996 with Lotus and Minardi, his best result being 6th in the 1995 Australian GP, driving the Minardi-Ford.
Following the test, Pedro confirmed to Pitpass that he will be driving Portugal's entry in the A1 Grand Prix series, which gets underway in September. The Portuguese team, one of 16 confirmed entries, is owned by soccer star Luis Figo.
There is a genuine feeling of excitement within the A1 Grand Prix team, despite the massive amount of work that has still to be done. The Portuguese team will be launched later this month and it's thought that at that time a further six teams will be announced.
A1 Grand Prix Executive Director, Tony Teixera, told Pitpass that several major announcements are in the pipeline, and that the inaugural event in September will attract a raft of world leaders, as the 'world cup of motorsport' continues to capture the imagination.
"This is the perfect thing for nations," he said. "I dream of Indian race fans making bets with their Pakistani counterparts on whose car will perform best. I really believe this series will bring nations together."
Overseeing today's test was the man who originally conceived the idea, and who has been the driving force behind it, Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum. Talking to Pitpass, Sheikh Maktoum said he was delighted with the progress that has been made, his only regret being that he wasn't able to drive the car himself today. That said, we hear that the car could make an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Another observer, who looked suitably impressed, was Jordan Sporting Director, Trevor Carlin, who admitted to being surprised by the A1 Grand Prix car's pace.