20/01/2008
NEWS STORY
Brazil
A1 Team Brasil picked up five valuable championship points today when Sergio Jimenez finished the Taupo feature race in sixth place at round five of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. Earlier in the day Team Brasil finished 13th in the feature race after Sergio was forced off track to avoid a first corner collision, costing a points finishing position.
Starting tenth in the 14-lap sprint race, Sergio had no chance to gain positions as he was forced off the circuit on turn one to avoid an incident between Malaysia, Switzerland and Canada, and he dropped to 19th position. Following a safety car period he was up to 18th following Team GBR's dash into the pits and then passed Mexico on lap seven for 17th. Sergio made passes on China and Indonesia on lap nine to move up to 15th and then gained a further position a lap later with the retirement of the Czech Republic. On lap 11 he gained one more place with a great overtake on Team Lebanon, and crossed the finish line in 13th.
Sergio began from 11th on the grid for the afternoon's feature race, and gained one place after the start. He moved up a position again after the restart and was up to seventh by lap five as Team GBR retired and Team Switzerland took a drive through penalty. On lap seven sprint race winners and home favourites New Zealand snatched seventh from Brasil and Sergio remained in eighth position throughout his two mandatory pitstops. On lap 38 he passed South Africa for seventh and, two laps later when Switzerland made another pitstop, Sergio moved up to sixth place, the position in which he crossed the line.
A1 Team Brasil leaves New Zealand in 11th place in the championship with 27 points. However, the team is now just one point adrift of both India and China, and will be looking to move up the championship ladder in a fortnight's time when A1GP moves to Eastern Creek, Australia, for round six of the championship.
Sergio Jimenez: "I have to be happy that we got some points in the bag this afternoon and finished in a strong position but qualifying did not go to plan yesterday, we could easily have been in the top five and we had the race pace to match that. We changed the car for the races today and it was such a shame in the sprint race because I was touched by Malaysia and went off track. That cost us points for sure because I made a very good start and we could have finished in the top six. For the feature race we started 11th and I had a very good start and the pace was good. The car was difficult to drive because we had too much understeer, although that was okay by the end but we need to look at that problem. For Australia we need to work on improving qualifying because we have the speed in the race and we need to put ourselves in a better starting position."
Canada
A1 Team Canada celebrated a return to the Feature race podium today in Round 5 of the 2007-08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport as Toronto's Robert Wickens delivered a stellar performance to finish runner-up to Germany's Christian Vietoris at New Zealand's Taupo Motorsports Park.
Wickens successfully converted fourth on the grid to a well-earned second place, the 18-year-old rookie's first Feature race finish in three attempts and the first Feature podium for Canada since Vancouver's Sean McIntosh led the team to victory in Indonesia in the inaugural 2005-06 A1GP season. Having landed a third place Sprint podium on his A1GP debut in Malaysia last November, Robert scored his second top-three finish in six starts, his efforts at Taupo taking Canada's points tally to 22, the team climbing to 12th in the A1GP Nations Standings at the mid-season turn.
Sunday morning's 14-lap Sprint race was instantly forgettable for Canada. Starting eighth Wickens was caught up in a four-car, first corner incident. While he was able to continue, Robert's race would end in retirement three laps shy of the checkered due to suspension damage while New Zealand's Jonny Reid celebrated victory before an ecstatic home crowd – his win only the second ‘home' triumph in A1GP history following Robbie Kerr's victory for Great Britain at Brands Hatch last season.
Skillful driving and some slick team-work in the pits proved key to Canada's Feature race success. Dropping from fourth to seventh at the start, a broken clutch stop to blame, Robert picked up the pace to sit third at the time of his first pit stop on lap 10. Graduating to third again by lap 23, as a third Safety Car period littered proceedings, Wickens soon took the fight to Germany and France in first and second respectively – the gap between the trio less than a second when racing resumed.
A lightening fast second stop from the Canadian pit-crew allowed Robert to pass France's Loic Duval on pit-lane and set up a nail biting sprint to the checkered with Germany maintaining its position at the head of the pack. Holding second Wickens latched onto the rear of Vietoris in the German entry as they headed a train of four cars tailed by France and New Zealand to the flag. Vietoris held on to claim the win for Germany a mere 1.18 seconds ahead of a jubilant Wickens – scoring Canada's best finish of the season, with France's Duval completing the Taupo podium celebrations.
"There's no doubt our podium was deserved today," enthused Wickens. "The guys did an outstanding job in the pits and the result is testament to the progress made by the team since coming together in Zandvoort at the start of the season. Our previous podium in Malaysia was awarded after the fact so it's great to physically be there today with the team celebrating and sharing the champagne, especially after they worked so hard to repair the car following the Sprint race. I had a clutch stop break at the start of the Feature so I lost time exiting the pits as I had to wait a bit before leaving the box – it didn't do the team justice but the result shows just how well the team worked executing each stop!"
