27/09/2005
NEWS STORY
It goes without saying that the TV coverage of the inaugural A1 GP weekend suffered massively as a result of the "software failure" that meant that the commentators, and therefore race fans, were left thoroughly confused, and frustrated, during qualifying on Saturday.
However, that aside, one can only hope that the actual presentation of the programme improves as the season progresses.
In the commentary box, Ben Edwards and John Watson were as professional as ever, giving a superb performance under the most difficult conditions.
However, as for the other presenters... oh dear.
The whole thing was summed up on Sunday afternoon, when 'pitlane reporter' Sophie Aal, having previously hit Robbie Kerr on the head with her microphone, asked the Team Great Britain driver; "What are you thinking now as you sit in the cockpit?"
"Why are you interviewing me?" came the immaculate response, that caused viewers around the country to cheer as one.
Having spent Saturday endlessly telling Kerr that the "entire nation" was behind him - that's when fellow pitlane presenter Keith Huewen wasn't interviewing the British driver - Aal changed tack on Sunday and ended each interview with a grin, a flutter of the eyelashes and the word "brilliant".
Reports that Miss Aal went to the Jim Bowen School of Presenting - "Great, smashing, super - remain unconfirmed.