2007-08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australia

A1GP race summary v2
country_

---

race=Australia
race no=6 of 10
season=2007-08
race_circuit=Eastern Creek Circuit.svg
date=February 3, 2008
circuit=Eastern Creek Raceway
city=Eastern Creek, New South Wales
country=Australia
weather=variable (dry and wet)
pole_

---

pole_team=France
pole_driver=Loïc Duval
pole_time=1'18.149
sprint_1st_

---

sprint_1st_team=France
sprint_1st_driver=Loïc Duval
sprint_2nd_

---

sprint_2nd_team=New Zealand
sprint_2nd_driver=Johnny Reid
sprint_3rd_

---

sprint_3rd_team=Canada
sprint_3rd_driver=Robert Wickens
FL_

---

FL_team=France
FL_driver=Loïc Duval
FL_time=1'19.350
FL_l

pole2_

pole2_

---

pole2_team=New Zealand
pole2_driver=Jonny Reid
pole2_time=1'18.578
main_1st_

---

main_1st_team=South Africa
main_1st_driver=Adrian Zaugg
main_2nd_

---

main_2nd_team=Switzerland
main_2nd_driver=Neel Jani
main_3rd_

---

main_3rd_team=Great Britain
main_3rd_driver=Robbie Kerr
FL2_

---

FL2_team=South Africa
FL2_driver=Adrian Zaugg
FL2_time=1'39.034
FL2_l

Class_pdf=http://results.a1gp.com/pdf/2007/06_Eastern%20Creek,%20Australia.pdf__FORCETOC__

The 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australia is a A1 Grand Prix race, to be held on February 3, 2008 at the Eastern Creek Raceway, New South Wales, Australia. This will be the sixth meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season.

Pre-race

Fairuz Fauzy who drive in the inaugural 2005-06 season replace this weekend Alex Yoong in the A1 Team Malaysia car [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40166 Fauzy replaces Yoong at Malaysia] "a1gp.com" (January 30, 2008)] . Alex Yoong realise the longest run of consecutive starts with 45 successive starts.

For his home race, A1 Team Australia rename is car "Jackaroo" [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40169 Australia names its race car] "a1gp.com" (January 30, 2008)] . The name was chosen between the Australian symbole propositions done by fan in the official team site.

Since Taupo round, A1GP cars use a 30 per cent biofuel mix. A1 Grand Prix continue its environmental campaign in Australia using electric generators for all the paddock’s temporary and ancillary structures provided by Active Power Management and initiate by THINK Greener Racing [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40261 Paddock generators go green] "a1gp.com" (February 02, 2008)] .

Qualifications

Once again, the practice sessions were dominated by France in Friday wet and Saturday humid wheather conditions [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40192 France edges Friday practice] "a1gp.com" (February 01, 2008)] [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40210 France on top before qualifying] "a1gp.com" (February 02, 2008)] .

On Friday night, Portugal practice their pit stops and a tyre gun hose that became disconnected hit accidentally the leg of James Goodfield, the race engeener of the next door garage, Great Britain [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40225 GBR suffers race engineer set back] "a1gp.com" (February 02, 2008)] . James Goodfield sustain a broken leg and was carry up to the hospital.

Chris Alajajian, driver of the Lebanon, made a mistake on his first out lap for Sprint race qualifying spinning and hitting the tyre barriers at Turn 5 [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40226 Alajajian 'gutted' after error] "a1gp.com" (February 02, 2008)] . The car was too much damaged to complete a flying lap during qualifying sessions. Lebanon after hard work to repair the car during the night, start the both Sunday races from the last grid position.

Canada was penalised because his driver, Robert Wickens, have not respected blue flag during Feature race qualifying hamping Sergio Jimenez (Brazil) [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40227 Canada loses Feature grid slot] "a1gp.com" (February 02, 2008)] . Robert Wickens lost his 8th qualifying position to the 21th.

* (1) = No time for A1 Team Lebanon due to crash during Sprint qualifying.
* (2) = A1 Team Canada was penalised for blue flag disrecpet, losing its 8th position.