Simon Cayzer, A1 Team Canada's Team Manager commented, "The Sprint was obviously disappointing but we knew we had a good car and after the repairs we didn't want to change too much for the Feature. We had two very good pit stops from the team which was great as we haven't had a chance to do many in the races to-date. Robert was in good company in the Feature and we only finished a second behind the winner so I'm really happy!"
Czech Republic
Tomas Enge and the Czech team went through a character building weekend at Taupo where they fought more with the car than with competitors. Enge did not see the flag in the sprint and finished 12th in the feature race. New Zealand's Taupo brought action filled races and home crowds were ecstatic after their hero Johny Reid won the sprint race! The Czech team had a little reason to celebrate as they endured perhaps the most difficult weekend up to date.
The team took a calculated risk after qualifying disaster and set up the car in completely different way. The sprint race was filled with incidents and Enge found himself close to the points even though the car was again difficult to drive. Any hopes were dashed when he clashed with Lebanon's car at turn 12 with a little bit over three laps to go.
The feature race followed a similar pattern. Full fuel tank only highlighted problems over the bumps and Enge was very busy with steering wheel to keep it on the track. He managed to stay out of trouble and moved up from the 20th position on the grid. The Czechs lost precious second at the mandatory first stop. The second stop was a better one but points were out of reach. Enge crossed the line 12th. The Czech team are with 10 points 14th in the standings.
Tomas Enge: "We were quite close to the points in the end of the day but it was more up to problems of other competitors than thanks to our improved performance. We completely changed the car after qualifying but it did not cure our problem over the bumps. The car was bottoming a lot and I was fighting like mad to keep it on the track. I have not blistered my hands that much since my F3000 time! The car felt a bit better in the sprint but when we put in a lot of fuel for the feature race it was terrible. Also our first stop was not smooth and we lost few positions. As far as the collision in the sprint is concerned, I agree with the stewards that it was a racing incident. He suddenly slowed in the middle of the corner and I was not able to avoid. All in all, it was not our weekend and we have to move on. I certainly hope for better weekend at Daytona next week."
Antonin Charouz, Seat holder: "What can I say... Of course, we will analyze data and will learn from it. However, generally speaking the best thing is to forget this weekend and focus on next races."
France
This weekend, A1 Team France scored 20 points on the Taupo circuit in New Zealand, putting it only 2 points behind the leader. Mission accomplished! Since the start of the season, the team has shown remarkable consistency and competitiveness with 5- podium finishes and ten places in the top 10.
Loïc Duval started the « Sprint Race » from third on the grid and he finished third 14 laps later. In the Feature Race he was unable to take full advantage of his pole position and was passed by the Swiss team in the first corner. The latter was handed a drive-through penalty and A1 Team France took the lead, but several safety car periods prevented Loïc from opening up a gap. Germany took advantage of this to snatch first place after the first refuelling stops, and Canada also gained a place during the second round. A1 Team France finally saw the flag in third position.
This event marked the halfway point of the 2007-2008 A1 GP season. There are still 10 races to go, with the next round in Australia, in 2 weeks. A1 Team France is feeling pretty optimistic and hopes to continue its series of excellent results.
Olivier Panis, Sporting Director: "It's always a bit disappointing not to win a race when you start from pole. But the team has done a good job this weekend. The 20 points we've scored in New Zealand represent our second-best haul since the start of the championship. This has enabled us to hold on to our second place, and above all to get to within two points of the leader. Our next objective is to take first place."
Loïc Duval: "Consistency is the most important factor in our quest for the title, and apart from our Zhuhai disappointment, we've shown that we've always been potential podium finishers since the start of the season. But we'd like to add a bit of panache and score a victory soon. Psychologically, this could unlock our full potential and help us finish the championship with flying colours. We've had a solid weekend, though, and we should be very competitive in Sydney in two weeks' time."
Germany
Having clinched its first victory of the season in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in Zhuhai in December, Willi Weber's A1 Team Germany added another victory to its tally in the fifth round at Taupo in New Zealand thanks to the performances from both driver and team. Christian Vietoris from Gönnersdorf in Germany celebrated his inaugural A1GP victory in the feature race, thus putting Germany back in the race for the title. Willi Weber's team that has won the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport last season rose from eighth to fourth in the overall points standings at mid-season now.
In bullish mood, Christian Vietoris set off into the sprint race to make up for lost ground in qualifying. He had achieved the fourth fastest time the previous day in qualifying for the sprint race before missing out on pole position by only 0.035s half an hour later when qualifying second for the feature race. In the sprint race, the 18 year-old driver attacked the South African car in the first lap before the safety car came out. Thereafter, Germany quickly closed in on France and South Africa, overtook the opposition and was second by lap six. On his way to his first ever podium finish in A1GP, Christian Vietoris secured an additional point for the fastest sprint race lap.
