A1 Next Month

[n b j]

The 1st round will be in Brands hatch, the same Sunday of the Brazillian F1 GP.

I think our Team Aus' driver is Will Davison. (former AMSF backed driver and Minardi test driver) and currenly driving in British Formula3 championship.

The Aus Team (unlike other teams) hasn't got a website yet, so there is still speculation over team members and drivers, but with only a few weeks to go till round one I guess we will find out soon enough.

Who is excited about the A1 GP series?

 

[David M]

Team Aus

I thought that Alan Jones was the frachisee and that his son Christian was to be the driver. This scenario put me off the concept a little because nepotism was the winner. If Davison drives then at least talent gets a chance.
I'm open-minded, but hopeful it will provide entertaining racing in the off season of F1. If it fosters talent, then it could be an excellent breeding ground for up and coming F1 drivers.
PS what is the local tv coverage going to be, do you know?

 

[n b j]

here are the lap times at a test recently (may have been at Paul Ricard)

Fastest lap times - Wednesday 24 August 2005
1 USA 1.24.559 - SCOTT SPEED
2 BRAZIL 1.24.973 - NELSON PIQUET JR
3 FRANCE 1.25.095 - NICOLAS LAPIERE
4 GRAT BRITAIN 1.25.281 - ROBBIE KERR
5 MEXICO 1.25.296 - SALVADOR DURAN
6 PORTUGAL 1.25.377 - ALVARO PARENTE
7 NEW ZEALAND 1.25.536 - JONNY REID
8 IRELAND 1.25.687 - RALPH FIRMAN
9 AUSTRALIA 1.25.692 - WILL DAVISON
10 MALAYSIA 1.25.717 - ALEX YOONG
11 NETHERLANDS 1.25.751 - JOS VERSTAPPEN
12 PAKISTAN 1.26.139 - ADAM KHAN
13 SWITZERLAND 1.26.147 - ROMAIN GROSJEAN
14 SOUTH AFRICA 1.26.177 - THOMAS SCHECKTER
15 GERMANY 1.26.440 - TIMO SCHEIDER
16 LEBANON 1.26.477 - BASIL SHAABAN
17 INDIA 1.27.978 - KARUN CHANDOK
18 INDONESIA 1.28.430 - ANANDA MIKOLA
19 CHINA 1.29.377 - TENG JIANG
20 RUSSIA 1.32.760 - NIKOLAY FOMENKO

As you can see Will Davidson for Team Aus recorded 9th fastest lap.
but the top 10 are all within a second of each other.

I hope he does end up being the Driver for Australia, it would be exciting.

interesting to see he was quicker then Alex Yoong and Jos Verstappen (both ex-FormulaOne drivers)

 

[parry]

Does anybody know if or when it will be televised, I am looking forward to it. There was a practice session last week with all the countries. Will D was mid field, with USA clearly the team to beat.

 

[PLAYLIFE]

Yoong faster than Verstappen? Very strange.

I'm still sceptical about the series.

 

[n b j]

Here are some more laptimes from recent testing.

Apparently there are 4 drivers for Team Australia at the moment, but this will become just 2 drivers when the series begins.

Will Power
Will Davison
Alan Jones's Son
and a 4th driver

Hopefully Will Power will be our main driver. He should do very well


24/25/26 August - Fastest times overall

1 USA 1.24.177 – SCOTT SPEED
2 FRANCE 1.24.392 – ALEX PREMAT
3 IRELAND 1.24.561 – RALPH FIRMAN
4 BRAZIL 1.24.574 – NELSON PIQUET JR
5 NEW ZEALAND 1.24.590 – JONNY REID
6 SWITZERLAND 1.24.617 – NEEL JANI
7 NETHERLANDS 1.24.646 – JOS VERSTAPPEN
8 PORTUGAL 1.24.738 – ALVARO PARENTE
9 MALAYSIA 1.24.987 – FAIRUZ FAUZY
10 LEBANON 1.25.012 – KALIL BESCHIR
11 GREAT BRITAIN 1.25.104 – ROBBIE KERR
12 GERMANY 1.25.211 – TIMO SCHEIDER
13 MEXICO 1.25.296 – SALVADOR DURAN
14 AUSTRALIA 1.25.312 – WILL POWER
15 PAKISTAN 1.25.374 – ADAM KHAN
16 SOUTH AFRICA 1.25.509 – STEPHEN SIMPSON
17 INDONESIA 1.26.291 – ANANDA MIKOLA
18 INDIA 1.26.579 – KARUN CHANDHOK
19 RUSSIA 1.26.805 – ROMAN RUSINOV
20 CHINA 1.27.113 – TENG YI JIANG

Fastest lap times - Friday 26 August 2005

1 IRELAND 1.24.561 – RALPH FIRMAN
2 SWITZERLAND 1.24.617 – NEEL JANI
3 NETHERLANDS 1.24.646 – JOS VERSTAPPEN
4 NEW ZEALAND 1.24.800 – MATT HALLIDAY
5 FRANCE 1.25.012 – NICOLAS LAPIERRE
6 PORTUGAL 1.25.067- ALVARO PARENTE
7 AUSTRALIA 1.25 312. – WILL POWER
8 BRAZIL 1.25.378 – NELSON PIQUET JR
9 PAKISTAN 1.25.472 – ADAM KHAN
10 SOUTH AFRICA 1.25.509 – STEPHEN SIMPSON
11 MALAYSIA 1.25.620 – FAIRUZ FAUZY
12 MEXICO 1.25.626 – SALVADOR DURAN
13 GREAT BRITAIN 1.26.268. – ALEX LLOYD
14 INDONESIA 1.26.291 – ANANDA MIKOLA
15 USA 1.26.424 – COLIN FLEMING
16 LEBANON 1.26.496 – BASIL SHAABAN
17 INDIA 1.26.579 – KARUN CHANDHOK
18 RUSSIA 1.26.805 – ROMAN RUSINOV
19 CHINA 1.27.113 – TENG YI JIANG

 

[gti138]

I'm looking forward to this - My normal lull in watching car's go round and round on TV will not happen this year

I hope that Christian Jones doesnt get the drive. Otherwise it looks like he's only got it because his old man's running the team. From the testing times I saw when he was driving he wasnt that fast either!

 

[PLAYLIFE]

I like the concept so I hope it works out.

I remember years ago, it would have been in about 1996, Bernie Ecclestone had an idea to make F1 an Olympic sport with each country supplying a car and driver - which is what A1 is addressing.

 

[n b j]

I hope that Christian Jones doesnt get the drive. Otherwise it looks like he's only got it because his old man's running the team. From the testing times I saw when he was driving he wasnt that fast either!

yeah Will Power seems to be quicker then Will Davison, and both 'Wills' are much quicker then Christian Jones.

Hopefully both Wills will be the drivers

 

[gti138]

yeah Will Power seems to be quicker then Will Davison, and both 'Wills' are much quicker then Christian Jones.

Hopefully both Wills will be the drivers

I think that they both deserve a break in international motorsport. As they havent had much luck (or the budget) in the past this series may be the springboard to something better!