A1 Grand Prix
The A1GP (in the first season still A1 Grand Prix) was a unit of racing series founded by Sheikh Maktoum sensationalist Maktoum Al Maktoum in collaboration with Tony Teixeira, adorned with the slogan " World Cup of Motorsport " and in 2005 fought out their first race. It took place in the winter half year in which many other championships such as Formula 1, Indy Car Series, World Motorcycle Championship, DTM, World Rally Championship and World Touring Car Championship host not racing. Visually, the cars initially oriented to Formula 3000, then at the Formula 1 cars of the generation before 2009, technically they were but kept simple. In its fourth and final season, the series was the addition of " Powered by Ferrari " is a reference to an engine supplier contract that the series had concluded in autumn 2007 with Ferrari. On 10 February 2010, from the A1GP series was announced due to bankruptcy.
- 6.1 training
- 6.2 Qualification
- 6.3 sprint race
- 6.4 Main race
Teams and Drivers
Instead of racing stables occurred in the A1GP teams against each other, hence the slogan " World Cup ". Each National team used a driver from the country and also the vehicle was in country colors (or typical for the country at sporting events colors) painted.
In the A1GP series were some young talents who could do that later attracted attention in higher series, such as Nico Hulkenberg (GER ), Adrian Sutil (GER ), Sebastien Buemi (SUI ), Nelson Piquet Jr. (BRA ) Scott Speed ( USA, all formula 1 race drivers ), Álvaro Parente ( POR), Fairuz Fauzy (MAS, both formula 1 test driver ), Alexandre Prémat ( FRA ), Oliver Jarvis (GBR, both DTM ) or Ryan Briscoe ( OFF, IndyCar Series). In parallel, were experienced pilots at the start, some of them in the " autumn of their career," such as the former Formula 1 driver Christian Fittipaldi (BRA ), Narain Karthikeyan (IND ), Alex Yoong (MAS ), Ralph Firman (IRL ) Tomáš Enge ( CZE), Hideki Noda (JPN ), Jos Verstappen (NED ), Robert Doornbos (NED ), Franck Montagny ( FRA ) Vitantonio Liuzzi or (ITA ). The own goal to allow drivers a direct entry into Formula 1, was never fulfilled; not only changed without stopping in Formula 1
A1 Team:
- Italy
- Japan
- Canada
- Korea
- Lebanon
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Netherlands
- Austria
- Pakistan
- Portugal
- Russia
- Switzerland
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Czechia
- USA
Responsible
Chairman of the A1GP series was after the departure of Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum Maktoum sensationalist after the first season of South African businessman and co-founder of the series Tony Teixeira. As Managing Director of A1 Holding ltd served until autumn 2009, the Brazilian-born Pete da Silva.
Seasons
The series played up to their bankruptcy four seasons:
Racetracks
The A1GP races were held around the world, where there was a focus on racing in Asia. The specific routes changed often and sometimes very short notice. Only the routes of Brands Hatch and Sepang were used in each of the four seasons.
- Europe: Brands Hatch (2005-2008), Euro Speedway Lausitz (2005), Circuito do Estoril (2005), Circuit Park Zandvoort (2006-2008), Brno Circuit (2006, 2007), Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (2008)
- Asia: Sepang International Circuit (2005-2008), Dubai Autodrome, (2005), Sentul International Circuit (2005, 2006), Shanghai International Circuit (2005-2007 ), Beijing ( street circuit ) (2006 ), Zhuhai International Circuit (2007 ) Chengdu International Circuit (2008)
- America: Parque Fundidora Monterrey ( 2005), Laguna Seca Raceway (2005), Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez ( 2006-2007)
- Africa: Durban ( street circuit ) ( 2005-2007), Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit (2008)
- Oceania: Eastern Creek Raceway (2005-2007), Taupo Motorsport Park (2006-2008)
The race weekend at the Dubai Autodrome was the only one that took place without a local team. In the first season, each race weekends were still referred to as the A1 Grand Prix of Nations ™.
