10/04/2007
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Germany tops the table in the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport. The team under Stuttgart based motorsport manager Willi Weber travels to the tenth of eleven races, which is held in Shanghai between 13 and 15 April, with a 27 point lead. If the team returns home with at least 17 points to the good the title will be secured with one round left to run.
Willi Weber hands responsibility in China to his drivers Christian Vietoris and Nico Hulkenberg (right). Christian Vietoris from Gönnersdorf in the Eifel completed his first race for the team in Mexico and, despite being involved in an accident, clinched two points after clawing his way through the field. Nico Hulkenberg from Emmerich, who was prevented from racing in Mexico due to prior commitments, had clinched eight wins and 99 points since the start of season – including an incredible six wins in five weeks during the months of January and February.
Christian Vietoris will again use Friday's "Rookie Session" to finalise the initial basic set-up together with David Sears Motorsport for the technically demanding Grand Prix circuit. Afterwards, Nico Hulkenberg will take over the 520 hp A1 GP car and adjust the balance to suit his preferences around the 5.451 kilometre long circuit.
"A1 Team Germany has the chance to win the title in China with a race to spare," explains Willi Weber. "There is however no real pressure: The points lead is so big that Christian and Nico can approach their work in a more relaxed frame of mind. I'm intrigued to see the result on this potentially decisive weekend and wish the team all the best."
Nico Hulkenberg happily returns to his 'old' cockpit: "I have a good feeling and I am highly motivated. I've covered several thousand kilometres in a Formula 3 car in the meantime and have perfected left-foot braking in the process. I also now use this braking technique in the A1 GP car. I'm really interested to see the circuit in Shanghai as I'm not familiar with it at all."