09/04/2007
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Canada will welcome back race-winner Sean McIntosh (right) from Coquitlam, B.C., for the final two rounds of the 2006-07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport starting with next weekend's penultimate meeting at the Shanghai International Circuit in China, 13th-15th April, followed by the season finale at Brands Hatch Circuit in the United Kingdom, 27th-29th April.
The 21-year-old will return to race for Canada at both events while Québec's Kevin Lacroix will continue to undertake his rookie duties for the team, the 18-year-old participating in the Friday morning ‘Rookie-Only' sessions in China and the United Kingdom, as previously fulfilled by the Star Mazda stand-out in South Africa and Mexico already.
McIntosh will make his third start of the current A1GP season in Shanghai having participated earlier in Rounds 4 and 5 respectively in Malaysia and Indonesia, a top-five Feature race finish at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit the highlight.
Round 5's return to Sentul in Indonesia last December saw McIntosh race as the defending champion having scored Canada's first and currently only A1GP victory to-date at the corresponding round in the inaugural 2005-06 A1GP season. Unfortunately for Sean, a repeat performance wasn't on the cards this time round, the Canadian team just outside the points in the Sprint race with a retirement thwarting hopes of a points paying finish in the later Feature event.
While next weekend's trip to Shanghai marks the second time A1GP has visited the impressive 4.6km track, home of the Chinese Grand Prix, McIntosh will turn his first laps at the circuit having missed out on running last season's race there as Champ Car veteran Patrick Carpentier steered for Canada.
"It looks like a very interesting circuit, I've heard it described as the Disneyland of motorsport," McIntosh commented. "Most drivers are pretty positive about the track and its facilities so naturally I'm looking forward to heading out there and seeing it for myself."
On his return to A1GP action Sean continued, "It's always great to represent your country and I'm excited at the thought of being back in the Canadian car. I've always enjoyed competing in A1GP and the atmosphere around the paddock is very inviting. I'm pretty comfortable driving the car although I'm sure there'll be a re-acquaintance period given I haven't been in it since December and raced it just twice since winning in Indonesia 14 months ago. The competition is as strong as ever in the series but I'm hoping I can do my bit and get Canada back into the top-ten. I'm new to the Shanghai track but I raced for Canada at Brands Hatch last season and scored on my debut so I'm optimistic we'll get back up there."
Canada has failed to score since Toronto's James Hinchcliffe bagged a pair of top-six finishes in Round 6 in New Zealand back in January. The team heads to China for Round 10 next weekend sitting just outside the top-ten for the first time since the season began in Holland last October, currently placing 11th overall in the Nations Standings, seven points behind the USA (35-28).