24/09/2005
NEWS STORY
USA
Driver Scott Speed and A1 Team USA qualified in 17th place for Sunday's debut of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations competition at Brands Hatch during qualifying on Saturday. A1 Team USA clocked in at 2'33.317 - the average of its two best times during the four qualifying sessions - to finish just below the middle of the pack leading into Sunday's race.
Having had the fastest time in the previous day's practice session, finishing 17th in the qualifying session was a surprise, however A1 Team USA owner Rick Weidinger remains cautiously optimistic about the team's chances in the first A1 Grand Prix, to be run Sunday at Brands Hatch.
"We worked the car very well, and were able to accomplish a lot today" said Weidinger. "Higher qualifying would be great, but Sunday's race is all that counts. We've got some work to do, but I am encouraged by both Scott's attitude and our previous practice performances both yesterday, and last month at Paul Ricard, where we finished first. I was pretty confident we could achieve a lot of positive things today and I think we have. Sunday's race still looks very promising for A1 Team USA."
In terms of comments that there may have been an issue with the Team USA car, team driver, Scott Speed, was insistent that there were no issues.
"On a track like this, with all the tips in evaluation there is always a chance that something could go wrong with the car. But we had no issues, other than typical adjustments you always need to make. The car is in good shape, we just need to tighten up our performance as a team on Sunday. I am confident that we can do just that and be very successful."
Weidinger said he was extremely proud of A1 Team USA's efforts during the qualifying sessions and in particular was encouraged by Speed's last lap of the qualifying which was his fastest.
"Given our last qualifying lap was our fastest of the day, I think we are moving in the right direction and I am looking forward to Sunday."
Ireland
Michael Devaney made steady improvements during qualifying for the inaugural A1 Grand Prix of Nations at Brands Hatch to enable A1 Team Ireland to start from 12th position on the grid for tomorrow's Sprint Race. The 20 year old Dubliner, enjoying his first ever event on the demanding Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, improved his lap times throughout practice. After setting the 16th fastest time in today's final practice session with a time of 1m17.20s Devaney went one second faster on his best qualifying run to set a 1m16.23s. His overall qualifying position was established using the aggregate of his two fastest times from the four-part qualifying session.
Michael Devaney: "We made good progress today but again I had a few issues with traffic and a few tenths difference on one of the other runs could have put us well inside the top ten. Today's important but the points are awarded tomorrow and that's the thing for me to concentrate on. And if it's wet I won't be disappointed considering how we went in those conditions yesterday. It should be good."
Andy Miller, Technical Director: "Michael did a good job today and we made improvements everywhere so I think we can be satisfied with the result. It was a bit disappointing to slip back after being well up after the first couple of qualifying runs, but given the fact that this is Michael's first time on the Grand Prix circuit and also the first outing for the team we should be happy with the fact that we are inside the top half of the field and in front of some highly rated drivers."
Mark Gallagher, Team Principal: "This was a very solid performance from the team and a strong qualifying debut by Michael at this level in the face of intense international competition. For A1 Team Ireland to be on the 6th row of the grid for its first race is satisfying, but now the focus shifts onto tomorrow's races. We know that Michael is very consistent and that his race pace in both dry and wet conditions is good so there's everything to play for. We are confident of being competitive whatever happens."
Great Britain
Following three practice sessions, competition started in earnest this afternoon with the first qualifying session of the A1 Grand Prix series. Qualifying consists of four 15 minute sessions with a 10 minute break between each. Only one driver per A1 Team is allowed to take part in Qualifying but that driver must have completed at least three timed laps in an Official Practice session. Each driver is limited to three laps - effectively one “flying lap” - per session and must record at least two times, an aggregate of which will determine that A1 Team's position on the grid for Sunday's Sprint race.
