Engines are revving in the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season, as at the end of this week the new A1GP cars will line up on the grid at the Zandvoort Circuit in Netherlands ready to GO, GO, GO for the fourth season of racing. The 600 brake horse power A1GP car brings with it some of the most advanced design and technology in the world. Expectations for the new season are high as the new A1GP car Powered by Ferrari is expected to bring a new level of excitement and competition to the series. In addition to this there are also several new rules, a new approach to qualifying, new tracks, new teams and new drivers all to add to the anticipation of the new season.
After the strong pace shown by A1 Team Malaysia at the Donington preseason test in the UK, where they set the fastest time during both days of running, the team will be looking to build on their speed as they race for victory. Here we take at look at what’s ahead for the team in the new season, by looking at the tracks and getting the views of the team drivers and the engineering team as they prepare for the fourth season of racing.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, for the pride of your nation, start your engines!”
Zandvoort, Netherlands
On the 4th of October 2008 a grid of teams representing nations from across the world will collectively take to the track for the first time as the first practice session of the weekend gets underway. As the engines roar to life, the teams will be heading into unknown territory as the new car debuts on the sandy asphalt of the Zandvoort circuit.
Zandvoort will kick off the fourth season of A1GP as in the previous two seasons. The Zandvoort round, based in the sand dunes of the Netherlands coastline, has always been a popular event on the calendar, with a large number of colourful Dutch fans making the pilgrimage to cheer on their nation. The grandstands are usually awash with orange as the Dutch crowds vocally see in the start of the new season and this year they will have hopefully have more reason to cheer as the new era of A1GP kicks off on their home turf. They also recently announced ex F1 driver, Robert Doornbos as one of their drivers, so expect to see him performing well. As A1GP aims to make history with their new package, A1 Team Malaysia will be aiming to score well at the opening round even though they have a strong challenge facing them.
Julian Randles, Team Manager at A1 Team Malaysia looks ahead to the season opener at Zandvoort, ”We know that even though we fared well at the pre season tests, it is almost impossible to compare our pace until we go racing. The big test will be at the first practice session at Zandvoort, when all of the teams take to the same track, in the same conditions and at the same time.
“Even though we know the Zandvoort track from racing there in previous seasons, we have no data for the new car there, which makes it a clean slate. Fairuz knows the circuit and we’ve had some good results, but doing the track walk and talking through the setup strategy will be important to make sure we get a good foundation for the weekend. I’m excited about our prospects for the season and I think if we come away from Zandvoort with points, we’ll be happy about our start to the season.”
Chengdu, China
The Chengdu circuit is the second stop on the A1GP world tour. China has been a regular feature on the A1GP calendar, with the series having visited tracks in Shanghai, Beijing and Zhuhai in previous seasons. Chengdu will be the first and only visit to the Industrial country of China this season as the new Chengdu circuit makes its debut on the calendar. It’s not a track that has hosted top level single seater racing so it’s doubtful that any of the teams or drivers have visited. At the moment there’s more talk about its location close to recent earthquakes, both from the point of view of helping those affected and also a natural curiosity of the chances of further activity.
A1 Team Malaysia invested heavily in its engineering team during the off season and the team’s new Chief Engineer Alan Mugglestone gives his thoughts on the Chengdu race, “I hope that when we get to the second race of the season I will have settled into the team and we will have found our rhythm, working well together. From an engineering perspective I think Chengdu will be a challenge. None of the drivers have ever been there before so we will need to spend a lot of time working on the car and pushing for the ideal set up. Friday is always an important day in terms of working on set up for the weekend, but when we are at a new circuit, we have to spend as much time as we can going through data and walking the track to give us the best possible start to the weekend.”
Sepang, Malaysia
Going home! This season marks the return of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport to the Sepang International Circuit for the fourth time, one of only two tracks which the series will have visited every season. The Malaysian fans will be rewarded for their loyalty and passion as the cars roar into the capital for another time. The wide, fast, flowing Sepang circuit will be the drivers first chance to get to grips with the increased speed of the A1GP car, Powered by Ferrari and really appreciate its top speed and power performance.
By the third race of the season most teams will be getting to grips with the new car, and new teams have settled into to working together, so we’ll start to see who’s understanding the car’s finer points and getting the most from it. The A1GP car with its Ferrari power will star on the Sepang Circuit, with the long straights and high speed corners suiting the car and its powerful engine. The Powerboost will be a real boost on the straights as the competition in A1GP hots up before the end of the year.
Speaking of their home race A1 Team Malaysia driver Fairuz Fauzy comments, “The home race in Malaysia is without doubt the highlight of the calendar for the Malaysian team. I am really pleased that we are making our fourth visit to our home circuit. In honesty, we don’t have a great track record of results at Sepang, but we hope to put that right this season and we’d love a podium in front of the home crowd. The long straights will be a great feature for overtaking and we should be able to give the fans really close and exciting racing. I’d love to see the stands filled with yellow this year and the Malaysian flag waving will certainly push the whole team on to perform at their best. I was lucky enough to race at Sepang whilst doing GP2 Asia and I scored my first podium at the circuit, the feeling was phenomenal and I’d love to hear that level of support for the team in A1GP.”
Taupo, New Zealand
Taupo has been another regular fixture on the A1GP calendar, since the second season of racing the New Zealand race track has been a popular outpost for the series. This season it returns to the Taupo venue with its tight layout and high speed chicane. With the track located next to Lake Taupo, and having a snow-capped mountain as a backdrop, all the teams enjoy visiting this small country, which always gives A1GP a warm welcome.