In the feature race, Christian Vietoris staid behind France after the start. In lap nine, A1 Team Germany made its first mandatory pitstop. David Sears Motorsport, the squad that runs the 550hp A1GP car, made a slick pitstop several seconds faster than France, allowing Germany to take the lead on the track. In lap 35, Christian Vietoris pitted for the second time. Again, his crew was quicker than France which dropped to third place on the track behind Germany and Canada. After 50 laps on the 3.5 kilometre circuit located on New Zealand's picturesque Northern Island, A1 Team Germany took a solid first feature race win of the season by a 1.1s margin. Scoring a massive 28 points this weekend, Willi Weber's outfit jumped from eighth to fourth position in the standings. With only 17 points separating the first four teams and a maximum of 32 points to be allocated every weekend for the best team, the title race is wide open at mid-season with five events remaining in the next three months.
Christian Vietoris: "I have felt a lot of pressure coming off me now that I have won for the first time! The A1GP victory at Taupo feels great, in particular as we've won the feature race which is more difficult than the sprint race. Sunday started well with second place in the sprint race after a nice and fair fight with France and a battle with South Africa. In the feature race, it was the pit crew that has helped me overtaking France. A big thanks to all the guys from David Sears Motorsport who have worked so well. I have to admit that I wasn't driving at the limit because of vibrations coming from every set of tyres, but it was no problem as overtaking is particularly difficult at Taupo so the win was not at risk when I've decided to take it a bit easier."
Willi Weber: "This is simply great: After Michael Ammermüller's win in China, the team has secured a back-to-back win in New Zealand with Christian Vietoris. It shows our general driver choice was right, and our policy of nominating them for different events as well. But today's race has not only been won by strong performances on the track. The David Sears Motorsport team has done an excellent job in setting the car up and performing two brillant pitstops which helped Christian getting past France in the battle for the lead. Now we're back in the thick of the action. The title race is wide open, and A1 Team Germany's claim to defend its title has become much more realistic now after a slow start to the season."
Great Britain
A1 Team GBR's Robbie Kerr forced into retirement in both sprint and feature races in Taupo, New Zealand.
A1 Team GBR suffered two heartbreaking results today in Taupo, New Zealand, at round five of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. In the sprint race Robbie Kerr was hit while trying to overtake A1 Team USA, which forced him off the track and caused his engine to stall. His feature race then came to a premature end when he pulled into the pits with a technical problem which is currently being investigated.
After experiencing some technical problems in qualifying, Robbie began this morning's 14-lap sprint race from 13th on the grid. He made a very good start, avoided a multiple car collision at the first corner, and moved up five places to eighth by turn two. Following a brief safety car period, Robbie began to push seventh-placed Jonathan Summerton in the USA car. On lap five the two were side-by-side as Robbie dived down the inside to make the pass. Summerton clipped his front left wheel against Robbie's rear right. The impact lifted the Team GBR car and sent Robbie off the track, where the engine stalled. He managed to nurse his car to the pits and run some laps towards the end of the race, but was unable to score points.
The team was hoping for better fortunes in the afternoon's feature race, in which Robbie began from the fifth row of the grid in ninth place. However, prior to the start of the race, there was concern over an apparent technical problem which could not be pinpointed in the limited time. Robbie moved up to eighth after the standing start and then began to push Team Canada for seventh position. He briefly took the position before Canada snatched it back. On lap five however, the problems that had worried the team prior to the start proved terminal as the oil temperature increased, causing a loss of power to the car. Robbie pulled into the pits where the team and Zytek, A1GP's engine supplier, began investigations into the problem, which are still ongoing.
Unfortunately, as GBR leaves Taupo having scored no points in the New Zealand round, the team slips to eighth in the standings on 48 points. However, with the team just one point adrift of seventh-placed Team Netherlands and two points behind Team Ireland, hopes are high for a return to points-scoring ways in two weeks time at Eastern Creek in Australia.
Sprint Race: "We made a good, sensible start," said Kerr. "I went alongside Switzerland initially but backed down when I saw a couple of cars in front taking a little bit too much speed into the first corner. I pulled the car tight and managed to avoid the carnage in front, and it was obviously great to get up to 8th, as I knew we could move forward from there and score good points. It took a few laps to get everything warm, and we were then quick again and caught USA. I got the car alongside, the acceleration was good and I managed to pass USA, but then I got hit from behind and the next thing I knew, I was in the air. The car wouldn't re-start, but we got it back to the pits, checked it was safe to go back out again, then put in some competitive laps which showed we would have had the pace, so it's a great shame that it ended the way it did."
Feature Race: "We got a pretty good start," Kerr continued, "though didn't capitalise on it completely as the first corner was so tight. But I managed to get past Robbie Wickens (Canada), though the car was sliding around a lot at the back which allowed Canada to pass me, and from that point on we struggled. Something was wrong with the engine and we had to come into the pits and retire."
Katie Clements, Team Principal: "It's been an extremely disappointing day. Robbie did well to avoid the collision at the start of the Sprint race, gained five places, and from then on he was determined to move forward but unfortunately USA shunted us, putting us out of contention. We're still looking into the engine problems that caused us to pull out of the Feature race, but hopefully everything will be resolved and GBR will be back racing at the front of the pack in Australia where we belong."
