2007-08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Mexico

A1GP race summary v2
country_

---

race=Mexico
race no=8 of 10
season=2007-08
race_circuit=Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.svg
date=March 16, 2008
circuit=Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
city=Mexico City
country=Mexico
weather=dry
pole_

---

pole_team=South Africa
pole_driver=Adrian Zaugg
pole_time=1'20.315
sprint_1st_

---

sprint_1st_team=New Zealand
sprint_1st_driver=Jonny Reid
sprint_2nd_

---

sprint_2nd_team=Great Britain
sprint_2nd_driver=Oliver Jarvis
sprint_3rd_

---

sprint_3rd_team=Switzerland
sprint_3rd_driver=Neel Jani
FL_

---

FL_team=China
FL_driver=Cong Fu Cheng
FL_time=1'21.589
FL_l

pole2_

pole2_

---

pole2_team=Canada
pole2_driver=Robert Wickens
pole2_time=1'20.278
main_1st_

---

main_1st_team=Ireland
main_1st_driver=Adam Carroll
main_2nd_

---

main_2nd_team=Great Britain
main_2nd_driver=Oliver Jarvis
main_3rd_

---

main_3rd_team=USA
main_3rd_driver=Jonathan Summerton
FL2_

---

FL2_team=Great Britain
FL2_driver=Oliver Jarvis
FL2_time=1'21.417
FL2_l

Class_pdf=http://www.forix.com/a1gp/pdf/2007/08_Mexico,%20Mexico.pdf__FORCETOC__

The 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Mexico is a A1 Grand Prix race, held on March 16, 2008 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico. This is the eighth meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season.

Pre-race

David Martínez (Mexico) who race two venues in the 2005-06 season was recalled to drive Rookie sessions due to ineligibility of current main driver David Garza Perez [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40511 Mexico confirms home team] "a1gp.com" (March 05, 2008)] . Josef Král (Czech Republic) was replaced by Filip Salaquarda for the last three meetings [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40512 Salaquarda in shock Czech recall] "a1gp.com" (March 05, 2008)] . This Czech driver race in one round in 2006-07. Initially, Josef Král was called for race all four rounds but its results in the last South African venue (18th and 16th) weren't enough for its team.

Qualifications

In Rookie sessions, David Rigon (Italy) top the classification for its first A1GP appearance [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40590 Rigon achieves rare rookie feat] "a1gp.com" (March 15, 2008)] . This performance was only achieve before by Jonathan Summerton (USA) in 2006-07, Australia.

Mexico and France made disappointing qualifying sessions [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40619 Canada and South Africa grab poles] "a1gp.com" (March 15, 2008)] . David Garza Perez (Mexico) spin and hit the wall in the Peraltada corner in its last hot lap, he start from last row of the grid in each races. Jonathan Cochet line up on 16th and 14th position for his first race weekend replacing Loïc Duval for French team who is second in the standings before Mexican rounds.

Robert Wickens (Canada) make the Feature race pole position under yellow flag during the last qualifying session when David Garza Perez (Mexico) spin off. These circumstances are controversial according to several drivers, like Neel Jani who realize the second time, but the race stewards take no action against the Canadian team [ [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65789 Controversial Feature pole for Canada] "autosport.com" (March 15, 2008)] .

Sprint race

Its a 28°C for the sprint race and a near 50°C for the track temperature [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40640 Mexico Sprint race: lap-by-lap] "a1gp.com" (March 16, 2008)] . A second start was planned because of multiple crash in the first. Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) hit the back of Neel Jani (Switzerland) car's. Pakistan and then Australia hit Germany. Ireland and Brazil went off the track. Red flag is brandished and a new start is scheduled 20 minutes later. All team have time to repair damages and line up in their qualifying position except Germany who cannot take part in the second start.

The start is properly done this time and South Africa take the lead but only for two laps to have sustained a pucture. New Zealand lead Great Britain, Switzerland and Ireland. Australia is out since Lap 1, hitting Pakistan. Jonathan Cochet (France passes Narain Karthikeyan (India) in Lap 4 for 13th. The Safety car is out in Lap 6 when Filip Salaquarda (Czech Republic) spin in the chicane.
After the Safety car comes on in Lap 9, Great Britain, Switzerland and Ireland are close together unsing PowerBoosts to make the difference but all preserve their own position. In Lap 10, Cong Fu Cheng (China) hit David Garza Perez (Brazil) and go to the pits. China make the fasted lap on Lap 13 and one lap then, Jonny Reid (New Zealand) take its fourth win of the season behind Great Britain, Switzerland, Ireland, USA, Portugal, Canada, Netherlands, Malaysia and Brazil for 10th.

