26/07/2007
NEWS STORY
New Zealand is the second race to be officially confirmed for A1 Grand Prix third season. The race will be held at Taupo between 18-20 January 2008.
The third season of the World Cup of Motorsport starts at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on 30 September, with the full season calendar scheduled to be announced late next week.
But newly appointed Chief Executive of the Taupo event, Gary Dawson, confirmed last night that the meeting will be Round 6 of the championship and the first A1GP event of the New Year.
"A1GP management were thrilled with the success of the inaugural event this year and see Taupo as a great fit with the series," Dawson said.
The announcement was made at a function in Auckland to celebrate the New Zealand team's runner-up placing in the World Cup of Motorsport and look ahead to the third A1GP season.
A1 Team.NZL team owner Colin Giltrap confirmed that Jonny Reid would be Black Beauty's principal driver this season with support from a pool of up-and-coming Kiwi drivers.
"Jonny was voted the 'Most Improved Driver' at the A1GP end of season awards and he has earned the right to have more certainty about his position within the team," Giltrap said.
"Matt Halliday has done a superb job for us, especially heading into the unknown in Year One, but he's chasing his dream in the United States and that's where his focus needs to be.
"We'll be keeping in close contact with Matt and seeing how we can further his ambitions in Champ Cars, but our emphasis is on helping develop the country's rising talent. We'll be doing everything we possibly can to give young Kiwis experience in A1GP's Rookie Sessions."
Giltrap revealed that German-based 17-year-old Brendon Hartley will join Reid in driving at A1GP's official pre-season testing session at Silverstone in England next month.
The Palmerston North teenager has forged an impressive lead in the ultra-competitive EuroCup Formula Renault championship, recognised as a breeding ground for Formula One.
"We're delighted the Red Bull Junior Race Team sees the value in releasing Brendon for the Silverstone testing and we're looking forward to seeing how he settles into the A1GP car."
Last season Wade Cunningham, Daniel Gaunt and Chris van der Drift drove Black Beauty in A1GP Rookie Sessions.