Possible delay for Chinese and Malaysian rounds

The first two meetings of the upcoming A1GP season could be postponed until the New Year. With championship administrators still attempting to resolve issues which have already seen the Australian Surfers Paradise event cancelled, shadows have now been cast over the new campaign kicking off on this side of Christmas.

With the pair of season-opening races in Australia having already been called off, it now looks likely that the two following meetings in Zhuhai and Sepang could be placed on pause until the start of next year, possibly being slotted into position on the calendar before South Africa’s event, which is scheduled to take place on the weekend of 27-28 February.

"Basically what’s happened is, until we get everything sorted we can’t go ahead. Nothing has been cancelled but I know the guys out there are looking for alternatives because I think it would be very, very difficult (to stage the races on the weekends of their current dates)."

China’s races next weekend look particularly unlikely to take place on their pre-scheduled dates, mostly due to the logistical problems which this would now present at such late notice, should the go-ahead be given. Governing body the FIA is fully aware of the possible date changes.

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Season 5 calendar unveiled

A1 Grand Prix organisers have revealed the calendar for the 2009-10 fifth season of the World Cup of Motorsport. As planned beforehand, Australia’s spectacular Surfers Paradise Circuit will kick off proceedings in October with visits to six continents accumulating with a Dutch finale in mid-May.

With the calendar revealed on Monday, A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira is delighted with the 18-race schedule across nine countries. “I have always had a long wish list of deals we wanted to make so our series is one of the most well known on the sporting calendar,” he said after confirming a new partnership with IMG Sports Media for television broadcasts, video on demand (VOD), in-flight and ship-at-sea rights and non exclusive mobile rights for live races and highlights.

“A deal such as this was at the top of it and to be associated with IMG Sports Media is just what we needed to ensure we have the best possible representation in this highly competitive market. The plans they have for us are exciting and innovative.”

The Season 5 calendar is as follows:

Australia – 25 October 2009
China – 15 November 2009
Malaysia – 06 December 2009
South Africa – 28 February 2010
Brazil – 14 March 2010
Mexico – 21 March 2010
Portugal – 11 April 2010
Germany – 02 May 2010
Netherlands – 16 May 2010

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Assen to enjoy demo run on Sunday

As the momentum continues to build ahead of Season Five of A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, Dutch fans are about to get their glimpse of the A1GP Powered By Ferrari car where the series will race for the first time on 14-16 May 2010.

The Dutch, who have proved one of the most enthusiastic and loyal set of fans, will be able to see the car of A1 Team Netherlands at the annual Rizla Racing Day at the world famous TT Circuit Assen on Sunday 9 August. The event provides a unique atmosphere for race fans, who get free access to the finest grandstands and enjoy a full day’s car, motorcycle and superkart racing and stunts.

It will mark exactly one year since the A1GP Powered by Ferrari car made its first public appearance. A prototype version of the car was demonstrated at the event last season.

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Gold Coast revs up for A1 arrival

Motorsport fans on Australia’s Gold Coast enjoyed the occasion on Tuesday as the Surfer’s Paradise street circuit looks towards hosting the Nitro SuperGP event in October. Not only will this feature the start of A1 Grand Prix’s fifth season but also rounds of the V8 Supercars Series.

A mix of single-seater and touring action should provide sufficient thrills on spills on the dramatic track from 22-25 October as a parachute display marked on Tuesday. “The Gold Coast has become a permanent fixture on the international motorsport circuit and the festival has been entertaining locals and visitors alike for nearly two decades,” said Queensland Premier Anna Bligh. “This year is expected to be bigger and better with the sleek, Ferrari-powered A1GPs mixing it with the pure muscle and brute force of our home-grown V8 Supercars.

“I cannot count the number of people who have told me that I shall be blown away by the superb organisation, the loyal fans, the great racing and the knowledgeable media. I don’t doubt any of these claims. Over 300,000 are expected to attend the 2009 Nitro SuperGP, not to mention the 700 international media that will take this great city to the world. Our hotels and hospitality industry will benefit from more than 173,000 visitor nights; locals will benefit from the equivalent of over 550 casual, full-time jobs and the Queensland economy will get a A$60 million shot in the arm.”

“I am still pinching myself that we have managed to do a deal to bring our A1GP cars to such an iconic event,” added A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira. “The Nitro SuperGP is one of the most eagerly awaited events in A1GP history and I know the reputation of this event worldwide is incredible.”

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A1GP moves from Zandvoort to Assen

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will race in the Netherlands for the fourth time in Season Five. However, it will be new territory for the series when it visits the Assen track on 14-16 May 2010. A1GP has one of its largest and most enthusiastic fan bases in the Netherlands, and is now going to a track famous for its enormous crowds when the biking fraternity visits.

To date the series has had its first race of the season there at the Zandvoort track in 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09, when tens of thousands of orange clad fans have cheered on A1 Team Netherlands that has one of the country’s most successful racing drivers, Jan Lammers, as its Seat Holder.

From the Assen circuit, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende, today commented: “It is wonderful news that A1GP has signed a multi-year deal to race at the TT Circuit Assen. It’s a great opportunity to build on this year after year because of the multi-year deal. It’s an enormous boost for this region of Holland so is very important and will provide real opportunities for the future.”

Commenting on this news, A1GP Chairman, Tony Teixeira, said: “I almost feel the series colour should be orange. We have had an enormous fan following since our very first event, and no one will forget the dedication of the fans at our very wet opening round for the 2008/09 season.

“Assen is a track with a lot of history. It has hosted a variety of very successful races for both two and four wheels and so this will be an exciting new adventure for us.”

Assen has a long tradition with racing in the area since 1925, when the bikes raced on country roads. A circuit was built in 1955 and was then redesigned in 2006. It is 4.555 kilometres (2.830 miles) long and has a capacity for 100,000 spectators, with 60,000 grandstand seats.

Not only is it famous for racing, holding the annual Dutch TT races and a Champ Car event in 2007, but also now as a concert venue. The first band to hold a concert there was Iron Maiden in August 2008, which was part of its Somewhere Back In Time World Tour. The circuit’s current lap record was set in 2007 by Champ Car driver, Sebastien Bourdais, in a time of 1min 18.756secs.