25/04/2007
NEWS STORY
A1 Team India returns to the spiritual home of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport this weekend, for the final round in the 2006/07 season. After 10 events in countries across the globe, the team return to the Brands Hatch track where it all started in 2005. The event also marks a return for India racer Narain Karthikeyan, who raced at Brands in the early stages of his career.
F1 test driver and A1 Team India driver Karthikeyan has a great record at the British track, having won two races there in 1999. With its fierce undulating terrain and fast sweeping corners, Brands Hatch is one of the most challenging Grand Prix circuits in the world. The A1GP cars will run on the 2.3 mile long Grand Prix track, which takes in infamous corners such as Paddock Hill Bend, Druids and Hawthorn Bend – one of the three fastest corners on the A1GP calendar.
After running consistently in the top four at the last round in Shanghai, the team suffered another dose of bad luck when the Indian car was damaged on the opening lap of the Feature race, which would eventually prove terminal. With a severely damaged left side pod, the team called Karthikeyan into the pits where they replaced the broken bodywork. Hoping to salvage a point by securing the fastest lap, the Indian car returned to the track and was on a quick lap when something on the car broke, pitching the India driver into a spin and into the tyre barrier. With extensive damage to the car, A1 Team India will have to complete a substantial amount of work on the car before the first practice session at Brands Hatch.
Narain Karthikeyan said, "I'm really looking forward to going back to Brands. I haven't raced at the circuit since 2000, but I have good memories of the track, having won there in British F3. It's a very difficult circuit, with some fast corners, but there are a number of places to overtake which should make for some interesting racing.
"Brands Hatch will also be our last opportunity to secure a good result for India this season. I came into A1GP hoping to take India to the front and it has been very frustrating that we have not been able to turn our pace in practice and qualifying into solid race results. We're aiming to rectify that this weekend."
A1 Team India Seatholder Yohann Setna added, "Thankfully the damage from the crash in Shanghai was largely superficial and the team are working hard to replace the damaged bodywork and suspension. We've had a lot of bad luck this season and the team haven't been able to show their true potential. Hopefully we will get that chance at Brands Hatch."