Main race

The start was aborded because Brazil was way out of its position [ [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40649&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Mexico Feature race: lap-by-lap] "a1gp.com" (March 16, 2008)] . At 15:15 the race is launch and Canada take the lead behind Switzerland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, USA, Portugal, Malaysia, South Africa. Australia and Italy get in the pits but Edoardo Piscopo (Italy) retire. In Lap 4, China passes Malaysia for 10th. In Lap 7, Neel Jani (Switzerland) grabb the lead to Robert Wickens (Canada). Australia receive a drive-through penalty. The first window to mandatory pit stops is open on Lap 10.
New Zealand loses some positions with its bad pit stop. Switzerland made the festest lap just after pitting. France then Indonesia, for the first time in A1GP history, lead the race due to late stops. After the first mandatory stops, in Lap 16, Switzerland take the lead behind Ireland, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands and China. In the next lap, Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) passes Robert Wickens (Canada) for 3rd. During the next laps, Switzerland increase its advance to 6 secondes, Michael Ammermüller (Germany) come near to Canada and try to passes without succes and Jonathan Summerton (USA) close to Germany.
In Lap 27, Jonny Reid (New Zealand) hit the kerb in the chicane and finish in the tire wall. The Safety car is out until lap 29. New Zealand is still in the race but in 20th. In Lap 32, USA passes Canada by way of its Power-to-Pass. Malaysia who where 10th, loses two positions in the same Lap 33. Portugal passes at Turn 2 and Brazil on a side-by-side overtake in Turns 4 and 5. Next lap, Germany and Canada hits each other and Michael Ammermüller (Germany) should change its car's nose. Its the second mandatory pit stops.
Switzerland, Ireland, Great Britain and USA pit immediately. Switzerland and Ireland exit side-by-side gratefully to the Ireland pits team. Adam Carroll (Ireland) take the lead at the end of the pit lane. Switzerland its second behind Great Britain, USA, Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, Portugal, Brazil and Malaysia. New Zealand and France are fighting but for 16th. Czech Republic and Switzerland receive a drive-through penalty in Lap 41 when Great Britain made the fastest lap. In Lap 44, Neel Jani (Switzerland) is 11th behind Pakistan. Jonathan Summerton (USA) is close to Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) and try to passes during the last laps of the race.
The final order is Ireland, the 15th team to win a race in A1GP behind Great Britain, USA, Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, Portugal, Brazil, India and China. The championship leader finish 12th for New Zealand, 13th for France and 19thth for Switzerland. Switzerland lead the series by 15 points behindNew Zealand and 20 points behind France who not score any points this weekend.

Notes

* It was the 30th race weekend (60 starts).
* It was the 2nd venue in Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and the 3rd in Mexico.
* It was the first race for Jimmy Auby [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40491 Auby to make Lebanese debut] "a1gp.com" (February 29, 2008)] (Lebanon), Jonathan Cochet [ [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65667 France call up veteran Cochet] "autosport.com" (March 13, 2008)] (France).
* It was the first race weekend as Rookie driver for Jimmy Auby (Lebanon), Felipe Guimarães [ [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65552 Team Brazil to run rookie Guimaraes] "autosport.com" (March 8, 2008)] (Brazil), Davide Rigon [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40569 Italy leads the way in Mexico City] "a1gp.com" (March 14, 2008)] (Italy), Bruno Serra (Portugal), Duncan Tappy [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65529 Tappy to make Team GBR debut] "autosport.com" (March 7, 2008)] (Great Britain).
* Records :
** Ireland and Adam Carroll win their first race.
** Lebanon participate on 30 rounds (60 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix.
** Neel Jani score 267 points.
** Alex Yoong participate on 27 races (52 starts).

References

External links

* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40640 New Zealand wins Mexican Sprint]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40640 Sprint race: lap-by-lap]
* [http://www.forix.com/a1gp/gp.php?l=0&d=201&r=20072115&c=2 Sprint race results]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40666 The Irish eyes are smiling]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40649 Feature race: lap-by-lap]
* [http://www.forix.com/a1gp/gp.php?l=0&d=201&r=20072116&c=2 Feature race results]