29/01/2007
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Switzerland heads to Eastern Creek in Australia boosted by the nine points earned by Sebastien Buemi in New Zealand.
Neel Jani, who has scored 16 of the team's 29 points, should have joined the team as the main driver this weekend, but as he was leaving the States after testing in the Champ Car series for the PKV Racing Team, he trapped his hand in a car door and is too injured to race this weekend.
However, after scoring nine points in New Zealand, Sebastien Buemi (right) is ready to step into the breach and has flown out to Australia. The team's rookie will be again Marcel Fässler.
"I arrived back from New Zealand on Tuesday evening," revealed Buemi. "I hardly had time to unpack when I received a phone call from our team principal asking if I could return to represent our country at Eastern Creek. It is quite a responsibility because I have never seen the track before and it will be my first time in Australia as well. I had a quick look at the layout of the track before repacking my suitcase. What I've seen so far on the videos from the race last year is interesting and the circuit looks really like it has a good mix of fast and slow corners. But it's difficult for me to guess how much grip the track will have until I am out there. I'll be one of the few drivers who won't know the track from last year. I'll walk around with my engineer Franck Funke and Marcel Fässler, the team rookie. Then I'll jog around a couple of times to keep fit. We'll also study last year's data and discuss the team's strategy. This will be I hope enough preparation. It feels really good to know I'll be driving again."
"It was a strong drive from Sebastien Buemi in New Zealand to score nine points in the sprint and the feature races," added A1 Team Switzerland team principal, Max Welti. "I really feel sorry that Neel cannot join as per the initial plan. But we have to adapt to unexpected conditions and keep our goal clear: Finish races in good conditions and score points. We all wish Neel a prompt recovery."