This weekend the 2008-09 A1GP Championship kicks off on the Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands. A1GP is an innovative concept on the international motorsport scene as it is the only championship in the world that pits national teams against one another. The World Cup of Motorsport was launched in 2005 with teams represent strong and well-known nations as well as countries, which, until then, never had the opportunity of competing in top-level motorsport. Two new teams, Monaco and South Korea, will join the field this year and their entry highlights the growing success of A1GP throughout the world.
The World Cup of Motorsport is a single-make formula. All countries have the same car, a high technology single-seater designed specifically for A1GP. Its technical characteristics, like the sporting regulations that structure the race weekends, favour plenty of overtaking and non-stop on-track action. This season A1GP is underscoring its technological credibility with a completely new car. It will be powered by a V8 Ferrari engine produced and assembled specially for A1GP by the Italian manufacturer, while its new chassis has been penned by Maranello engineers. These include Rory Brown, the chief designer of the Ferraris that won multiple F1 world championships in the hands of Michael Schumacher. For the first time A1GP cars will use Michelin tyres.
The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will take place on the most beautiful natural and city circuits over 10 weekends according to an ever more attractive format, which was modified during the winter to intensify the action.
A1TEAM FRANCE’S AIM: THE TITLE
Since the creation of the World Cup of Motorsport A1 Team France has always been among the front-runners in the chase for the title.
The “Bleus” were the first to win the inaugural A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Championship in 2005-2006. Today, A1 Team France is back for revenge and motivated by a single aim - reconquering the no.1 spot on the world scene.
This year, Loïc Duval, Nicolas Prost and Guillaume Moreau will defend the team’s colours.
THE 2008-09 CALENDAR
24 nations will do battle over 10 weekends and 20 races throughout the world with action all through the field. It’s not a wish: it’s a promise!
3rd-5th October 2008 Zandvoort (Netherlands)
7th-9th November 2008 Chengdu (China)
21st- 23rd November 2008 Sepang (Malaysia)
23rd-25th January 2009 Taupo (New Zealand)
6th-8th February 2009 Jakarta (Indonesia)
19th-22nd February 2009 Gauteng (South Africa)
13th-15th March 2009 Mexico City (Mexico)
27th – 29th March 2009 TBA
10th-12th April 2009 Algarve (Portugal)
1st-3rd May 2009 Brands Hatch (Great Britain)
COMPETING COUNTRIES
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United States of America.
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