Channel Five will broadcast all the highlights from Taupo, New Zealand at 01.00am on Monday 28 January 2008.
Ireland
Adam Carroll finished 6th and 5th for Belmayne A1 Team Ireland in round five of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport on his first ever visit to the Taupo Motorsports Park, New Zealand today.
From 7th on the grid, Adam initially kept to the inside line going through turn one off the rolling start in the Sprint race to move ahead of USA's Jonathan Summerton into P6. He then made a move round the outside of the Netherlands' Jeroen Bleekemolen but the pair made contact leaving Adam still in P6 as the safety car came out temporarily holding up proceedings due to an incident further down the field.
With 11 laps to go, Adam held position on the re-start and despite putting in competitive lap times couldn't make any further impression on the cars up ahead, bringing the Irish car home in P6 for a solid points finish.
The Feature race then posed the big challenge with Adam starting in 13th position. Adam pulled away in position but touched the back of Team USA on lap one after they were slowed up by the car in front. This damaged the front wing causing Irish squad to make an unscheduled pit stop to replace the nose. Back out on track, but in last place, the safety car being deployed enabled Adam to catch onto the back of the pack once again and after staying out a few extra laps in the first pit stop window the team got him back out in P13. He continued to push really hard and caught onto the battle for 11th between Switzerland and Pakistan. When the pair made contact Adam capitalized, keeping down the inside moving up into P11 by lap 16. Adam then reeled in Team USA and when Jonathan Summerton ran wide on lap 34, Ireland went through into P10.
As the second pit stop window opened on lap 34 Adam put in some fantastic lap times before stopping which, together with a clean pit stop from the Irish crew, got him back out in P6. Switzerland's penalty promoted Adam to P5 on lap 41 and he was then left to chase the battle for second up ahead, eventually crossing the line only four seconds off the lead after a storming drive in what was an extremely action-packed race.
After a rollercoaster of emotions between qualifying and racing, two good points finished mean Team Ireland move up to sixth in Championship as they prepare to head to Sydney for round six.
Adam Carroll: "The Sprint race was good. I got a good start and was nearly round the outside of the Netherlands but he launched up the inside and hit me quite hard which bent the steering. I then had to do the rest of the race with bent steering but it wasn't too bad and I still managed to put in some good lap times and we scored some solid points. The car felt good; there was good grip and balance today.
"We had a good first lap in the Feature and passed a few people. I was in tight behind USA but he had to slow up because of the car in front and we touched. It wasn't that hard a hit but it broke the front wing. I think it was bent at first but then it soon just ripped off the whole right hand side so I had to come in for a new nose. The boys did a great job getting me back out as quick as they did and the safety car helped me catch everybody. We didn't make any other mistakes and came home in fifth not too far off the leaders. We've learnt a lot this weekend and now we can use it to help us put together a good qualifying session in Australia."
Dan Walmsley, Race Engineer: "We were happy with P6 in the Sprint race as it was a solid result but we all knew the real challenge was to come in the Feature race. We had good pace but unfortunately got tangled up in an incident which damaged the front wing so we were forced to pit for a new nose. The boys did one of the fastest nose changes we've ever seen though and a lap later, when the safety car came out, we managed to catch back onto the pack only four laps from the pit stop window. We recognized we had the pace so stayed out six laps into the second pit window. This was the most crucial part of the race for us as Adam was blisteringly quick on old tyres and that helped us leapfrog four cars. The race was really exciting coming from P13 to P5 and we had the pace to win so it's very encouraging for Eastern Creek; we're knocking on the door of a first win!"
Lebanon
The fifth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, New Zealand concluded today with the Sprint and Feature races entertaining a strong crowd of local supporters in Taupo. A1 Team Lebanon with driver Chris Alajajian came close to achieving their first points finish in the Sprint race, but ultimately finished 15th, while the team had to retire from the Feature race having completed four laps after a clash with Italy.
The morning sprint race began with the customary A1GP rolling start. From his 17th place start Alajajian made up six places, a mix of strong driving from the wave of the green flag and benefiting from other's misfortunes. By the end of the first lap he was lying in 11th place. For the next two laps the cars held position behind the safety car, until being unleashed to race at full speed again. The Lebanon car was up to 10th by lap six and holding position well as the race progressed. With four laps to go the team was looking good for its first World Cup of Motorsport points, but disaster struck, with Alajajian the innocent victim of the Czech Republic driver behind him outbraking himself into turn 12. Lebanon were able to continue but had lost places, finishing 15th at the chequered flag.
Alajajian said after the Sprint race, "Of course I'm very disappointed that we didn't capture those elusive points by finishing in the top ten. There's nothing I could have done about it, it was just a racing incident. Thomas (Czech Republic driver) came and apologised to me and I know it wasn't an intentional move, but it was a huge blow for the team, as it looked as if we had the result we needed."
