2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, South Africa

Pre-race

A1 Team New Zealand and France lead the championship by 96 points.

Portugal replace for the rest of the season, their lead driver João Urbano by the newcomer Filipe Albuquerque. For Czech Republic, it was Josef Král that replaced Tomáš Enge for the rest of the season.

Bruno Junqueira and rookie Alexandre Negrão will return for Brazil this weekend as race driver and rookie driver like it was in the 2006-07 season.

Loïc Duval was the race driver despite his commitment in Super GT and Formula Nippon this season. Nicolas Prost ran the Rookie sessions, Jonathan Cochet the Friday practice session and Loïc Duval the Saturday afternoon practice and the both Sunday races traveling from Japan during the Friday to Saturday night. Therefore, 3 different drivers from the same team, France, take part on the race weekend. A1 Team Greece engage also 3 different drivers on the 2006-07, Netherlands but only 2 actually ran.

Qualifications

On the Saturday morning free practice, Narain Karthikeyan was injured after hitting the tyre barriers at the exit of the second turn. The Indian Rookie driver Parthiva Sureshwaren replaces its lead driver, Narain Karthikeyan, who have participate in one run in each Sprint and Feature qualifying sessions putting India in 9th and 17th positions on the starting grids. Parthiva Sureshwaren will muster start from the back of the grid because he did not take part of the qualifying sessions.

During the Sprint Qualification 1, Jonny Reid (New Zealand) spin out and a red flag stop the session. Only Six teams have done hot laps : Germany, India, Pakistan, Australia, Lebanon and Indonesia. In the Sprint Qualification 2, Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) spins out at the first chicane and have no time. South Africa starts from the back of the grid for the Sunday Sprint race. France is hampered by the yellow flag due to Adrian Zaugg and take only the 17th. Adam Carroll (Ireland) isn't able to make a hot lap due to fuel pump problem.

The home South African team realize only the 15th position for the Feature race grid because of electrical glitch and then traffic problems during its qualification laps.

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• (1) = Narain Karthikeyan had qualified the car for India but was injured later, and replaced by Parthiva Sureshwaren for the balance of the race meet, incurring a penalty of being sent to the rear of the field for the driver change.

Sprint race

It is a sunny 28 °C weather for the Sprint race. India start from the back of the grid because they have replaced their lead driver between qualifying and race sessions. John Martin (Australia) was in hospital overnight suffering from dehydration but he takes part of both races.

Canada take the lead on start and during the first lap, New Zealand damage its nose on Robert Wickens's (Canada) car and was forced to pit for repairs. Brazil try to passes Switzerland in lap 2, but fail and damage its nose too. The order is Canada, Great Britain, Switzerland, Brazil, China, Netherlands, Germany and Australia for 8th. France starting from 17th is already 13th. In lap 5, Brazil fight China, which is now behind, for 4th. But Bruno Junqueira's front wing is too much damaged and he slows targeting pits to change the car's nose.

In lap 7, Neel Jani (Switzerland) is just behind the second, Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain). Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) is now 14th in lap 8, starting second from last. Bruno Junqueira (Brazil) crashes out in Turn 5/6 chicane hitting the wall and the car is stuck out on track. The Safety car is out until lap 11.

Michael Ammermüller (Germany) hit Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) on final corner and both cars retire but the incident brought out the red flag. For causing this avoidable collision, Germany was excluded from its 6th.

The final order is Canada behind Great Britain, Switzerland, China, Netherlands, Australia, Portugal, Mexico, Malaysia and USA. New Zealand with Jonny Reid score the bonus point for the fastest lap.

