A1 Team Pakistan took part in practice at the A1GP Sydney, Australia today, alongside 21 other nations from around theglobe. The 3.9 km long circuit, situated 40km from the beautifulcity of Sydney, will host A1GP’s second ever race in Australia, although it will be a first for A1 Team Pakistani driver, Nur Ali.
Track action kicked off today under wet conditions, with a fine mistof rain falling on the track. With streams of spray rising from the A1GP cars, conditions wereslippery and visibility poor as Nur Ali got to grips with this complicated circuit. The weather wasbetter for the final practice session of the day, as Ali improved his time dramatically to close thegap to A1 Team India.
Commenting on his first day at the Eastern Creek circuit, Ali said “This morning was quitefrustrating, because the rain hampered our development programme a bit, and I wasn’t able tolearn the circuit quite as well as if it had been dry. For the final session this afternoon, it totallydried out and I was able to really focus on the track.
“I’m really pleased with how it went this afternoon, the team are happy with my progress and I’vegiven them some good feedback to work on. I’m feeling really confident and comfortable in thecar now and think we can make up a couple of seconds tomorrow which will move us up a fewplaces. Hopefully it won’t be raining, and we can carry on progressing and put on a good showfor the team and the country of Pakistan. â€
As part of the build up to A1GP’s seventh race of the season, Nur Ali took part in the traditionalpre-race PR event yesterday in Sydney Harbour. Ali, joined by drivers from 14 other nations, tookat trip on a jet boat across the city’s infamous backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney OperaHouse.
One of the most multicultural locations that the A1GP circus visits, Sydney has a strong Pakistanicommunity that is showing its support of the Karachi born driver. Ali commented, “I’ve alreadymet some members of the Pakistani community, who are really enthusiastic about the team andA1GP. It’s a great feeling to have encouragement from my fellow country men when I’m so faraway from home. I’m hoping to see some green and white flags in the grandstands over theweekend. â€
A1 Team Pakistan will complete one more practice session tomorrow at 11.00 local time, beforetaking to the track for a four segment qualifying session, which will begin at 14.15. The results ofqualifying will set the grid for the 20 minute Sprint race on Sunday, which will be followed by alonger 70 minute Feature race.
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