The start of the Feature race also produced drama, and although Alajajian avoided this on the opening lap, three laps later he outbraked himself and slid into the rear of the Italian car, bouncing into the gravel run off and bringing his race to a premature end.
The Lebanon driver added after his Feature race, "This time it was my fault, with the dusty track and a little late braking ending with a trip into the gravel, and the car wasn't going anywhere. I think there are some positives we can take from this weekend. We know we can run close to the top ten, so we just need to make a further step and achieve our goal.
Luke Craft, Team Principal, A1 Team Lebanon adds, "Although the results are not the ones that we wanted, there is plenty of optimism as we head to Eastern Creek, a track that Chris knows well. We've learnt a few lessons from this weekend and we need to use the experiences of these two races to make up ground and nail that points finish. We were the closest we've been to this goal today, but unfortunately it didn't happen."
The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport now moves on to Sydney, Australia for the sixth round of competition in this third season. The event is held at Eastern Creek Raceway, near Parramatta, the location of a large Lebanese community. A1 Team Lebanon were given strong support from local fans on their previous visits and are hoping that they will see their fans out to support them at this year's event, which takes place from 1-3 February.
Malaysia
The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, Taupo, New Zealand, was another weekend of drama for A1 Team Malaysia.
A ninth place grid place for the Sprint race and 14th for the Feature race should have been an opportunity for two points finishes, but the team retired from the Sprint after being the innocent victim of another driver's incident in the first sector for the third time this season, and another retirement after an incident in the Feature to leave Malaysia with two disappointing results.
The team lined up in their ninth place spot for the Sprint race with plenty of optimism for a top ten finish, but this was short-lived. After the rolling start the pack headed down to the first corner, three abreast and jostling for position. The Swiss car made a mistake and with two wheels on the grass slid back onto the track, into the side of Malaysia, but with Canada the other side, Yoong was squeezed by the two ending up being launched over the Canadian car and out of the race with substantial damage to the car. It was another race in which Yoong was a hapless victim of circumstances beyond his control.
Yoong said after his short Sprint race, "I'm just not getting any lucky breaks. I was caught up in Jani's (Switzerland) mistake with a painful result. Not only did our car suffer damage, I injured my hand. There was just nothing I could do. He did apologise afterwards and I appreciate that. The guys have plenty of work to do to put the car back together, with substantial damage, but I hope we'll be ready for the Feature race grid."
The break between the two races was an opportunity for the team to celebrate a milestone in A1GP. Yoong's fiftieth A1GP start was the Feature race in Taupo and as the most capped driver in the Series, Yoong was the first to reach the half century having notched up 4 wins, 6 podiums, 4 pole positions and 3 fastest laps en route, as well as covering 4781 race kilometres. Tony Teixeira, the Chairman of A1GP, visited the Malaysia garage amidst the repair work going on to the damaged to present Yoong with a celebratory cake.
The start of the Feature race once again saw incidents, although Malaysia were able to avoid a spinning India and gain a position on the first lap to lie 13th after lap 1. A one-lap safety car period held the cars in position and at the restart Yoong maintained his place, just behind the home nation, New Zealand. In the first few laps he made his way up the field to lie in ninth, but a spin on his in- lap to the first pitstop put him back down the order placing the Malaysian car 16th after the first round of pitstops. Climbing up to 14th in the mid sector of the race, Yoong maintained his pace until the second round of pitstops as the laps counted down to the chequered flag. A clean pitstop put the team back out with a gain in position, but an off-course excursion broke the front wing and put the Malaysian car out of the race whilst attempting to overtake Team Pakistan.
Yoong said of the Feature race, "I can't express how disappointed I am. I was having a lot of trouble with my hand in the left hand corners, and most of the problems came because I couldn't grip the steering wheel enough. It was just getting too painful and so we opted to park the car after the nose came off rather than change it and go out again. There was nothing else I could do."
Jack Cunningham, Chief Executive, A1 Team Malaysia, concluded, "At the moment it seems we just keep being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alex was so unlucky this morning not to be able to benefit from a ninth place start, and to suffer a hand injury in the process. He drove the Feature race with substantial pain and we respect his professionalism in not letting this deter him from driving in the Feature race - it was just a shame that he was out with only twelve laps to go."
New Zealand
New Zealand has (just) stormed its way to the top of the A1GP championship after Jonny Reid thrilled the home crowd in Taupo with two superb drives.
Reid backed up a sensational win in the opening Sprint Race with a gutsy drive for 4th in a chaotic Feature Race after a poor start dropped him from his grid position of 5 th down to 12th in the 22-nation field.
His points haul of 23 allowed New Zealand to leap-frog over Switzerland and France to regain first place in the championship. The team now has 82 points and the Swiss and French are tied for second just two points back.