Main race

Its a 32 °C when Switzerland take the lead of the race after starting from pole position. China and Portugal collide in first lap and Cong Fu Cheng (China) is stuck in the wall meanwhile Filipe Albuquerque (Portugal) is launched into the air. The Safety car is out. China, Lebanon, USA, Mexico and South Africa goes in pit for minor repairs. On lap 4, the safety car is on and the order is Switzerland, New Zealand, Brazil, Great Britain, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia and Ireland. In the first corner again, on lap 4, Australia hits Germany, who spin, and then Ireland. John Martin (Australia) and Adam Carroll (Ireland) are stuck on the track. France is involved but passes without damages. Indonesia piles into Germany and Pakistan into Indonesia, the three teams retire. Safety car is out again. Before the Safety car is on, on lap 9, many drivers get into pits for minors repairs. In lap 10, the first mandatory pit stop is possible.

Jonny Reid (New Zealand) make a long stop changing his front wing because of a collision into pits with David Garza Perez (Mexico). South Africa have a slow pit stop due to sticking wheel and France gain some places staying out more time than its rivals. In lap 13, New Zealand receive a drive-through penalty for his collision with Mexico. Lebanon also gets a drive-through penalty in lap 15. After the first mandatory stop, Switzerland lead Canada, Great Britain, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Malaysia, Brazil, Italy and China. Ireland receive a drive-through penalty in lap 18. Loïc Duval (France) and Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) fight for 3rd while Cong Fu Cheng (China) get by Edoardo Piscopo (Italy) in lap 23 for ninth. In the next lap, Czech Republic run slowly and reach the pits. USA retire in pits. China passes Brazil for eighth and South Africa, started from 15th enter into the points getting by Italy. India retire from the race because of a black flag in lap 29 for pit stop violation and exceed the pit lane speed limit. The second pit stop window start in lap 30.

South Africa does a faster pit stop and passes Brazil in the pits like Canada taking the lead behind Switzerland. France pits after its adversaries, into lap 32, and passes Great Britain. Jonny Reid (New Zealand) take the fastest lap in lap 34 but Cong Fu Cheng make a better lap time next lap.

In lap 39, Robert Wickens (Canada) spins and Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) hits him and damage his car's nose. The Safety car is out until lap 41. On first corner, South Africa hits Netherlands, 3rd and involving three other drivers. The safety car is out again, the order its Switzerland, France, Portugal, China, Malaysia but the commissioners red flag the race. The official classification is, at the end of lap 41, Switzerland front of France, Portugal, Netherlands, Malaysia, China, South Africa, Italy, Brazil and New Zealand. The fastest lap is for China.

Notes

• It was the 29th race weekend (58 starts).
• It was the third venue in Durban street circuit and in South Africa.
• It was the first race for Filipe Albuquerque
• It was the first race weekend as Rookie driver for Filipe Albuquerque,
• Records :
  • Switzerland score 7 pole positions.
  • France engage 3 different drivers for the same weekend : Loïc Duval as race driver, Jonathan Cochet as practice driver and Nicolas Prost as Rookie driver.
  • Lebanon participate on 29 rounds (58 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix.
  • Robert Wickens became the youngest polesitter aged 18y 11m 11d.
  • Neel Jani score 257 points.

References

References

1. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40325 Portugal changes lead driver] ''a1gp.com'' (16 February 2008)
2. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40336 Brazil recalls two former drivers] ''a1gp.com'' (19 February 2008)
3. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40355 The Three Musketeers] ''a1gp.com'' (21 February 2008)
4. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40420 Sureshwaren on standby for India] ''a1gp.com'' (23 February 2008)
5. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40392 Qualifying: as it happened] ''a1gp.com'' (23 February 2008)
6. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40418 Zaugg urges South African support] ''a1gp.com'' (23 February 2008)
7. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40423 Sprint race: lap-by-lap] ''a1gp.com'' (24 February 2008)
8. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40435 Germany excluded from Sprint race] ''a1gp.com'' (24 February 2008)
9. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40436 Feature race: lap-by-lap] ''a1gp.com'' (24 February 2008)
10. and [[Josef Král]].[http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40335 Youngster in for Czech Republic] ''a1gp.com'' (19 February 2008)
11. [http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=40419 Wickens is youngest polesitter] ''a1gp.com'' (23 February 2008)