25/04/2007
NEWS STORY
A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will return to Circuit Park Zandvoort in the Netherlands for the 2007/08 season opener on the 28 – 30 September 2007, one year after the seaside town hosted the first race in the current season. A capacity crowd of 75,000 fans watched A1 Team Germany's Nico Hülkenberg take his maiden victory for the team, their first step on the path to the championship victory they finally secured in Shanghai.
Last year's Feature race was characterised by breathtaking overtaking manoeuvres and unpredictable conditions that delivered one of the most exciting races of the season. A1 Team Netherlands' rookie Jeroen Bleekemolen, promoted to main driver that weekend, led for a quarter of the race before finally finishing fourth, giving the crowds a spectacular show that will no doubt draw them back for a second year.
Commenting on last year's event A1 Team Netherlands' seat holder, Jan Lammers said: 'Last year's event will be very hard to beat, but let's hope we can at least match that so we can host a memorable A1GP season opener yet again. The first A1GP at Zandvoort has been the perfect showcase for A1GP and embodied everything the World Cup of Motorsport is all about – great racing, an overwhelming atmosphere, extensive media coverage.
Talking from the A1 Team Netherlands point of view, we are already looking forward to racing in front of our home crowd again and with the ever present massive support from all the fans we and all other countries competing will promise another great event. Last year we just missed out on the podium, this year we will as always be aiming for the top spot. So, we would like to invite everyone over to Circuit Park Zandvoort in September. Don't hesitate too long with buying your tickets, otherwise the best seats in the house will surely be gone.'
A1GP's Chief Executive Officer for Europe, Bruce Holmes added: 'Last year's Zandvoort race was the perfect start to the season with the Dutch fans packing the grandstands and covering the dunes to support their national team. The event epitomised the values of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport as the fans all dressed in orange and waving the Dutch flag, cheered on their local hero. The race itself was fast-paced and exciting, the leader changed several times and nobody could have predicted the end result. In all the weekend was a great success, thoroughly enjoyed by teams and fans alike so it is with great enthusiasm that we look forward to returning to Zandvoort for the first race in our 2007/08 season.'
Erik Weijers, Chief Operating Officer Circuit Park Zandvoort concluded: 'We are proud to have the opening race of a new A1GP season at Circuit Park Zandvoort for the second time. There is only one event in the world where you see so many “orange” fans sitting on the dunes, and that's during the A1GP at Zandvoort.'
The atmosphere will be electric next September as tens of thousands of fans, most dressed in orange, make their way to Zandvoort. The event is being eagerly anticipated by both fans and motorsport experts with tickets going on sale on Thursday 26 April 2007. Tickets are available through www.A1GP.com or from TicketBox outlets nationwide.
While the A1GP Zandvoort, the Netherlands will run from 28 – 30 September 2007, A1GP's weekend schedule will run over the Saturday and Sunday only. Three one hour practice sessions and qualifying for the Sprint race will take place on the Saturday with the two races running on the Sunday. Friday will see a host of support races and off-track activities entertain the crowds in order to meet the circuit's noise restriction requirements.
The support series for the A1GP will be the Formido Suzuki Swift Cup, the Benelux Racing League (including the BRL Light series, the Formula Ford BeNeLux championship and the Dunlop SportMaxx Clio Cup.
Further details of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport's third season will be made over the coming weeks.