02/11/2005
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Germany travels to the fourth round of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations at Eastern Creek in Australia brimming with confidence after the encouraging performance and chance of a top finishing position at the previous race in Portugal gave the team managed by Willi Weber renewed impetus. Only a collision, caused by one of the following competitors, prevented Adrian Sutil from continuing his fight back through the field from twelfth on the grid to fifth after 17 laps.
The team enters new territory between 4 and 6 November at the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australia. Adrian Sutil, nominated as A1 Team Germany driver for second time in succession, has never set foot on the fifth continent. The circuit, approximately 40 minutes drive from Sydney in the state of New South Wales consists of an unusual combination of high-speed turns and also hairpin bends form the 3.93 kilometre circuit, which is also characterised by its roller-coaster nature.
"I can hardly wait to get started in Australia," confesses Adrian Sutil from Graefelfing near Munich, Germany. "It is always an interesting experience getting to know a new track and, in this case, a new country for me. I learnt a huge amount in Portugal when I drove the A1 Grand Prix car for the first time for an entire race-weekend, which is a good base for the next race.” Willi Weber is also quietly confident: "Adrian's fighting spirit impressed me last time out in Portugal. He gets on well with his engineer and underlined the team's upward trend in the race until being the innocent victim of an accident. I'm sure that he will also approach the race in Australia with just as much controlled aggression and that the team will finally be rewarded for their efforts."