The series will have had a two month break from Sepang to this event, so there’ll be a ‘back to school’ feel to the event and the teams needing to reacquaint themselves with the A1GP car which after only three events will still be relatively new to them. Taupo is the first event of a fairly compact schedule for 2009, with seven rounds in just over four months.
Team Manager Julian Randles comments, “The schedule in A1GP will be demanding for the team after the long break, they will need to be well rested and refreshed for the second part of the season. Taupo is a great venue to kick off the New Year.
“Taupo, like the other circuits we have visited in previous years, will not be new to many of the teams and drivers, however this will not give them a big advantage over the new teams like Korea and Monaco. The drivers will all have to adapt to the style of racing with a quicker car and more downforce, this changes breaking points and the way you tackle the circuit as a whole.”
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta will be another new challenge for the teams; the Indonesian race is the second closest venue to ‘home’ for the Malaysian fans. A1 Team Malaysia will be hoping that the home advantage will follow them to Indonesia and they will reap the rewards of the Asian support at the new circuit.
Lippo Village, near Jakarta will host the series only street race of the season and for the Indonesian capital it will be the first time that it hosts an event of this kind. Lippo Village will be modifying parts of the town near the famous Pelita Harapan University (UPH) for the temporary track. With the track designers, Tilke Gmbh, already renowned as the best in the business, the company responsible for circuits in Shanghai and Sepang where A1GP has also raced should develop a very exciting venue for the series. The track designers have conducted the initial site visit, and are currently completing the final design.
A1 Team Malaysia rookie driver, Aaron Lim says of the project, “Lippo Village is a great venue for the race and they have bought in a top track designer in Tilke, so the track layout will certainly be of the highest level and he has the expertise to create something very special in Indonesia. I really enjoyed running in Durban last season, so I hope I’ll have the chance to try out this new street track as well.”
Gauteng, South Africa
After three seasons of racing around the streets of Durban, the South African stop on the A1GP calendar switches to its most famous racing circuit, Kyalami. Durban was set by the sea and saw the cars race along the tight streets of the city, this season with the newer and more powerful A1GP car the tight streets of Durban were unable to accommodate the series, but the African nation has provided an equally exciting venue. Kyalami in Gauteng, and close to the Johannesburg capital is a circuit which has played host to Formula One in the past, as well as World Superbikes. With over 100,000 people turning out to watch F1 cars test just a few years ago, A1GP can expect a healthy trackside audience for this event.
Jack Cunningham, Chief Executive A1 Team Malaysia, says of the South African round, “We had two points’ finishes with Fauzy behind the wheel in Durban last year, including a top five. The whole team worked hard for these and Fauzy did his job well. This season Kyalami will be another challenge for the drivers as this is another new track for them to learn in the new car. We will be looking for another strong outing here. The support we receive from the fans has always been fantastic in South Africa, and hopefully A1GP will deliver a good race weekend for them in this new venue.”
Mexico City, Mexico
The Mexico circuit underwent a few layout changes last season in an effort to increase overtaking and improve safety, which resulted in a shortened track, but one that produced plenty of great racing. Mexico City is the only circuit still on the A1GP calendar where A1 Team Malaysia have been victorious and this will certainly help with morale as the teams head to America aiming to repeat this feat.
TBA
This race is yet to be announced, although there has been plenty of speculation as to which country will be the host for the ninth round of the season. Talk has consisted of venues in Europe, Brazil and America, however no matter where the race is held, the circuit will be sure to deliver the usual exciting close racing that we have come to expect in A1GP.
Algarve, Portugal
The series raced in Portugal during the first season at Estoril, however this season the race will take place at the new state of the art Autodromo International do Algarve. The track is one of three new venues on the schedule for the new season and will play host to the tenth round of the season in April 2009. The circuit is currently under construction and is due for completion in October, so it’s another new, unknown challenge at the moment.
A1 Team Malaysia engineer Alan Mugglestone comments, “It is always hard to tell what a track will be like without ever being there, but from what I’ve seen to date, the track looks like it is going to be very wide, which will be good for overtaking. It looks like a tricky circuit with several elevation changes, I’m sure the drivers will enjoy the challenge of learning the track. We’ll spend time walking the track and studying the surface to make sure we learn as much as possible before the practise sessions. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were the first major international series to visit this Portugese venue, so it really will be a venture into the unknown!”
Brands Hatch, England
The historic Brands Hatch Circuit in Kent will once again play host to the A1GP season finale. There is promise of even more competitive racing in A1GP this season and the fans will be hoping it’s another close fight until the end.
The tight and twisty Brands Hatch circuit will round off the season’s racing in its natural amphitheatre setting, giving the fans a close up of the action, at a track which frequently appears in drivers’ top ten greatest tracks. The teams will be ready to fight down to the wire to secure championship positions and this year it’s all to play for, with new teams and new cars mixing up the field. This season A1 Team Malaysia is aiming to finish within the top five of the Championship and hopefully scoring podiums along the way. Strong preseason pace and fresh faces within the team, mean the team is more motivated and ready than ever before, the whole team will be fighting hard in the battle to take home the World Cup of Motorsport trophy.
Jack Cunningham concludes, “It’s difficult to talk about the last race when we haven’t started the season yet, but if previous seasons are anything to go by, we’re in for another very competitive time. We’ve seen each season become progressively more competitive, more professional, and more popular. If we have continued this pattern through the fourth season, we’ll be well on our way to establishing the series as a ‘major league’ of motorsport.”
The 2008/09 A1GP Series starts racing in the Netherlands on 4 & 5 October.
Watch and support Team Malaysia at Sepang at the end of November.