The tests of the series went largely at Silverstone, in addition, there were also testing at the Circuit Paul Ricard race track (2005), Donington Park ( 2008) and Snetterton Circuit (2008).
Racetracks had to have at least FIA Grade 2 route to host a round of the A1GP series can.
Rules
This section describes the rules largely in the last season. For the previous regulations, see each seasonal items.
Teams and Drivers
In the A1GP than 25 national teams competed against each other. The drivers come from, at least in its third generation, the country for which they started ( only exception: Enrico Toccacelo in Durban 2006). The vehicles carried predominantly domestic sponsors inscriptions. However, the team leaders did not meet the nationality for which they competed - for example A1 Team China was looked after by the crew of the Belgian racing team Team Astro Mega. The pit crews were limited to a maximum of ten people. It could take up per race weekend up to three different drivers for a team who were in turn only use authorized for the qualifying or the race if they had participated in at least one of the three training sessions. All riders who competed in A1GP, needed a FIA International driver's license Class B
Unit cars
In A1GP unit cars were used. This should guarantee that each team had the same material available and thus decided the driver, only the power and the work of the Department between victory and defeat. Nevertheless, there were several opportunities for teams to optimally adapt their cars to the respective track conditions. Thus it could be achieved, inter alia, by skillfully adjusting the rear wing quite a temporal advantage. Larger modifications such as additional wings were not allowed.
In the period before and after a race weekend it was the teams are not allowed to make changes to the vehicles so as to avoid a head start of the respective crews. Even private test drives of each team were strictly forbidden in the first two seasons, but since then was for each team the opportunity to again before the season starts a rookie test ( ie a test for drivers who have not yet been in the A1GP series at the start gone were ) perform. This, however, had to be held on a track that has not been driven on the course of the season.
During the race weekend, the teams a total of seven sets of tires ( slicks five sets, two sets of rain tires) had available. Kept it the racing line because of the weather conditions necessary also to include more rain tire sets could be assigned to the individual teams. The " borrowing " of parts during a race weekend (for example, a new front wing ) was not prohibited ( cf. Jos Verstappen in Durban 2006).
In the first three seasons, the series used a locally designed and manufactured by Lola International car whose engine from Zytek Engineering and the tires came from the British manufacturer Cooper Tires. There was a maximum of 527 horsepower, with the Power Boost button an additional 30 hp could be unlocked. The curb weight of the vehicle stood at about 600 kg up to 290 km / h were possible.
The new chassis for the 2008/2009 season was developed and built under the leadership of John Travis, the Technical Director of the series, and with the support of ex- Ferrari designer Rory Byrne in Bognor Regis ( UK), which served as a model of the Ferrari F2004 with which the Scuderia Ferrari won the drivers 'and constructors' world championship in the 2004 formula 1 season. The V8 engine came from Ferrari and as a tire supplier was the French manufacturer Michelin. The car was mainly made of carbon fiber and aluminum, and thus in line with the applicable safety standards. The top speed of the vehicles was almost 300 km / h, the maximum power 600 hp at activated Power Boost Button ( 540 hp without). The car weighed with driver, but excluding fuel, 695 kg.
Technical driver aids such as ABS and traction control were banned in the first three seasons. The new car, however, possessed a Launch Control, which this requirement could be considered null and void. Electric blankets were allowed and were used as standard.
See: A1GP cars
Security
In addition to the advanced materials, especially a six -point harness and in the motorsport scene now mandatory HANS system should guarantee the safety of the drivers.
Ecological approaches
In the self- understanding of the series played from 2007 reducing the emission of greenhouse gases play an important role. So drove the Lola - Zytek cars in the third season from Taupo to Brands Hatch race weekend with the environmentally friendly fuel Hiperflo ™ E30. This is 30 percent of ethanol, which is obtained from sugar beet grown in Europe. This CO2 emissions should be reduced by 21 percent and emissions of nitrogen oxides are minimized. In addition, only electric scooters should be used for transport in and around the paddock.
Originally, the fuel should be already inserted in the season opener at Zandvoort, due to compatibility problems with the engine of this project, however, was first placed.
