21/11/2007
NEWS STORY
This weekend A1 Team Malaysia welcomes the A1GP Series to Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur for the third round of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.
For the team this event is all about points. The pride of the nation rests with the Malaysian team at each round of the A1GP Series and when it is the home race this is all-important. The team will be racing in the pursuit of glory, in front of the Malaysian fans, and aiming to score the first points of the season for the team. After two highly successful seasons, the team has, uncharacteristically, finished outside of the points in the first four races. Regular driver, Alex Yoong, will be looking to reverse his and the team's fortunes with two strong finishes and Malaysia's rookie driver, Aaron Lim, is hoping to help the team with his supporting efforts in the practice session on Friday.
Yoong says, "What a difference a year makes! This time last season we'd had a pole position and two wins; this season we've still to score a point. But I'm not too concerned at this stage, it's a long season and we all know what we need to do to change around our fortunes. There's no better place to make that happen than at your home race, so that's exactly what we'll be setting out to do. Historically in A1GP the home nation hasn't had their best performances on their own ground, but we're determined to change all that. We're going all out to put in the best performances we can in every session of the weekend. The first two race weekends are in the past, all we're focused on now is bringing pride to Malaysia for trying our hardest to race as best as we can."
Aaron Lim is eager to perform in front of the home crowd, commenting, "It's very special to drive in front of your home nation, so I'm really excited about being out on the Sepang circuit on Friday. It's a track I know well as I've grown up here, but this weekend it'll be my first experience of it in the A1GP car. I hope that my knowledge of the track will help me with my work on the car development in preparation for the races on Sunday and that I can show the team, the local fans and my peers the potential that I have to be racing for my nation in A1GP in the future."
Ahead of the weekend the two drivers, the team's car and the technical crew have all been busy promoting the home race. Yoong and Lim have travelled to Borneo to show some of their rival drivers the home of Orang Utans and the work that is done for their conservation. They will host media at the Proton test track later in the week, as well as taking on more A1GP drivers in a flatwater canoeing sprint race at Putrajaya. Both drivers have given a host of interviews to local and national media including television and radio stations.
The A1 Team Malaysia car has also been busy, visiting London for the travel industry's major trade show, World Travel Market, and being displayed on the Tourism Malaysia stand. It was also at a British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry function attended by the British High Commissioner.
Jack Cunningham, Chief Executive, A1 Team Malaysia adds, "We are given tremendous support by our Malaysian fans throughout the season wherever we're racing, so we are always pleased when the series arrives in our town and we have the chance to showcase A1GP and A1 Team Malaysia in our own country. As a team we haven't had the start that we expected this season, but we're working hard to improve on our performances in the season so far. We want to repay our loyal fans and partners with two really strong race results, but we also know that every one of the other 21 nations will be fighting hard to bring their country success. The competition is very strong, with any of eight or nine teams capable of winning. I know that Alex, Aaron and everyone in A1 Team Malaysia is looking forward to being at home in Sepang, and we hope that we'll see plenty of our supporters flying our flag around the track throughout the weekend."