Reid was ecstatic with the weekend given the considerable home ground pressure and the tough conditions. Strong winds blew plenty of dust across a track that was constantly changing in its make-up. "My only disappointment was the start (in the Feature Race) and I put my hand up for that. I just pushed too hard and the engine bogged down," Reid said. "But to fight back like we did was awesome. I enjoyed the passes of Brazil and South Africa and the boys (pitlane crew) really pulled me out of a hole with the pit stops.
"It was an awesome team effort after that difficult start. To win at home in the Sprint Race and get in front in the championship is much more than we hoped for leading into the round. Our target was to overtake France. To get past Switzerland as well when they had such a commanding lead…well, I'm very, very pleased."
Earlier, Reid had dominated the Sprint Race from lights-to-flag. He become only the second A1GP driver to win a home race, appropriately enough, as he overtook Matt Halliday to become New Zealand's most capped A1GP driver.
The 24-year-old said he was determined to dictate the tempo as he kept Germany and France at bay. The packed grandstands were on their feet cheering as Reid crossed the line to earn his sixth career win. "It's huge, absolutely huge," Reid said. "It's the greatest moment in my motorsport career. It means a lot to me and the pressure's been on all weekend. It's been all go since I got back from the Christmas break and it's really, really satisfying to get one on the board for everyone.
"The pole position was nice but now we've got the points and that's what matters in the championship. It's great to have all the home support and I'm just stoked to be number one in the Sprint."
Previous Series leader Switzerland was involved in a nasty turn one collision with Malaysia that ended their morning and left them struggling to maintain first place in the Series. A drive-through penalty for jumping the start ended their Feature Race hopes, but they did snare a point for setting the fastest lap of the day.
A1GP officials were thrilled with the weekend, which saw 70,000 attendees over the three days.
Pakistan
A1 Team Pakistan celebrated their first World Cup of Motorsport point in Taupo, New Zealand today. The sixth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport produced two exciting races, with driver Adam Khan finishing a season-high 10th place in the Feature race and 11th in the Sprint race.
The Sprint race took place in the morning with the rolling start that is a feature of this lights-to-flag 20 minutes dash. In the opening lap a three car clash in the middle of the pack quickly brought out the safety car, and gave Khan a welcome boost up the order, in addition to the young Pakistan driver making up places at the start. Lying in 15th place he held position while touring under the safety car, and then at the restart was able to pass the Indonesian car for 14th spot. He then climbed up the order, to lie just outside the points in 11th place at the chequered flag.
Khan said after the Sprint race, "I'm pleased that we're finally knocking on the door of a points finish. A few more laps might have helped us to reach the top ten, but it certainly gives us the confidence as we head into the main Feature race and I hope it won't be long before we can achieve this."
The Feature race produced plenty of drama and excitement. In the opening lap India spun and Khan was quick to take avoiding action and benefit from this incident. As the race progressed Pakistan continued to move up the order, reaching a high of 11th place before the first round of pitstops. After a tussle for position with the Swiss car, with Khan defending well, a small trip through the grass pushed the Pakistan car down to 15th. Undeterred he continued to push on, moving up to 13th place before the second round of tyre change pitstops. Up to 12th and with new tyres, Khan continued on towards the end of the race. In the final few laps he moved up to 11th, and with a penalty for USA, inherited 10th place, to capture the team's first point of the season for Pakistan.
"It was a good step forward; the team is gelling well, the car is good, and moving up half the field – I was pleased. It was a very physical, difficult race, particularly on my hands which were very sore. A World Cup of Motorsport point is a welcome reward for the team's efforts this weekend and I'm delighted we've got off the starting blocks. I'm really looking forward to the next one and if we can keep this momentum going, a podium will soon be in our sights. Danny, our driver coach is very beneficial during the race as well, feeding me valuable information through the race, motivating me and sharing his racing experience, so that really helps", said Khan after the feature race.
John Allen, Team Manager, A1 Team Pakistan concluded, "A great result – the first point of the season was well deserved for everyone, we're really pleased with this. Adam drove really well, listening and learning, coping well on a difficult track and the whole team did a really good job. Excellent work from Danny as well, and this gave Adam extra confidence. I can't wait to get to Australia to continue building on these results."
The A1GP Series stays ‘down under' for the next race of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, with the seventh round taking place at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney from 1 - 3 February. Prior to this Khan will test and race in the new GP2 Asia Series, with the first race of that championship taking place in Dubai next weekend.
South Africa
While 18-year-old Christian Vietoris scored his first A1GP win for Germany in the Feature race here this afternoon to add to his second place in the earlier Sprint race, 21-year-old Adrian Zaugg overcame handling problems to earn South Africa a valuable four points for seventh place and fifth overall in the championship.
In this morning's Sprint race, Zaugg made a good start from second on the grid, but was unable to hold off first Germany and then France (Loic Duval) as he battled with understeer in the tight corners. While New Zealand's Jonny Reid gave the partisan crowd something to cheer about with an untroubled win from pole position, Zaugg's excellent fourth place behind Germany and France added eight important championship points to the team's total and moved it ahead of Great Britain into fourth place.