Before the season even a fuel had been tested with 85 -percent ethanol content, but this had proved to be totally unsuitable.
In the last season, a fuel with 10 percent ethanol share was used.
Power Boost
Each A1GP car had a so-called Power Boost button that allows the driver could unlock additional performance ( in the last season this amounted to about 60 hp). This device should facilitate overtaking a competitor in the narrower duels and thus shape the course of the race more exciting. In the sprint race of the PowerBoost four times could be used in the feature race at most eight times.
Flag characters
In the A1GP series the usual flag characters were. However, there was little variation in comparison to Formula 1: So when panning the Red Flag ( = racing interruption ) has not stopped time during a qualifying session. This would in the worst case can lead to a single team could have gone one timed lap.
Pit stops
In the sprint race a mandatory pit stop was required, in the main race two. The pit stops were usually carried out by a seven persons on crew members. There are four members were responsible for changing tires, two further served the jack and holding the Stop / Go sign. With the exception of the so-called "Lollipop Man" could only enter the pit area all crew members, when the vehicle had come to a standstill. Each of the four responsible for the tire change mechanic was then the new tires to his seat, removed the old and installed the new one. Occurred when changing a tire problems, the other crew members of the person concerned were not allowed to come to the rescue. Thus, each mechanic contributed A1GP one not to be underestimated responsibility for the overall performance of the team. Since the cars were filled with the final amount of fuel before the start, refueling in the pit stop was not necessary and also not allowed.
A good stop was (excluding travel time through the pit lane ) last at about ten to twelve seconds. In the course of the seasons had shown increasingly that the mandatory pit stops constitute a decisive strategic factor. In the first season occurred more frequently on problems with the wheel nuts, thus well-positioned teams declining as a lot of places. This was later fixed.
The speed limit in the pit lane was usually at 60 km / h
Safety and Medical Car
As usual in international motorsport, a safety car in the A1GP series at special risk situations was used. In addition to the Safety Car was located also at any time of the weekend a Medical Car is in readiness, which, came into use in case of serious accidents in which drivers could have come to harm.
As a safety car used vehicles:
- Audi RS4
- Audi S8
- Chrysler 300 C ( Eastern Creek 2005)
- Chrysler Crossfire ( Eastern Creek 2005, when Pace Car )
- BMW Z4 ( Sepang 2005)
- Porsche Cayman S (Dubai 2005)
- Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (from the third season)
As a medical car used vehicles:
- Audi S8
- Audi RS4 Avant
- Holden Commodore ( Eastern Creek 2005)
- Porsche Cayenne ( Sepang and Dubai 2005)
- Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT (from the third season)
Points system
Sprint race:
Main race:
Both for the fastest lap in the Sprint as well as the fastest lap in the feature race an extra point was awarded.
Purse
One million U.S. dollars was paid out in prize money per race weekend. In the first two seasons, this was the ten best teams in the main race reserved, but this was changed to the third season, so that one-third of the prize money also went to the Top Ten of the Sprint race.
Race weekend
The weekend consisted of three training sessions (2 x Friday, 1 x Saturday), a 40 - minute qualifying session (Saturday ) and a sprint (Sunday ) and a main race (Sunday) together. The break between the end of the Sprint race and the start of the feature race was approximately three and a half hours.
Training
Overall, A1GP found three training place per race weekend, the first so-called " rookies " were reserved. The term "rookie" referred to in this case, a driver (no age limit ), who had denied not more than six races in A1GP, and also not in one of the five strongest seaters classes (Formula 1, GP2, Champ Car, Formula Nippon and Indy Cars ) was down or a driver for "Motorsport - developing country " - ie China, Indonesia, Korea, Lebanon, and Pakistan - was launched and not more than three top ten results in the A1GP had achieved. The " rookie training " was divided into two sections, each of which was 30 minutes in between, there was a 20 - minute break. The two remaining training lasted one hour and were for all drivers "open". In all the training sessions, the drivers were able to complete as many laps. They helped the team only when tuning the car and had no direct influence on the starting grid.
