“The track has a long straight which will give the cars a great chance to stretch their legs, and some incredibly challenging corners. The fast right hander onto the old circuit is one of the most challenging on the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport calendar. Nobody wants to get that wrong. And the hairpin before the main straight offers a superb passing opportunity, but is very difficult to get right with consistency, whoever you are.”
Congfu Cheng will make a return to the driving seat for A1 Team China in Taupo, with 18 year-old Adderly Fong from Hong Kong making his rookie debut at the event. Cheng, whose last A1GP race was at Brands Hatch, has had limited running in the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car with just 20 laps testing at Silverstone in October: “The power is very good and the acceleration is smooth. The tyres and aerodynamics are completely different to last season.”
A1 Team Malaysia’s Fairuz Fauzy and Aaron Lim have already arrived in New Zealand to help them acclimatise ready for action. Neither driver has raced at Taupo Motorsport Park, but both have been at the event as rookies. Fauzy explained why he is not fazed about his lack of track time: “It doesn’t worry me that I haven’t raced, as I will have the practice sessions to reacquaint myself with the layout and characteristics of it. Of course I’ll be in the same position as everyone on the grid as none of us have driven the new car here.”
USA will retain the services of Marco Andretti as the team aims to secure its first win with the 21-year-old at the wheel. “I’m looking forward to the race in New Zealand”, said Andretti. “I’ve never been over there, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it from Scott Dixon and I am looking forward to getting there. I know very little about the circuit, but I’m sure we’ll get up to speed pretty quick. It’s just great to be able to race this time of year. I love to drive and a lot of people aren’t getting that chance right now.”
Robert Doornbos will be in the car for A1 Team Netherlands after making an impressive debut in China to finish on the podium in the Chengdu Sprint race. Portugal and France will have the familiar faces of Filipe Albuquerque and Loïc Duval at the wheel, and certainly they will be nipping at the heels of Adam Carroll in the car of current championship leader, A1 Team Ireland.
“I am determined to have a strong weekend in Taupo; we have had a terrific reaction in Ireland to leading the series, and I want to keep the momentum going,” said Carroll. “The track is tight and technical, and a little bumpy in places. Last year I had a sixth place in the Sprint and came from the back to finish fifth in the Feature, so I enjoyed it. I’m expecting tough competition as usual - New Zealand, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands and Portugal in particular - but we’ve been working hard too. With all the doom and gloom in the world at the moment, it’ll be good to race and better still to win.”
A1 Teams Germany and Pakistan have postponed their Season Four debuts, with both teams now planning to be on track for the first time in A1GP Gauteng, South Africa on 20-22 February.
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