17/09/2008
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Netherlands has chosen two lead drivers for the forthcoming A1GP season; Robert Doornbos and Jeroen Bleekemolen.
It is the first time the team has chosen to compete in this nation versus nation series with two lead drivers. By partnering newly crowned Porsche Supercup champion, Bleekemolen, and former F1 driver, Doornbos, A1 Team Netherlands has secured a top quality driver duo, both of whom can boast impressive results at the highest level of racing. They will be trying their hardest to get the maximum performance out of the orange A1GP Powered by Ferrari car in the season's 20 races and their aim is to win the World Cup of Motorsport for the Netherlands.
As regards who will drive at which event, the team will replicate what A1 Team France did in the inaugural season by alternating the drivers. Bleekemolen will take the opening round at Zandvoort, while Doornbos will make his debut at the Chinese Chengdu circuit. Bleekemolen will then drive at the Malaysian, Indonesian and Portuguese rounds as well as the yet to be announced venue on 29 March. Doornbos will be competing in the A1GP events in New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico and the season finale at Brands Hatch.
This will be a new chapter in his racing career for Doornbos. He fast tracked into Formula 1, first as a test driver at Jordan and later at Minardi, via Formula 3 and F3000. He also impressed Red Bull Racing with drives that included the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit. After F1 Doornbos moved to the US and competed in the Champ Car World Series with Minardi Team USA. The 27-year old driver from Rotterdam, who was a serious title contender for most of the season, finished a very respectable third after a number of wins and podium finishes. For this he was crowned Rookie of the Year. Now Doornbos will defend Dutch honors for the first time.
Doornbos: "This is a very nice opportunity I have been given. I always work hard to keep competing in the top levels of racing and so keep myself ready and focused. The profile of A1GP fits very well with this, especially with the introduction of Ferrari. When a good opportunity arises in Indycar or F1 I shall be in a position to take that chance straight away. Apart from this, I think it is very special to compete for your country. It is something different to score points as a nation, not as an individual driver. I believe and hope Jeroen will make a good start to the season, and set things up well for me to race in China, where I drove my best ever F1 race with Red Bull."
Bleekemolen clinched the Porsche Supercup title this year before the final round, a unique achievement in this fiercely competed series. He also won the LMP2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Bleekemolen has been part of A1 Team Netherlands from the beginning. For the past two seasons he has been the team's lead driver, during which time he has won in the streets of Beijing, taken a pole position and several podium finishes, one of which was last season at Zandvoort. A1 Team Netherlands has finished fifth and seventh respectively in the last two A1GP World Cup of Motorsport seasons with the 26-year-old from Aerdenhout driving.
Bleekemolen; "I am very pleased to be staying involved with A1GP and A1 Team Netherlands and also can now experience the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari era. With better cars, better tyres, regulation changes, I think this will give us a greater chance of showing our full potential. After last week's test I am hugely motivated and see no reason why we should not be able to be right at the front in the battle for the title this season. I am in the winning mood this year with the Porsche Supercup title and victory at Le Mans, and I hope that I can bring this with me to A1GP. I am also confident about the combination with Robert and am convinced we shall bring out the best in each other."
Jan Lammers: "Without being disrespectful to other drivers, I think our choice of Robert and Jeroen has given us a magnificent driving team. We have tried to listen to the public's wishes and preferences as well. Both Robert's and Jeroen's performances speak for themselves. Of course Robert has been blessed by the magic of F1, and has also done an excellent job in Champ Car, while Jeroen has performed very well both in A1GP and other series. With Jeroen's experience in A1GP and Robert's expertise both should be able to achieve good results." Lammers continued: "Furthermore we have put new people in key positions in our team and after the test the good vibe was there immediately. I don't want to stop the momentum now by being overambitious, but in all honesty I can say we shall start this season with ambition and confidence. As far as the Rookie position in our team is concerned, negotiations are still ongoing, and we shall make further announcements soon."