A1 GP Preview - first even a1 Grand Prix at Brands Hatch
1 Sep, 2005: The race calendar for the A1 Grand Prix races (or World Cup of Motorsports, if you prefer) has been confirmed. The first ever world cup of motor sports will have 24 races, over 12 weekends. This
is the only motorsports event in which countries will face each other in similarly-speced race cars. So, unlike in F1, A1 GP promises to offer a truer test of driver skills. 24 countries have agreed to participate in the races, and testing of the A1 GP cars are in full swing. Which means that almost 80 % of the world's population will be represented in the new motorsport - World Cup of Motor Sports.
A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum said: ‘I am delighted to confirm the race calendar for the first-ever World Cup of Motorsport. We have spoken to A1 Teams, national governments and most importantly our fans to produce a schedule that promises to deliver exciting, high-speed racing across every habitable continent. A1 Grand Prix is about making motorsport accessible, with affordable tickets to popular locations. To have up to 25 A1 race cars, each proudly presenting their national sponsors, competing at circuits in both developed and developing markets, will be a remarkable spectacle for both new and traditional race fans.’
The first ever A GP race will be at Brands Hatch, Great Britain on 25 September 2005.
Our local F1 hero, Narain Karthikeyan, has been slightly dismissive about A1 GP. We put it down to his current state of insecurity in F1 - of course, when you are in F1, it looks like the best thing that can possibly happen - and if you are not great with your words, you may end up looking like a snob. So we can, perhaps, forgive him. After all, his job is to race, not to make politically correct statements to the media.
The Indian drivers for A1 GP will Armaan Ibrahim and Karun Chandok.
Date Circuit
25 September 2005 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Brands Hatch, Great Britain
9 October 2005 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, EuroSpeedway, Lausitz, Germany
23 October 2005 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Circuito Estoril, Portugal
6 November 2005 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Eastern Creek, Sydney, Australia
20 November 2005 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
11 December 2005 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Dubai Autodrome, UAE
15 January 2006 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Sentul Circuit, Indonesia
29 January 2006 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, South Africa
12 February 2006 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba, Brazil
26 February 2006 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Parque Fundidora Monterrey, Mexico
19 March 2006 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Laguna Seca, California, USA
2 April 2006 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Shanghai International Circuit, China
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