The grid for the Feature race will be determined by the outcome of the Sprint race. A1 Team Great Britain finished a credible fifth with fierce competition from teams such as Brazil and France. Traffic proved to be a deciding factor and it showed that there's a skill in the team decision as to when to make the attempted flying lap as well as driver skill on the track. Kerr managed to put in the fastest time in the second of the four sessions but the aggregate system meant that he takes his start for the sprint race on the third row of the grid.
Robbie Kerr: "The format's new and a bit unusual. It's getting a clear lap is the key to it. On our first lap we caught traffic. On the second we got a clear one. Third one we made a mistake and the last one we caught a bit more traffic. We can always improve to get more from the car so we've got a few things to work on and we'll be up there tomorrow. We've got a few things to work on and we'll be quicker. The support from the crowd's fantastic – you can see the flags waving and the flashes of the cameras."
Canada
After being caught out on his first attempt and ending in a spin, Sean McIntosh was on the back foot somewhat and didn't make the impression on the timing screens that he'd hoped but is keeping perspective given track experience and remaining positive for tomorrow's race.
Sean McIntosh: "The first session I had a bit of an off – just lost the rear of the car a bit. We were on older tyres and trying to get a good feel for the car. Then on the new tyres I got blocked by China. On the third one it was a clean run but the car wasn't on the pace and we're not quite sure why. Then the last one the South African car pulled out of the pits which messed up that lap as well. We knew we were going to be in the deep end with our programme being only ten days old. We need to keep our heads high and race."
Germany
Qualifying saw Germany's driver Timo Scheider push hard in the 520bhp A1GP car, which proudly boasts the countries own flag colours. He drove the short, yet undulating circuit well reaching speeds of 255kph, unfortunately making a mistake on his last set of tyres, pushing him into 13th place for tomorrows debut race.
David Sears, Team principal: "Timo Scheider looked good enough to be in the top ten in qualifying after using three sets of new tyres. However on his last set of tyres he made a mistake and ended up in 13th place overall for the first race tomorrow.
However Timo should be capable finishing within the top ten in the first race, but the forecast is for rain tomorrow, so pit stop strategy will be extremely important."
Timo Scheider: "Well the first qualifying session is now over, and I have to say it was definitely not a perfect result. However the positive thing is we proved we could complete a quick lap. I feel I missed out a lot of lap time for one reason or another, but qualifying has shown me that how important it is to have time in the car.
Overall I think the championship is going to be exciting but tough, especially with the GP2 drivers competing. We are ahead of the Netherlands Team in the first race, which is positive for us, but we have two races tomorrow so I'll just have to try my best!"
Malaysia
A1 Team Malaysia with Alex Yoong at the wheel qualified ninth of 25 national teams on the second day of the inaugural race weekend of the new A1 Grand Prix at Brands Hatch today.
The unique A1 Grand Prix qualifying format requires drivers to make four ‘flying laps’, within four sessions of 15 minute qualifying segments, with the best two times aggregated to produce the overall qualifying position. Yoong posted four consistent lap times, with his aggregate time less than one second over a flying lap off the pace of pole sitter, Brazil.
Yoong summed up his day saying, "I’m pretty satisfied. I took a couple of runs to dial myself into the car and the conditions and, for sure, we could have done better. But it’s the first race of the season; the boys have done a great job preparing the car, and ninth spot isn’t a bad place to be in; it’s a good starting position. I think we have the pace to run in the top five and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow."
In a twist to the traditional motor racing format, nominated drivers who did not participate in the qualifying session can race if they have posted an official practice time within 102% of his team mate’s fastest qualifying time. Under this rule, A1 Team Malaysia has selected Fairuz Fauzy to drive the A1 racing car for the Sprint race and Yoong for the Feature race in order that both nominated national drivers capitalize on accumulating race mileage in the inaugural round.
Fairuz comments, "I’m very over the moon and am very proud to be given the chance to be representing Malaysia in the first race of the A1 Grand Prix season. I enjoyed my practice session this morning and look forward to racing hard tomorrow and bringing home a good result for our country."