Vietoris' second place in the Sprint race from fourth on the grid was his best result to date in his first season in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. Starting from second on the grid alongside France's Duval in the Feature race, he benefited from two excellent mandatory pit stops and effectively led the 1 hr 10 min race from when he rejoined the race after the first pit stop on lap nine. Canada (Rob Wickens) was second after starting from fourth on the grid, with France third. Reid did well to bring the New Zealand car home in fourth after starting from fifth on the grid and dropping down to 12th on the opening lap as a result of a poor getaway.
Zaugg made a good start to the feature race, passing Canada (Rob Wickens) for sixth place in turn two on the opening lap. Wickens returned the compliment on lap three as Zaugg struggled to hold a tight line into the turns. Two good pit stops by the team saw Zaugg keep South Africa in the hunt and he made no mistakes as others tripped up and he powered Vulindlela across the finish line just 10 seconds behind Germany after over 70 minutes of incident-filled racing.
Switzerland (Neel Jani), championship leaders at the start of the weekend, had a day to forget. A collision on the opening lap of the Sprint race saw them retire on the spot. A demon start from the second row of the grid in the Feature race saw Jani lead the first lap, but he was adjudged to have jumped the start and fell back to 16th after completing a drive-through penalty. Further problems, including a second drive-through penalty (for overtaking under yellow flags) and contact with Pakistan (Adam Khan) on lap 14, saw Switzerland finish 14th. Small consolation was a bonus point for fastest lap of the race, which kept them just two points off the championship lead.
"Adrian was struggling a little bit with turn-in understeer, particularly in the tight stuff, but remained very quick in the second sector where the circuit suits his brave approach. So there were areas of the track where he was under pressure from behind," said Mike Carroll, general manager of A1 Team South Africa.
"At the end of the day we have to be pleased to have bagged some more valuable points in both races and maintained our fifth position in what is turning out to be a close-fought championship."
"It was important to score points today and defend our position in the championship," said Zaugg. "Conditions were not easy and there was the risk of getting involved in someone else's accident, particularly in the longer race. I was relieved to come through both races unscathed. We struggled to hold a tight line into some of the corners and this is where I lost places.
"We had two good pit stops and the team made no mistakes, which helped me make up some time on the cars ahead of me. For my first time at Taupo I guess I am reasonably satisfied, but I was aiming for two podium finishes. We're at the halfway mark of the season, so it will be maximum effort to build on our successes to date and improve our position in the points table," said Zaugg.
Switzerland
At the fifth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at Taupo, the strong wind was still blowing and played a certain strong role in the race while the weather conditions were sunny, with a temperature of 19 degrees. Current title leader Switzerland's sprint race was over on the first lap due to a first corner collision. Neel Jani made a brilliant start in the 52 lap race feature race. But after a list of unforeseen problems, Jani, fastest of the field, finished only in 14th place. He was credited with the fastest lap (lap 49) and now holds the track lap record. It was a race to forget where Neel was sanctioned twice and broke his front wing. But Neel scored one point today. Switzerland and France are both equal on 80 points in the championship behind New Zealand's Jonny Reid with 82 points.
Starting the sprint race from eleventh position, championship leader A1 Team Switzerland driver Neel Jani took his best rolling start of the season before being involved in a crash in the first corner along with Malaysia and Canada that caused his first non finish of the season.
In the feature race, Neel started from third on the grid. Jani had another brilliant start and took a strong lead over the pack immediately ahead of France's Loic Duval. Then it became hectic. Jani was inflicted a drive through penalty for a jump start. On lap 16, Switzerland's day got even worse. Neel Jani went for a move around the outside of Pakistan, and broke his front wing. Another safety car period was caused by incidents with Indonesia, Australia, and Netherlands that caused a second penalty at lap 32 for Switzerland. A scrappy Neel kept up the pressure and was ranking in 2nd position, 0,695 behind Germany's Christian Viettoris as he went for his mandatory pit stop, between laps 34 to 42 of the 52 lap race. But Neel's hopes for a strong finish in the points vanished as the race developed.
Neel Jani said: "What a day. I score one point that I dedicate to my team for their strong team work that paid off today. I had a very good start in the sprint race and gained three positions. I was on the inside. Malaysia's Alex Yoong could not go more outside basically. We touched. His wheel was close to my head. I was lucky because I felt that my hand was cropped and skin got taken off….but nothing happened. The car was not too badly damaged, at least. The team helped me bounce back strongly and brilliantly repaired the car for the feature race where I started in third place. Again I had a strong start. I took the lead of the pack. But I was suspected of a jump start and was inflicted a stop and go penalty after two laps. With the team we checked different camera angles and all we can see it that the wind may have pushed me a bit. That's all unfortunately. I could only rejoin in 16th place after a safety car period that lasted till lap 7. By lap 10, I was fighting hard and cruising back in 7th place. On lap 10, Germany and France pitted for their first mandatory stop. I was then sixth and stopped for my "second" pit stop and rejoined in 14th place. While overtaking Pakistan, I ran into the grass and broke my front wing. Coming out of the pit after changing my wing, there was another safety car. I was inflicted another drive through penalty. Overall, in the last stints my speed was excellent. My car was perfect and thanks to my team, I scored one point for a fastest lap and track lap record. Now we still have 80 points in the championship equal with France's Loic Duval behind New Zealand. See you in Australia!"
