A1 Team Brasil heads to Zandvoort in the Netherlands this week for the first event of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport with all the elements in place to enjoy its best season yet.
The team is very pleased to announce that 23-year-old Sérgio Jimenez will lead the charge for the team for the first four races of the season. Sérgio participated in both official pre-season tests for the team as well as a rookie shoot-out. As Bruno Junqueira continues with his Champ Car World Series commitments over the forthcoming months, Sérgio is perfectly positioned to fulfil a stable and focused role for A1 Team Brasil. However, the team is also delighted to be able to confirm that Bruno will participate in selected races during the second half of the season. Sérgio will compete in all rookie sessions until his validity ends, after which opportunities will be given to other young Brazilian talent.
Over the summer months, A1 Team Brasil Principal Emerson Fittipaldi and his management team have been putting in every effort to ensure that Team Brasil is in the best possible position to return to winning ways. As well as running a structured driver selection programme, a new technical team has been engaged. Argo Racing Cars comprises a highly successful and experienced crew, including members of staff who took A1 Team Germany to victory in the 06/07 season.
The team is also delighted to confirm that A1GP will now be broadcast on terrestrial, free-to-view television in Brasil. An agreement has been made with the RedeTV! television network to broadcast all races on each A1GP Sunday throughout the season. The races will be shown as live, however, on a tape delay to be shown at the fixed slot of 11am local time each race Sunday to ensure continuity for viewers.
Due to noise restrictions at the Zandvoort circuit, the track schedule for this weekend will differ from the usual race weekend format. Running will be condensed to two days, with the rookie practice session eliminated for this round only. Drivers will have a total of two hours and twenty minutes of practice on Saturday morning. The afternoon qualifying will still comprise four segments but, in a change this year, the single fastest lap from the first two segments will determine the grid order for the sprint race, with the fastest lap from the final two segments setting the grid for the feature race. Both races will take place as usual on the Sunday. Fans visiting the race will have the opportunity to meet Sérgio together with all of the other A1GP drivers at Saturday’s official autograph session, which will take place at 1.30pm.
Emerson Fittipaldi, Team Principal: “We have great drivers in Bruno and Sérgio, and the fantastic thing about A1GP is that both of them can be a part of the team. As a team, we are extremely proud to have an established driver like Bruno committed to helping the team, and we are also proud to be able to allow younger Brazilian talents to shine. We have made the decision to run Sérgio in the opening rounds of the championship because he is able to dedicate 100% of his time to the cause, and he has impressed me in pre-season testing. It also means a lot to me to be able to hand a chance to someone that has perhaps been underestimated, or hasn’t been able to show his true potential to an international audience because of a lack of funding. I believe that Sérgio deserves this chance to shine and show his talent. I am very pleased with the work of all three drivers so far, as well as our new technical team. I am looking forward to a good season in which we can be competitive again - our only ambition is to go for the championship. ”
Sérgio Jimenez: “I’m really, really happy to have the support of Emerson and the team and to have been confirmed for these first four races. I completed three pre-season tests and I did well so I am satisfied with the way things are going. We have a good feeling in the team and have developed a good basic set-up for the car, and I am sure I can do a good job and meet the objectives of the team. It means a lot to me to be given this opportunity because it will be the first time I have been given a stable, solid run in single-seater racing. In both Spanish F3 last year and GP2 this year I was always unsure of the future, and this chance means all I have to do is focus on doing my job and not worry about external issues. All the tracks on the A1GP calendar will be new for me, but I will be working hard to prepare and make the most of this opportunity. ”
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