15/04/2005
NEWS STORY
A1 Grand Prix is the first opportunity for nations to compete exclusively on a truly level playing field in the World Cup of Motorsport.
A1 Grand Prix is more than just another motorsport phenomenon; it's an entirely new sport - The World Cup of Motorsport. Pitting driver against driver and country against country for the first time in history, A1 Grand Prix will bring together 25 nations representing 80 per cent of the world's population to actively compete on a level playing field.
A1 Grand Prix has created a new medium for national and international brands and organisations to promote themselves on a global scale. Through the World Cup of Motorsport, they can join forces with their national teams to be part of this unique sporting event.
The World Cup of Motorsport promotes countries and utilises the national patriotism instilled in every person on the planet not only attracting traditional motorsport and sporting fans but exciting anyone who is passionate about their heritage, country and population.
Timeline
30 March 2004
Dubai Launch - His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum unveiled the A1 Grand Prix prototype car in the grounds of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in front of over 600 guests from Dubai and around the world. Based on a sound business model combined with the excitement of motorsport, the championship will run in the winter of 2005/06 with 25 identical cars. Each car represents an entire nation with the driver being indigenous to that country. Sponsorship for each car must only come from the country it represents.
07 June 2004
V8 engine announced - A1Grand Prix announced that the A1 Grand Prix race car will be powered by a 3.4 litre V8 engine manufactured by Zytek Engineering.
15 July 2004
Design finalised - Following extensive wind tunnel testing, the A1 Grand Prix car went on display at the Farnborough International Air Show. Marking the first time that the world famous show included motorsport content, the A1 Grand Prix car took centre stage and was seen by over half a million visitors.
23 July 2004
John Wickham, the vastly experienced motorsport manager who led Bentley to their historic win in the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours was appointed in July 2004 to oversee A1 Grand Prix's extensive testing programme. In December 2004 he became Global Operations Manager.
19 August 2004
Sky Sports, the UK's leading broadcaster of motorsport, signed an exclusive deal to televise the championship. The broadcaster will show all practice and qualifying sessions and races live in the UK.
20 August 2004
One of the UK's most experienced international racing drivers, former Formula 1 driver Ralph Firman signed up to test the A1 Grand Prix car.
27 August 2004
Successful hot and cold weather tests completed - In August 2004, the A1 Grand Prix car completed 2,000 kilometres of successful testing in both the UK and Spain with Ralph Firman and A1 Grand Prix General Manager, Stephen Watson, at the wheel.
27 September 2004
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, from Findlay, Ohio, USA, through its Avon Tyres racing operation in Melksham, Wiltshire signed a three-year deal to supply the championship with controlled slick and treaded wet tyres.
30 September 2004
China, Great Britain, Lebanon, Pakistan, Portugal and South Africa were named as the first six nations to sign up to the A1 Grand Prix championship. The announcement was made at a London launch ceremony hosted by A1 Team Great Britain Chairman John Surtees MBE, the only man to have won world championships on two and four wheels. The following day, A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum was interviewed by the world's media in London's historic Trafalgar Square.
19 October 2004
A1 Grand Prix took a stand at SPORTELMonaco, the largest and most important meeting place for international television sports executives. The championship created a huge buzz as major television rights deals were negotiated.
28 October 2004
The A1 Grand Prix car was displayed at the tyre trade's biggest international show in Las Vegas where the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company discussed their official supplier deal with its own trade media.
01 November 2004
At the official launch in Johannesburg, South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki unveiled the country's A1 Grand Prix car alongside championship Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum and national seat-holder, former freedom fighter Tokyo Sexwale. Teams from Australia, Canada and Malaysia were also announced with former F1 world champion Alan Jones joining team owner Alan Docking to run the Australian team and former F1 driver Alex Yoong signed up to run the Malaysian team.
09 November 2004
Following the launch of A1 Team South Africa, championship Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum met former President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. Nelson Mandela was in prison with the South African seat-holder Tokyo Sexwale and his prison number 46664 will be one of two competition numbers on the car. The other will be 2010 - the year South Africa will host the football world cup. Shortly after, Alan van der Merwe took the wheel of the A1 Grand Prix car at the Kyalami track in front of 25,000 fans.
