25/09/2005
NEWS STORY
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Memo to BusinessF1 editor-in-chief Tom Rubython, who previously told Pitpass editor Chris Balfe, the A1 GP would do well to attract 20,000 fans to Brands Hatch for the inaugural race.
Well, the editor's wife left home at 09:15 and finally arrived at the historic Kent circuit just after 12:30. The trip normally takes 25 minutes.
'If you build it they will come', we were told in Field of Dreams, and this weekend race fans in their thousands have come to share Sheikh Maktoum's dream.
Make no mistake, there have been teething problems, and, unbelievably, there are still some out there who obviously expect A1 to be the new F1 straight. However, the fact is that for a (true) World Championship series that has been put together in just eighteen months, this is bloody remarkable.
The forthcoming Sprint race is 18 laps long, and there are no pit stops. The finishing order decides the (standing) grid order for the Feature race. As you will be aware, drivers have access to a 'power boost' button - a device which gives them up to extra 30bhp. In this event they will have up to 4 opportunities to use this device. It is entirely at their discretion when they use the button - however, timing is essential. Once the button is pushed, the device kicks in and only switches off once the drivers 'lifts off'.
Brazil is starting from pole position ahead of New Zealand, France, Australia, Britain, Switzerland, Mexico, Pakistan, Malaysia and Japan.
As you'd expect, in the 'Garden of England', the sun is shining.
The field comes back into view, entering clearways, they're away, heading towards Paddock Hill four abreast. There are a few 'wobbles' at the back but they all get away cleanly.
Brazil leads from France and New Zealand, and Netherlands' race is over almost before it begins.
At the end of lap 1, Brazil leads as Britain makes a move on Australia at Druids, but cannot make it stick.
Brazil leads France by 1.06s with New Zealand another 0.7s behind. Meanwhile South Africa pits, apparently having been involved in Netherlands' retirement.
Behind the top five, it's Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, Switzerland, Ireland, USA and Japan.
After 4 laps, Russia is already a lap down, whilst China is hard on the heels of Austria.
After 6 laps, Brazil leads France by 1.7s, with New Zealand keeping a watching eye.
Strangely, despite the aerodynamics, despite the 'power boost' we're not witnessing any overtaking. That said, there are a couple of great battle, particularly Malaysia and Germany.
Ireland and Japan posts personal best laps as South Africa appears to have rejoined the race.
8 laps completed and Brazil leads by 1.63s, as Portugal closes on Pakistan in the battle for seventh. Ireland is all over Switzerland, as USA closes in on the pair of them.
Portugal loses ground following a mistake at Paddock Hill bend, allowing Switzerland, Ireland and USA to close in.
Germany, Italy, Austria and China all up their pace, posting personal bests.
Sure enough, Italy makes a great move on Canada at the approach to Paddock Hill, Toccacelo going through to take seventeenth.
With 12 laps completed, Brazil leads 2.145s. Malaysia gets a little out of shape, which allows Germany to close in.
After 14 laps, the best battles are between Japan and Malaysia for twelfth, and the Czech Republic and Canada, indeed the Czech car gets through to take eighteenth. The Czech car promptly sets off after Indonesia.
Brazil appears to be heading for an easy victory, though France and New Zealand are still pushing hard. Australia is fourth ahead of Britain and Mexico.
Nelson Piquet takes the chequered flag for Brazil, as France manages to hold off New Zealand, despite both having to deal with the Russian backmarker on the last lap.
Australia holds off Britain to take fourth, while Mexico finishes fifth ahead of the battling Pakistan and Portugal teams. Switzerland and Ireland are the lost of the points winners.
"I am really really happy," said raqce winner Piquet, "it feels like my first race win. I am especially happy after all the effort the team put in in such a short time to bring it all together.
"Obviously I am happy to be the first driver to win the first race of a new championship," he admitted. "I want to say thank you to Sheikh Maktoum, who has created this beautiful show, and the team as everything they did was perfect. The only way I could have been more dominant was by opening a larger gap to Alex but he was quite close to me for most of the race and our pace was similar."
"I got a really good start behind Nelson and was able to overtake Matt into the first corner," said Alexandre Premat. "I think it was really important to start just behind Nelson although he was really fast and obviously it was really hard for me to overtake. I think our lap times were quite close but on a fast circuit like this it was hard for me to overtake him."
"At the start I wanted to come across behind Nelson," admitted New Zealand's Matt Halliday, "but there was no gap as Alex was right behind him and it was impossible for me to fit in there. I slotted into third and for us in the first race this is fine as it was not worth taking a risk or doing anything silly and then having to start race 2 from the back of the grid.
"I am sure all the people back home are very excited as we have a good motorsport heritage."
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