01/05/2008
NEWS STORY
Xandi Negrao will return to the cockpit for A1 Team Brasil as the squad heads to Brands Hatch in the UK for the season finale of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.
Xandi raced his first weekend for Brasil at the last round in Shanghai, China, after fulfilling rookie duties for the team on two previous occasions. For the Brands Hatch round, the team will be making the most of Xandi's 'rookie' status, and therefore the 22-year-old will be driving in all available practice sessions, including Friday morning's rookie sessions. Felipe Guimaraes will continue for the third consecutive event as reserve driver.
A1 Team Brasil made history at Brands Hatch when Nelson Piquet Jr scored a perfect weekend at the inaugural A1GP event in September 2005, with pole position, two race wins and two fastest laps. Bruno Junqueira competed for the team at Brands in season two, the event having then moved to the season finale, but the seasoned Champ Car driver was unable to repeat the team's form from season one.
Heading into the final round of season three, Brasil is currently twelfth in the standings on 44 points, equal to USA. China is two points ahead on 46, with Portugal in tenth position on 50 points.
Xandi Negrao: "China was a very good experience for me, even though it was very tough. The other drivers have had a lot of time behind the wheel of their cars, but I was having to learn everything about what it is like to be behind the wheel of an A1GP car from the very start. Now I am looking forward to Brands Hatch, especially as I have some experience of driving around there. I had never been to Shanghai but I have tested round parts of Brands and I am sure that is going to help."
Emerson Fittipaldi: "It has been quite a tough season for us and we have had some ups and downs. But we have seen an improvement from last year and have had some encouraging results. Xandi is a talented driver and I'm pleased to have him back and to be able to give him the maximum time that we can in the car. We want to finish in a strong way before heading into the summer when we will prepare for our championship battle in season four."