25 November 2004
A1 Grand Prix car achieved further milestones - The A1 Grand Prix car ran at the Vallelunga track in Italy covering 1,500 kilometres in three days. This completed a test totalling 3,500 miles on the engine 'without missing a beat'.
01 December 2004
President General Emile Lahoud was the second President to unveil their country's A1 Grand Prix car at the A1 Team Lebanon launch in Beirut. National seat-holder Tameem Auchi hosted the event at Le Royal Hotel with A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman joining guests on stage at the prestigious event. Seat-holders for Holland, Mexico, Korea and the Netherlands were also announced.
16 December 2004
A1 Grand Prix commissioned production of the largest motor racing order in history - A contract with Huntingdon based company Lola Cars was activated to start production of 50 identical A1 Grand Prix cars. Behind A1 Grand Prix's order for 58 identical 3.4-litre V8 engines from Zytek Engineering, this was the largest single order in motorsport's history.
13 January 2005
A1 Grand Prix announced inaugural race for Brands Hatch - At the Autosport International Show in Birmingham the date and venue of the first race in the A1 Grand Prix championship were revealed. A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum took to the show's central stage with MotorSport Vision Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer and John Surtees, Chairman of A1 Team Great Britain. It was announced that the inaugural A1 Grand Prix will take place on 18 September at Brands Hatch in the UK.
25 January 2005
The date for the Brands Hatch race was changed to 25 September following feedback from motorsport fans that wanted to attend the race but already had tickets for other events on the original date.
26-27 January 2005
A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum arranged for the A1 Grand Prix car to run at the Dubai Autodrome on the 26 and 27 January in aid of the Tsunami Earthquake victims. It was also the first time the car was seen in Sheikh Maktoum's native Dubai since its launch in March 2004.
31 January 2005
With Robbie Kerr at the wheel, the A1 Grand Prix car broke the Dubai Autodrome lap record during two days of testing on 26 and 27 January. The car covered 700 kilometres during the test bringing its total distance to over 5,000 kilometres.
28 February 2005
The President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf attended the official launch of A1 Team Pakistan at the Lahore Fort. At the spectacular event, the first A1 Grand Prix driver was announced when Pakistan named Nur B. Ali as its driver. The following day, A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum made history as he drove through the streets of Lahore in the A1 Grand Prix car. With no race circuits in Pakistan, it was the first time any racing car had been seen in the country. In another historic move, the Indian Seat Holder was also announced. A1 Team India has been acquired by the Gupta family, owners of the Sahara Computer Company.
14 March 2005
A1 Team Mexico was officially launched at the Hipodromo de Las Americas in Mexico City when Team President Juan Cortina introduced the A1 Grand Prix car to guests including ministers and prominent businessmen. It was also announced that Ronaldo, one of the most famous international sporting stars, had bought A1 team Brazil. The Real Madrid player is also a member of the Brazilian national football team and played in the 1994 World Cup winning team that dedicated its win to the late Ayrton Senna.
30 March 2005
At the Sydney launch of A1 Team Australia, A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum announced that Australia will host a race in the 2005/06 championship. During the launch ceremony attended by local political figures as well as triple Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jack Brabham, Sheikh Maktoum revealed the sixteenth nation to sign-up. Businessman Colin Giltrap of Giltrap Holdings Limited, a long term supporter of motorsport, has bought the franchise for New Zealand.
6 April 2005
Beijing's 800-year old Diaoyutai State Guest House, once the vacation home to Chinese emperors, witnessed a momentous occasion in Chinese sporting history as it hosted the launch of A1 Team China, the country's first-ever motorsport team. A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum also announced that China will host the final round of the 2005/06 championship.
14 April 2005
A1 Team Great Britain Chairman John Surtees announced that Banbury-based Arden Motorsport will run the British A1 Grand Prix team. The short listed drivers, Adam Carroll, Ralph Firman, Robbie Kerr and Alex Lloyd will go through driver evaluation at Brands Hatch on 23-24 May to see who will represent A1 Team Great Britain in the championship's inaugural season.