19/01/2006
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Canada has announced today that Patrick Carpentier will represent Canada in the A1 Grand Prix of Nations in Round 9 of the inaugural series at Fundidora Park, Monterrey, Mexico (24-26 February) and again in Round 10 at Laguna Seca, California, USA (10-12 March).
Carpentier (34), from Joliette, Québec is undoubtedly one of Canada's most accomplished active motorsport talents with a professional career spanning eight seasons in the Champ Car World Series, where he scored five victories from 22 podium finishes and the 1997 Jim Trueman 'Rookie of the Year' honors, and a full season in the Indy Racing League in 2005 where he finished on the podium twice and led the League in laps completed.
"I'm really excited to be representing Canada in the A1 Grand Prix Series," stated Carpentier. "I'm grateful to Wade Cherwayko for the offer to join the Canadian team and to Mecachrome for allowing me to compete in Mexico and the USA. I won my last race at Laguna Seca in Champ Cars in 2004, I love the track and I know some of the other quick guys from the IRL are going to be representing their countries that weekend – it's going to be a lot of fun!
"I've raced a couple of times at Fundidora Park in Mexico as well so again I know the track and can take the time to get used to the A1GP car. I have to say the A1 Team Canada car looks amazing and I can't wait to start racing it next month."
A1 Team Canada Franchise holder, Wade Cherwayko, is equally pleased to have Carpentier represent Canada when the A1 Grand Prix of Nations crosses the Atlantic for the first time next month.
"My objective from the very start for A1 Team Canada was to bring together both the present and the future of Canadian motorsport. Patrick represents the present and I'm delighted that he shares our vision for the team along with Sean McIntosh, one of Canada's leading young talents," said Cherwayko.
"Patrick brings an exceptional amount of talent and experience to our driver line- up, he's a proven winner at the top level of open-wheel competition and more importantly he's a great ambassador for Canada having competed internationally against some of the world's finest drivers. Participating in the A1 Grand Prix of Nations gives Canada the opportunity to put its stamp firmly on the world motorsport map and to follow on from the reputation established by the likes of Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve in Formula One.
He continued, "Our involvement in the series also represents a major business opportunity for Canadian companies looking for a global vehicle to promote themselves. With 25 different nations competing and the series visiting five different continents during the season, Canadian businesses can actively promote themselves globally while utilizing the universal appeal of the first ever 'World Cup of Motorsport."
France currently leads the A1GP Nations Standings courtesy of nine wins, with Brazil and Switzerland the only other countries to have celebrated on the top step of the podium to-date. Other nations competing in the 'World Cup of Motorsport' include the USA, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, China, Japan, Germany and India.
A1 Team Canada currently sits tenth overall following the first six rounds of competition hosted in the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Australia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
With Vancouver's Sean McIntosh (20) driving for A1 Team Canada, the team has collected a total of seven top-ten starts and seven top-ten finishes, McIntosh's podium finish in October's second round Feature race a notable highlight along with a pair of top-six finishes from Round 6 in Dubai in December.
McIntosh will continue to represent Canada in Rounds 7 and 8 in South Africa (27-29 January) and Indonesia (10-12 February) respectively before the A1 Grand Prix of Nations crosses the Atlantic and Patrick Carpentier takes over behind the wheel of A1 Team Canada's charger in Mexico and the United States.