21/11/2006
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Germany topped the 23 nation championship after the opening two races of the A1 Grand Prix Series, however at the third round in Peking gearbox failure meant that Nico Hülkenberg was forced to retire from the lead only ten laps before the end of the race. At the fourth round in Malaysian Sepang on 26 November the Willi Weber managed team aims to retake the championship lead.
After winning the opening race of the season in Holland at Zandvoort, carving through the field from 16th position to fourth in Brno, Czech Republic and the unlucky retirement in Beijing, A1 Team Germany still occupies a leading position on the leader board: Second place only two points behind new championship leader Mexico means that the situation in Malaysia can be quickly reversed. "It goes without saying that I would have preferred to travel to the fourth race with an eight point advantage instead of trailing by two points", explains Nico Hülkenberg, who expects a completely new situation in Sepang. The first two circuits of the 2006/2007 season were familiar to the team's race driver, who comes from Emmerich, having visited them at an earlier stage in his career, while the street circuit in Beijing was new ground for every driver. Several of his A1 Grand Prix Series rivals competed in Sepang last year. Hülkenberg, however, only knows the 5.54 kilometre circuit, which is located 60 kilometres south of the capital Kuala Lumpur, from the television. "I get used to new circuits easily", states the 19-year old race driver. "And thanks to the excellent team under David Sears I feel very comfortable at all circuits because the engineers always set-up the car to my liking. The pit stops are also fantastic. The chemistry in the team is spot-on since we get on well with each other away from the circuit."
Willi Weber is delighted about how the season has been running up till now. "Last time out in China we were again fighting for victory, a win which we only lost because of bad luck", says the motorsport manager. "With their excellent performances both Nico and David Sears" race team have been able to continue their excellent run of form. I wish the team ever success in its quest to reclaim the championship lead in Malaysia. The A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport is turning out to be much more exciting than last year. The fans are seeing thrilling on-track action."