Max Welti, Team Principal, A1 Team Switzerland commented: "What a day. I want to thank the team for their dedication and Neel for his strong and focused drive. They never gave up despite the adverse conditions that we encountered today in Taupo. Not only after the first race crash, our car was ready for the feature race, but it was strong and in excellent shape. Today we really had a rough race with Neel, who revealed himself to be a really tough fighter. The positive side is that for now Switzerland still has the fastest car in the field. 80 points to get to Australia is an advantage after the Taupo race even if Neel had never driven Taupo before."
USA
Jonathan Summerton finished seventh in the Sprint, a season-best for A1 Team USA in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, Sunday at Taupo, New Zealand.
A1 Team USA took the checkered flag for a hard-fought eighth in the Feature, but was relegated to 14th several hours after the race when A1GP penalized the team 70 seconds for making a pit stop outside the mandatory pit window. The ruling cost A1 Team USA three points and six places.
"The 'We the People' car was very good in both the Sprint and the Feature," Summerton said, "and we were unfortunate to not finish higher and score more points. We can't lose sight that this was our most competitive weekend this season, but it's disappointing our eighth in the Feature didn't stand up. It would have put us on the top 10 in both races for the first time this season.
"We scored four points, moved up a few places in the standings and led some laps. We're starting to build some momentum and we have five rounds to go."
The 19-year-old from Kissimmee, Fla., started sixth for the 20-minute Sprint, which became a 14-lap race on the 2.17-mile circuit. "I was pushed wide in Turn 1 by the Netherlands (driven by Jeroen Bleekemolen) and lost a position," Summerton said. "I had a good battle with Robbie Kerr (Great Britain) in the middle of the race. We were side-by-side in a corner and we touched. He went off the track and I kept going. From there, it was follow the leader for the remaining laps."
Summerton started 10th in the 70-minute Feature, which translated into a 50-lap race and had two mandatory pit stops. "I had a great start and gained two places," Summerton said. "But I was run into in the back and the left-rear tire was slashed in the first corner. We had to pit to replace it (on lap five) and it put us at the back. It helped that the safety car had come out at the same time for another incident, but we still had a lot of cars to pass.
"When the first pit window opened on lap nine, cars started going in. The 'We the People' car was very fast on worn tires and we stayed out. We took the lead on lap 12 and with clean air in front, we ran some of the fastest laps of the race. We led through lap 15 and pitted on 16, what we thought was the final lap of the pit window."
Summerton emerged in 10th and ran in that position through the second round of pit stops. He passed two cars in the final stint to finish eighth. "The track was physical, but I was able to race hard and it was fun," Summerton said. "It always is when you have a fast car. The team's adjustments to the car between the Sprint and Feature improved it."
A1GP stewards ruled that although A1 Team USA pitted before the completion of its 16th lap, the lap was completed from the pit lane and in violation of the regulation.
"We have had many people look at the rule that took away our points and all say the rule is unclear, at best," A1 Team USA owner Rick Weidinger said. "It's a shame A1GP has not taken the time to clarify it."
This is the regulation from the A1GP rulebook: 219. At any time after the completion, on the Track, of lap 8 and before the completion, on the Track, of lap 16 during the Feature Race, each Car must make a first mandatory Pit Stop and change all four wheels and tyres to the satisfaction of the Stewards. In other words, each Competitor's Pit Stop window will start only once lap 8 has been fully completed by the Competitor's Car (i.e. it has crossed the finish line) and will end only after the Competitor's Car has fully completed lap 16, which means that the last opportunity for a Competitor to make its mandatory Pit Stop within the prescribed window will be before the Competitor's Car crosses the finish line on the Track at the end of lap 16. Any Pit Stop taking place before starting lap 9 or after completing lap 16 shall be ruled as falling outside the mandatory window. For the avoidance of doubt, the Pit Lane does not form part of the Track.
"We have great respect for the Stewards and full compliance is needed for the integrity of the series," Weidinger said. "The problem is in how the rule is written. It's ambiguous and could easily be changed to avoid confusion by saying, 'Pit stops must be completed during a window starting with lap nine and concluding with lap 15 inclusive.' "
Weidinger was encouraged by A1 Team USA's level of competitiveness at Taupo. "Although we made a few driving errors during the races, overall we ran well and overcame an extra pit stop for the flat tire in the Feature. We deserved to have two top-10 finishes and losing those three points hurts.
"We had our best qualifying and our best two races of the season. We're definitely making progress to our goals of starting and finishing in the top-five on a regular basis. Look out Australia."
To check out our Taupo race day gallery, click here