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A1 Grand Prix Series

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In Dubai yesterday His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, of the ruling royal family of Dubai, in association with prominent South African businessman Brian Menell and entrepreneur Antonio Teixeira, formally launched the A1 Grand Prix Series, a new concept in international motor racing designed to fill the winter season when Formula 1 is not active and offering countries the opportunity to acquire a team on a franchise basis. Plans for the new ‘one make’ race series, already being billed as the ‘World Cup of Motor Sport’, was announced at a press conference at Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Hotel, where the prototype single-seater car, designed and built for A1 Grand Prix in the UK by Lola Cars International Ltd and Langford Performance Engineering Limited was unveiled.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION (also see website: www.a1gp.com from 30 March 2004)

With full FIA approval, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, has been designed to offer both participants and spectators a new type of motor racing experience. Filling a space in the calendar between November and February that is traditionally thought of as the Formula 1 ‘off’ season and involving at least twenty-four countries, the first race will take place in Dubai in Autumn 2005, with at least nine events planned for the first season. The championship will pit nation against nation in a series of challenging races in the Southern Hemisphere that A1 Grand Prix hopes will become known as the ‘World Cup’ of motor sport.

A unique aspect of A1 Grand Prix as a business is that for the first time in motor sport history driving seats will be available on a franchise basis. This will allow new entrants as well as those already established in motor sport to bid for ownership of a team, and discussions are already at an advanced stage with twenty-four countries. Each national team will drive a single type of high performance car built by Lola International and powered by a newly developed 3.5 litre Langford engine, ensuring a level playing field that will place driver skill at the heart of the competition. Thirty identical cars are already on order from Lola and, as part of the franchise deal, A1 Grand Prix will undertake to maintain each car to an agreed specification, transport it between race venues and provide support in exploiting the commercial potential of the team, while at the same time retaining overall control of the rules, commercial conduct and media coverage of the series as a whole.

The scale of the business opportunity for franchisees and sponsors is indicated by independent research* which estimates that there are over a quarter of a billion (270,732,500) motor sport fans within the twenty-four target countries. This potential audience confirms that there is very significant income to be derived by A1 Grand Prix from the sale of TV rights, sponsorship and merchandising, while the same research also indicates that a primary sponsor could have the potential to generate media coverage valued at over one million US dollars for each live race broadcast throughout the countries expected to be involved.

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, an avid fan of all forms of motorsport since early childhood, is an experienced triathlete and mountaineer who has also competed in the grueling Land Rover G4 Challenge. Having studied business and finance in theUSA and gained practical business experience in Dubai, he began to make plans to use his own passion for motor racing to make the sport more accessible to countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, South America and Australasia. As Chief Executive Officer of A1 Grand Prix he will preside over the development of the business as it establishes its international reputation and following.

* Research conducted by Sports Marketing Surveys on behalf of A1 Grand Prix, March 2004.

The Board of A1 Grand Prix

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, CEO of Al Sajer Group of Companies and a member of the ruling family of Dubai, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of A1 Grand Prix.

South African businessman and entrepreneur Brian Menell, a principal partner and Director of Anglo Vaal Mining and Chairman of DiamondWorks is a founding executive director, as is Tony Texeira, a self-made millionaire whose background includes transportation and logistics, natural resources and international trading of oil and refined petroleum products.

Stephen Watson, a former F3000 racer and F1 test driver is General Manager, while Richard Dorfman, who is probably best known for his negotiations of the television rights for the last Rugby and Football World Cups, has recently been appointed as Director of Media Affairs and TV Rights.

Also in attendence at the launch was triple World Champion Niki Lauda, as well as present aces Juan Pablo Montoya and Rubens Barrichello.

Bron: persrelease van Lola

Steeds meer signalen dat het echt van de grond gaat komen, deze nieuwe high-end single seaterklasse.

Zojuist gelezen in een press release:

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In London on Thursday 30 September, initially in Trafalgar Square and later in the day at the Café de Paris, A1 Grand Prix will announce details of the first buyers of its national franchises and news of the first broadcasters to purchase TV rights to the A1 series.

Afgelopen week heeft de "definitieve versie" van de A1-GP wagen zijn roll-out gehad op het circuit van Snetterton.

De eerste echte test is achter de rug met deze wagen, op het circuit van Jerez heeft Ralph Firman enkele dagen getest met A1 GP Lola wagen. Volgens Firman moet deze wagen uiteindelijk 3 tot 4 seconden sneller worden dan de huidige F3000 wagens.

Anders gezegd, nauwelijks langzamer dan de gestelde tijden voor de nieuwe lichting GP2 wagens. Toch raar dat je voor een fractie van de kosten een formule wagen kunt bouwen die maar 5 seconden langzamer is dan een peperdure Formule 1 wagen.

Ben toch benieuwd wat er terecht gaat komen van al die nieuwe Formule series.............op dit moment zijn er vier plannen om iets te creëren net onder de F1. Ten eerste de opvolger van de F3000, de GP 2 klasse. Opvolger van de Euro 3000 zal iets van de "Superfund V10 serie" gaan worden. Dan de Arabieren met hun A1 GP en als laatste en meest maffe plan............de GP Masters voor afgedankte F1 coureurs.

