30/01/2008
NEWS STORY
A1 Team GBR confirms Robbie Kerr as lead driver for round six of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at Eastern Creek, Australia, as James Winslow (right) continues as rookie driver.
As the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport reaches the midway point, teams will this week head to the Eastern Creek Raceway, near Sydney in Australia, for round six of the championship. Robbie Kerr, who has raced in both previous A1GP visits to Eastern Creek, will undertake main driver duties for A1 Team GBR as James Winslow fulfils the rookie driver role for the second consecutive race.
Heading into the weekend A1 Team GBR sit in eighth place in the championship with 48 points. In what is turning into the most competitive A1GP season yet, the team is aiming to build on its previous form at the Australian track in order to collect a strong points haul and gain championship positions.
Eastern Creek has been good to the British team and to Kerr, with the 28-year-old finishing on the podium in the feature race in season one after a great drive to second place. Unfortunately a puncture put an end to hopes for another podium the following year as Robbie suffered a blow-out from third position, which forced him into retirement, but the team nonetheless took heart from Kerr's competitive showing.
Kerr, who celebrated his 40th cap for A1 Team GBR at the feature race in Taupo, will be supported at Eastern Creek by Winslow, who already has experience at the circuit. Winslow will supplement his rookie practice duties with a race drive in the Australian F3 round which acts as a support race to A1GP this weekend.
Robbie Kerr: "We were looking good for the races in Taupo last week, so it was a real disappointment to face the problems we had, being hit by USA in the Sprint race and then engine issues in the Feature race. However we're usually strong at Eastern Creek, and last year had a good car starting third on the grid. So I'm confident that we'll be strong again this year and we just need to make sure we have a competitive qualifying car and competitive race car."
James Winslow: "I'm really looking forward to driving for GBR again. New Zealand was a great experience and I enjoyed working with the team. Unlike Taupo, I have driven at Eastern Creek in Formula 3 and with a few laps in the A1GP car now under my belt, I'll be looking to use my track experience to help GBR return to their winning ways."
Katie Clements, Team Principal: "Having come away from New Zealand with zero points, the team is heading to Australia intent on clawing back some valuable championship points. We've been competitive at Eastern Creek in previous years so will be focusing on a return to the podium."
Saturday's qualifying starts at 1415 local time (0315 GMT) with Sunday's 20 minute Sprint race starting at 1100 local time (Sunday 0000 GMT) and the 70 minute Feature race starting at 1500 local time (0400 GMT).
Sky Sports will broadcast all the live action from Eastern Creek, from 3am on Saturday 2 February and from 3am on Sunday 3 February on Sky Sports 1