Qualification
The qualification (English: Qualifying ) consisted of four sessions together, which lasted ten minutes each - in between each one five-minute break took place. In each session, the driver was allowed to drive a maximum of one timed lap ( he completed a total of three rounds: run- round, timed lap, down lap ). The fastest (single) time from session one and two in this case determined the starting position in the sprint race, the fastest (single) time from session three and four the the main race.
Each driver was allowed to use in one of the four timed laps the power boost. This then was the complete round is activated, which caused a significant performance advantage. This rule was first applied during the race weekend at Sepang in 2008, since Kyalami 2009, she was continuously used.
Sprint race
The sprint race (English: Sprint Race ) usually began with a " flying start " and lasted a maximum of 24 minutes plus one lap. There was a mandatory pit stop, which had to be completed between round four and eight.
Main race
The main race (English: Feature Race ) was traditionally opened with the words "Gentlemen, for the pride of your nations, start your engines! ". After the departure of Sheikh Maktums mostly took a prominent team - Responsible, eg, Emerson Fittipaldi as "Seat Holder " of the Brazilian team, this Part The launch was carried out "standing". The main race was limited to 69 minutes plus one lap, two mandatory pit stops were required. The first round had between eight and 16 are completed, the second in a race track to race track of individually set round windows.
TV
A1GP has been broadcast in over 120 countries, while watching each race about eight million people worldwide (as of 25 November 2005). The biggest customers were China (three million viewers) and Indonesia (about one million viewers), in Europe, the Netherlands has been a leader with 800,000 viewers. By the end of the season 05/ 06 the leaders expected to reach the ten million mark or even surpass. From October 2008 A1GP beamed as the first international motor racing series, the race weekends in HD, and thus, for example, two and a half years earlier than the Formula 1 world feed commentators were in all four seasons, the British Ben Edwards and John Watson.
In Germany and Austria the A1GP series was aired exclusively on pay-TV channel Premiere by the end of 2008. The transmissions included a summary of the last sprint and a live broadcast of the feature race. Commentators were Sascha Roos, expert of the former Euro - Formula 3000 driver Sven Heidfeld. Formula 1 commentator Jacques Schulz took Roos in their absence. Since the race in Shanghai in 2007, the transmitter radiated from the race of the series in 16:9 format. In Switzerland, however, the main race were since the third race weekend of the season 07/ 08 also by Swiss Sport TV (SSF ), which transmits on Star TV currently transmitted. In addition to the presence in the mentioned transmitters the A1GP series took place in the German mass media, however, little attention, which probably has contributed to the low level of awareness of this racing series.
The A1GP was next broadcast live by several English merchants on the Internet, among others, on the official website.
Sub-series
The A1GP should be given a regional sub- series in 2009: the A2GP series ( A2 Grand Prix); Engine supplier should also be Ferrari. However, the project fell victim to the financial problems. Already 2005/2006, there had been with the A3 Racing Series the attempt to establish a corresponding series. However you came across an appearance in the supporting program of the race weekend not go in Durban in 2006. The cars of the type Formula Volkswagen found since 2008 in the South African Formula VW championship use.
Trivia
- The Briton Katherine Legge was the first woman to be allowed to drive a A1GP car. She got on 9 December 2005 as part of the race weekend in Dubai in two extra sessions, the opportunity to test the Lola - vehicle of the British team. It was followed, in each case in the " rookie training ", the South African Jennifer Murray (Brno 2006), the Brazilian Bia Figueiredo ( Shanghai 2007, Portimão 2009) and the Swiss women Natacha Gachnang (Brno 2007) and Rahel Frey ( Sepang 2007, Mexico City 2008). The series, waited in vain for the race of a woman.
- In the course of the race weekend in Dubai 2005 was used for the first and only time in the history of motorsport called A1 Recovery System. It was a towing method in which had an accident or defect as stopping race cars were removed using a 50 -meter-long steel cable by helicopter of Air Zermatt.
- The A1GP cultivated a close relationship with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Therefore all cars wore throughout all seasons the number 46664 ( Mandela's prisoner number).