De eerste Franchisers zijn bekend.............ik ben zeer benieuwd naar de teams uit Libanon en Pakistan :D

De andere landen die alvast de intentie hebben om deel te nemen: Zuid-Afrika, China, Portugal en de UK. In het UK project schijnt John Surtees een rol te spelen.

Foto's van de wagen in "UK-stickers", klik hier

Slik, ziet er alles behalve appetijtelijk uit, naar mijn goesting dan toch... :confused: Volgens mij hebben die ontwerpers te veel naar batman gekeken... :)

De eerst klinkende namen zijn vastegelegd voor deze serie, het publiek zal massaal toestromen als deze namen op de billboards staan.

Voor Pakistan gaan we in actie zien Nur Ali (actief in een regionaal Formule Mazda kampioenschap in de States) Libanon gaat met Sammy Pacha de strijd aan (heeft enige ervaring met Formule Fords)

Nu eerlijk, deze namen kennen we toch allemaal wel hé? :D

e.e.a. according to autosport ;)

Dat wordt 10 seconden verschil tussen nummer 1 en nummer laatst op de grid...:(

Er zijn weer wat franchisers bekend geworden.

Maleisië: Alex Yoong is nauw betrokken bij dit team
Portugal: De voetballer Luis Figo speelt hier ook een rolletje
Canada: J Jay Laski is de eigenaar van de Canada inschrijving (naam doet een belletje rinkelen.......mar ik weet niet precies waar)
Australië: De steun van Alan Jones, technische ondersteuning Alan Docking Racing
Zuid-Afrika: Tony Sexwale, zakenman, is de drijvende kracht achter deze inschrijving. Weet niet of dze walvis een bedreigde diersoort is :D

De volgende die ze gaan presenteren is Libanon. Een bonte verzameling, benieuwd wat we daarvan mogen verwachten. Voor zover de Autosport van 04-11-04

Nelson Mandela steunt A1.

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A1 Grand Prix series founder, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, met with the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, during last week's launch and first track test of South Africa's entry into the A1 Grand Prix Championship. He was joined by fellow A1 Grand Prix Board Members Brian Menell, Tony Teixera and Richard Dorfman.
Nelson Mandela spoke about his joy of seeing a South African entry into the World Cup of Motorsport and fully endorsed and supported the concept of a South African driver and team being able to compete on a level playing field against other nations.

Sheikh Maktoum said, "It was a real honour to meet with one of the world's true iconic and historic figureheads. His support for our championship and acceptance of our level playing field ideals is an endearing stamp of approval from such a symbolic person, which I humbly acknowledge".

"The support of the A1 Grand Prix Championship shown to us this week by prominent dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela, President Thabo Mbeki and South Africa's seat holder, Tokyo Sexwale, shows the levels of interest and backing our Championship now has, and I hope to receive similar support from other nations when their teams are launched in the months ahead", added Sheikh Maktoum.
Nelson Mandela's joy was shared by over 25,000 South African motorsport fans, who were able to see the car in action at the Kyalami race track near Johannesburg driven by South African, Alan van der Merwe. After completing the demonstration laps round the 4.2 kilometre circuit, a delighted Alan said: "It was incredible to drive this car in my own country and see the support from the fans. I am very impressed with what the car is capable of, especially in terms of power and downforce, and this is despite not being set up specifically for Kyalami. For me the chance to drive the car in the series would be amazing."

Bron: persrelease van Lola

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Jan Lammers to run A1 team

Former Formula 1 driver Jan Lammers has been named as one of the people involved in the consortium which will an entry for Holland in the new A1 Grand Prix series.

Volledige artikel: http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns13941.html

Lammers gaat op safe. De franchise voor Nederland is niet gekocht door Lammers. Jantje en zijn team worden ingehuurd om de Nederlandse wagen te runnen door de organisatie. De rijder voor dit eerste singel seater project voor Racing for Holland? Misschien Jan Lammers zelf...........maar volgens Lammers stond er al een rijtje jonge Nederlandse voor zijn kantoor ;)

According to Autosport 09-12-04.

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark
Lammers gaat op safe. De franchise voor Nederland is niet gekocht door Lammers. Jantje en zijn team worden ingehuurd om de Nederlandse wagen te runnen door de organisatie. De rijder voor dit eerste singel seater project voor Racing for Holland? Misschien Jan Lammers zelf...........maar volgens Lammers stond er al een rijtje jonge Nederlandse voor zijn kantoor ;)

According to Autosport 09-12-04.

Dit verbaast me niks, heb eigenlijk van het begin af aan al verwacht dat Lammers als uithangbord gebruikt wordt.

Die A1 GP serie kon weleens een crash-festijn gaan worden, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum heeft 50 wagens besteld bij Lola en 58 Motoren bij Zytek.

Die gast dacht zeker: ik ga voor de Kwantum korting :D

Het is op die manier een mooie kerst geworden voor Lola en Zytek. Toch benieuwd waarom er zoveel besteld zijn............indien de berichten op de diverse sites kloppen. Nu heb ik weleens filmpjes gezien over de rijstijl uit het Midden-Oosten. Tja dan heb je inderdaad een flinke voorraad wagens nodig om het einde van het seizoen te halen :D

Blijft een apart verhaal, Arabieren en autosport ;)

De eerste keer dat ze gaan koersen? Ergens in septemeber op brands Hatch. :)
HEt lijkt allemaal echt te gaan doorgaan dus.