16/04/2007
NEWS STORY
Willi Weber's A1 Team Germany won the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport in Shanghai on Sunday. In the only international motorsport series for nations, Germany (2006/07) is now the second nation to win the title after France. The Stuttgart based motorsport manager Willi Weber comments on his team's victory.
Which goals did you set when you got involved in the newly established A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport in August 2005?
Willi Weber: "We obviously wanted to fight for the title as soon as possible. However, during the first season the entire team had to gel and familiarise itself with the car, which proved to be a little troublesome at the beginning. We showed what was possible with second place at Laguna Seca towards the end of the season. The breakthrough was made in the second season, which started in September 2006. Thanks to Nico Hülkenberg's brilliant performances, the efforts of the entire team and the support provided by Christian Vietoris we fought for and won the title.”
Many motorsport titles are linked with your name – from Formula 3 to Michael Schumacher's seven Formula 1 titles and the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport. What does this latest title mean to you?
WW: "Everything I tackle, I aim to guide to a successful conclusion. I am proud and happy that we have won the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport title. At the same time, the win is resounding confirmation of our driver policy, since we signed Germany's best young talents at the start of the season. The A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport is an excellent stepping stone to even higher classes.”
How would you judge the competition during the current season?
WW: "There were more than 20 nations on the grid, which in the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport enjoy a special advantage when compared to other race series': You can nominate the best driver from a nation and enter them any way you want. Nico Hülkenberg is 19 years old; Christian Vietoris has just turned 18. Nico dominated and Christian also established himself in individually selected sessions against drivers with significantly more experience. In this case, we are talking about previous factory drivers from the DTM such as Marcel Fässler, Jeroen Bleekemolen or Jarek Janis, Formula 1 drivers like Alex Yoong or top drivers from leading US race series' ChampCar and IRL like Bruno Junqueira, Neel Jani and Ryan Briscoe. At the same time many young drivers from national racing series make the step up. Nico and Christian are excellent representatives for A1 Team Germany.”
What part does the team play in the success?
WW: "David Sears started his winning streak in Formula 3000 by taking four championship titles and has continued it in the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport. Our drivers rave about working together with the team, which gives them all the support they need. We are very happy about it.”
For the first time in your career as motorsport manager it wasn't about driver personalities but about victory for a nation. What does this mean to you?
WW: "It's fantastic that the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport was established. As a result, the historical opportunity exists to represent Germany in this sector of sport. I'm proud to be able to do exactly this in motorsport with our A1 Team Germany – and successfully too. We obviously all felt the enthusiasm that pulsed through our country during the Football World Cup. It would be fantastic if the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport also found a broader fan base in Germany.”
The championship's second season finishes on 29 April at Brands Hatch. What do you have planned for the time after?
WW: "We are looking forward to a glorious finish at Brands Hatch. Even during the first appearance of this series at this track eighteen months ago the atmosphere was fantastic and the grandstands were packed – 80,000 fans were there. Afterwards, the drivers managed by us will start in various monoposto championships: Nico Hülkenberg in the Formula 3 Euro Series and Christian Vietoris in the German Formula 3 Cup. In the third A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport season Christian should fill the role that Nico played this year, because it goes without saying that we will be competing to defend our title.”
All you need to know about events at Shanghai, round ten of the 2006/2007 A1 GP series, including times, reports, points, championship standings, quotes and pictures... right here