10/11/2006
NEWS STORY
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Friday's scheduled A1GP rookie and practice sessions, prior to Sunday's third round of the 2006-07 A1GP season, in Beijing, have been postponed following issues with the layout of the 3.104km street circuit designed to host the city's first ever motorsport event.
While the track, designed especially for the event, received its FIA Grade 2 approval this morning as planned, organisers have opted to delay on-track activity until their concerns over one section of the track have been addressed.
Both sessions were originally delayed by two hours, to familiarise circuit officials with procedures.
Eventually, twenty two A1GP cars left the pit lane at 15.15 for the delayed start of the first official practice session. However, after two cars experienced minor incidents at turn eight, the hairpin bend at the end of the straight, which caused the session to be red flagged.
After practice was red flagged and then cancelled the team managers attended a meeting hosted by A1GP's David Clare at which a number of options to resolve the problem were discussed. These included widening the track or lengthening it to include a much wider space available at a junction just beyond the hairpin.
A1GP and circuit officials are still in discussions to resolve the situation ahead of tomorrow's planned practice and qualifying sessions.
Meanwhile, Team Greece will not be participating in the Beijing round.
Having joined the A1GP series in the closing weeks of the off-season, A1 Team Greece has decided to re-align the team and work on their competitive edge for future races. Furthermore, the driver whom the team had selected to compete in the Beijing race, is currently on national service and has not been allowed leave for the weekend.