Formula One champions Ferrari have confirmed negotiations with organisers of the A1 GP series amid speculation that they could supply engines to the self-styled “World Cup of Motorsport”.
“We are in talks with them, ” a Ferrari spokesman said at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, without giving details.
The series, now run by South African businessman Tony Teixeira, made its debut in 2005 as a one-make single seater championship for national teams using Lola chassis and Zytek engines. Reuters.com
Ferrari is apparently running out of F1 teams to supply with engines, so it’s looking to other racing series altogether for new customers. For the current season, the Maranello-based team had to have the rules bent so that they could supply their engines to not one but two additional teams on the grid (Spyker and Toro Rosso). No wonder then that half of the cars that finished in the points at this past weekend’s penultimate Chinese Grand Prix were powered by Ferrari.
Like other single-seater racing series, A1GP, the self-described “world cup of motorsport”, uses the same chassis and engines for all the teams. Lola and Zytek have been supplying the cars and power respectively, but with contracts up for renewal, rumors started to fly when Ferrari’s sporting director Stefano Domenicali was seen at Silverstone during an A1GP test session. Ferrari has now confirmed that they’re in negotiations with the series’ organizers. AutoBlog
UPDATE: October 11, 2007 06:35 am
Ferrari announces it has reached a technological collaboration agreement with the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. The agreement covers the supply of engines and consultancy relating to the designing of the chassis for the cars that will compete1in this series to 2014. The agreement will also be extended to a second series, the A2GP, for which testing will begin starting in 2009.
UPDATE: October 11, 2007 06:45 am
A1GP Chairman, Tony Teixeira, has announced a truly historic and ground breaking partnership between Ferrari and the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. Ferrari signed a six-year agreement to manufacture and supply all A1GP engines for this unique series and will consult on the design and manufacture of all A1GP car chassis for use in Season Four (2008/09).
The partnership with Ferrari extends to an exclusive licensing agreement for all A1GP merchandise to use the Ferrari name and phrase ‘Powered by Ferrari’ from January 2008.
Commenting on the momentous deal, Tony Teixeira said: ‘Partnering with a world-class organisation like Ferrari will officially position A1GP as one of the most significant motorsport series’ in the world. ’
The introduction of A2GP was also announced today, a regional single-seat racing car series developed by A1GP to begin testing in 2009. Ferrari will be integral to the growth of the new series and will again supply all engines and consult on the design and manufacture of the new chassis.
A1GP also maintained its commitment to commercial partners and fans as a principal factor in confirming the partnership. ‘Ferrari will add significant value to our brand and in our opinion there is no better partner to progress the series, ’ adds Mr Teixeira.
‘We will be meeting with our commercial partners over the next few weeks to discuss the multitude of exciting opportunities that this partnership presents. ’
Finally Tony Teixeira notes; ‘Ferrari has a global presence through its dealer network. We will be working closely with them to ensure that they are a part of every A1GP World Cup of Motorsport event. ’
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