Sprint race

This race is known as 'the race of two halves' due to the track being dry in the first half with 27°C, then become extremely difficult and wet [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40242 Sprint race: lap-by-lap] "a1gp.com" (February 02, 2008)] . In first lap, the order is France, Switzerland, South Africa, New Zealand, Great Britain with a great start from the 8th, China, Germany and USA. Pakistan crash out in the first lap. Loïc Duval (France) made the fastest lap in Lap 2 and is pulling away.
In lap 7, the rain start and Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) is slipping down at Turn 1. Narain Karthikeyan (India) is going off too. reat Britain and Indonesia enter into the pits for wet tyres in lap 9. Cong Fu Cheng (China) spins off in Lap 10, Adam Carroll (Ireland) the next lap.
Robert Wickens (Canada) made an amazing race. He passes Ireland and Netherlands in Lap 11 takink 7th. At Turn 1, next lap, it grabs the 4th position pssing four cars including Germany. One lap before the end of the Sprint race, France is leading followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Germany, USA, Australia and South Africa.
Neel Jani (Switzerland) spin in the final lap. Loic Duval (France) in his final round of racing for this A1GP season due to commitments in Japan, converted his pole position with a very comfortable win and breaking the 37-race win-drought, when France was a dominant team in A1GP's debut season. The final standing is France, New Zealand, Canada taking advantage of the rain and took a chance on not switching for wet tyre to climb from 15th, Germany, USA, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Netherlands and Switzerland in 10th.

Main race

It's 25°C and soaking wet for the Main race [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40251 Feature race: lap-by-lap] "a1gp.com" (February 03, 2008)] . Jonny Reid (New Zealand), having qualified pole, halt on track after quitting the stand and must start the race from the pitlane. Loïc Duval (France), qualified fifth, is stuck on the grid at the start of the formation lap and must start the race second to last.
After the first lap, Ireland and India enter in pit to change their slicks tyres to wets. The order is Switzerland, Great Britain, South Africa, Brazil, USA, China, Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, and Canada. In the third lap, New Zealand is 19th and France 14th. Robert Wickens (Canada) grab the 9th to Tomas Enge (Czech Republic) in Lap 3. In lap 7, New Zealand is already 14th and France in points at 10th. During Lap 9, Pakistan run off without damage. In the next lap, João Urbano (Portugal) spin off trying passes Chris Alajajian (Lebanon) who run off too. Pakistan, Czech Republic and China receive a drive-through penalty for making a false start. The pit window is now open in Lap 10.
Switzerland and Great Britain pit at same time and leave the stand in the same order. In Lap 13, South Africa leads France by 21 seconds but neither have made their pit stop. Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) take the lead after a quick pit stop in Lap 15. In the same lap, Robbie Kerr (Great Britain) run wide and lost a few seconds meanwhile Jonathan Summerton (USA) has gone off and Robert Wickens (Canada) passes. Finally, France makes is mandatory pit stop and South Africa set the current fastest lap in Lap 16.
After the pit window close, Canada and USA fight for 6th in Lap 17. Loïc Duval (France) join the battle and try to passes Jonathan Summerton (USA). In Lap 22, France hit USA, who give up, and receive a drive-through penalty for avoidable collision. Two laps before the opening of the pit for the second mandatories stops in Lap 26, John Martin (Australia) passes Robert Wickens (Canada).
Cong Fu Cheng (China) loses is 11th to 13th after spin in Lap 28, Satrio Hermanto spin also at turn 1, 2 laps after that. Switzerland takes the fasted lap. During his pit stop on lap 31, the french car have a clutch failure and Loïc Duval must renounce. Canada passes Germany for 6th and South Africa takes again the fasted lap on Lap 33. Later, Cong Fu Cheng (China) passes Narain Karthikeyan (India) fot 10th.
The 42th lap is the last and South Africa win 19.560 seconds behind Switzerland, Great Britain, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and China. New Zealand and France are now tied leading the championship with 96 points.

After race

Due to commitment to race in Japan (Formula Nippon and Super GT) agreed before the start of the A1GP season, Loïc Duval announced he will not drive for France for the final three rounds of the 2007-08 [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40252 France set to change driver] "a1gp.com" (February 03, 2008)] . His participation for the next South African round on 24 February was only confirmed the 22 February [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40355 The Three Musketeers] "a1gp.com" (February 21, 2008)] .

Notes

* It was the 28th race weekend (56 starts).
* It was the third venue in Eastern Creek Raceway and in Australia.
* It was the first race weekend for Jonathan Cochet [http://results.a1gp.com/gp.php?l=0&d=201&r=20072111&c=25 Rookies combined] "results.a1gp.com" (February 1, 2008)] and Michael Klein.
*Records :
** France even up the 6 pole position of Switzerland.
** France score 10 fastest laps (6 rewarded by points).
** Lebanon participate on 28 rounds (56 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix.
** Neel Jani score 232 points.

References

External links

* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40247 France wins Australia Sprint]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40242 Sprint race: lap-by-lap]
* [http://results.a1gp.com/gp.php?l=0&d=201&r=20072111&c=2 Sprint Race Results]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40268 South Africa storms Sydney]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40251 Feature race lap-by-lap]
* [http://results.a1gp.com/gp.php?l=0&d=201&r=20072112&c=2 Feature Race Results]