2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season

2008–09 A1 Grand Prix of Nations
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The 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season was the fourth and final season in its short history. It was announced that Ferrari will be supplying the engines. All cars and official merchandise are contractually obligated to portray the slogan "Powered by Ferrari".

Ferrari had an advisory role with regard to chassis production, meaning that Ferrari themselves did not supply the chassis. The chassis were based on Ferrari's championship-winning F2004.

A1 Team Ireland became the fourth A1GP champions, after a title battle which went down to the final round in Great Britain. Ireland won with 112 points, with team driver Adam Carroll taking five victories at Chengdu, Sepang, Taupo and the series finale at Brands Hatch during the shortened 14 race season. Three rounds were cancelled for a variety of reasons, beginning a disturbing trend with A1 Grand Prix which plagued the following season which was cancelled altogether.

A1 Team Switzerland (95 points) whose driver Neel Jani took four wins, finished runner up at seasons completion, just three points ahead of A1 Team Portugal with their driver Filipe Albuquerque scoring 92 points to take a close third position after taking just one win throughout the season.

Dutch pairing Jeroen Bleekemolen and Robert Doornbos each took a win to take A1 Team Netherlands to fourth position in the team standings with Fairuz Fauzy and Loïc Duval taking the remaining wins for A1 Team Malaysia and A1 Team France respectively.

Teams

During the 2007–08 Shanghai race weekend, it was announced at an official ceremony that Korea would be participating in the 2008–09 season.[1] Jung-Yong Kim of Omnibus Investment is the seat holder, with Good EMG supporting the project. Carlin Motorsport ran the racing team.

On 29 August 2008, it was announced that A1 Team Monaco would competing in season four. The joint seat holders were Hubertus Bahlsen, and former F3 and GP2 driver Clivio Piccione, who took on the driving duties.[2]

Two teams appeared in A1GP documentation throughout the season but did not race.[3] Wade Cherwayko's A1 Team Canada appeared on paper but the team failed to show for any races and Adam Khan[4] tested the A1 Team Pakistan car on a number of occasions but likewise did not travel to any races.

The 21 teams that started a race in the 2008–09 championship were:

Race Team Team Seat holder Race drivers Rounds Others drivers
United Kingdom Alan Docking Racing Australia A1 Team Australia Alan Jones Australia John Martin All Australia Ashley Walsh
United States Andretti Green Racing United States A1 Team USA Michael Andretti United States Charlie Kimball 1 United States Robbie Pecorari
United States Marco Andretti 2-6
United States J.R. Hildebrand 7
United Kingdom Argo Racing Cars Ltd. India A1 Team India Ravi Chilukuri India Narain Karthikeyan 2-7 India Armaan Ebrahim
India Parthiva Sureshwaren
Lebanon A1 Team Lebanon Tameem Auchi Canada Daniel Morad All South Africa Jimmy Auby
Boer Racing Services Portugal A1 Team Portugal Luís Vicente Portugal Filipe Albuquerque All Portugal António Félix da Costa
Portugal Armando Parente
Switzerland A1 Team Switzerland Max Welti Switzerland Neel Jani All Switzerland Alexandre Imperatori
United Kingdom Carlin Motorsport South Korea A1 Team Korea Jung-Yong Kim South Korea Hwang Jin-Woo 1-3
France Connor Racing France A1 Team France Jean Paul Driot France Loïc Duval 1, 3-4
France Nicolas Prost 2, 5-7
South Africa A1 Team South Africa Tokyo Sexwale South Africa Adrian Zaugg 1-6 South Africa Gavin Cronje
South Africa Cristiano Morgado
South Africa Alan van der Merwe 7
United Kingdom DSM Brazil A1 Team Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Brazil Felipe Guimarães All Brazil Ana Beatriz
New Zealand A1 Team New Zealand Colin Giltrap New Zealand Earl Bamber 1, 3, 5-7
New Zealand Chris van der Drift 2, 4
Spain Escuderia del Mediterraneo Mexico A1 Team Mexico Julio Jauregui Saad Mexico Davíd Garza Pérez 2-3 Mexico Juan Pablo Garcia
Mexico Salvador Durán 4-7
United Kingdom A1 Team Great Britain United Kingdom A1 Team Great Britain Tony Clements
John Surtees
United Kingdom Danny Watts 2-3, 5 United Kingdom Aaron Steele
United Kingdom James Winslow
United Kingdom Dan Clarke 4, 6-7
Germany GU-Racing International Germany A1 Team Germany Rolf Beisswanger Germany Michael Ammermüller 5, 7
Germany André Lotterer 6
Malaysia A1 Team Malaysia Malaysia A1 Team Malaysia Alex Yoong Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 1-6
Malaysia Aaron Lim 7
Monaco A1 Team Monaco Monaco A1 Team Monaco Clivio Piccione
Hubertus Bahlsen
Monaco Clivio Piccione All Monaco Hubertus Bahlsen
Sweden Performance Racing Indonesia A1 Team Indonesia Bagoes Hermanto Indonesia Satrio Hermanto 1-4, 7
Indonesia Zahir Ali 5-6
Netherlands Racing for Holland Netherlands A1 Team The Netherlands Jan Lammers Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 1, 3, 5, 7 Netherlands Dennis Retera
Netherlands Robert Doornbos 2, 4, 6
Belgium Team Astromega China A1 Team China Liu Yu China Ho-Pin Tung 1-3, 5-6 Hong Kong Adderly Fong
China Congfu Cheng 4, 7
Italy Team Ghinzani Italy A1 Team Italy Piercarlo Ghinzani Italy Fabio Onidi 1 Monaco Stefano Coletti
San Marino Christian Montanari
Italy Edoardo Piscopo 2-5
Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi 6-7
Canada Status Grand Prix Republic of Ireland A1 Team Ireland Mark Gallagher, Teddy Yip Jr.,

John Hynes and David Kennedy

Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll All Republic of Ireland Niall Quinn

New "Powered by Ferrari" car

For more details on this topic, see A1 Grand Prix cars.

On 11 October 2007, A1GP and Ferrari announced a six-year collaboration on the new generation of A1GP cars. The new "Powered by Ferrari" car is a modification of the Formula One Ferrari F2004 chassis with a V8 Ferrari engine producing 600 bhp.[5] The car was officially revealed in Southern England, and driven for the first time by John Watson in an inaugural event in May 2008. Michelin supplied the tyres for the new car.[6]

The car was developed and tested over more than 5600 kilometres at Mugello Circuit, Fiorano Circuit, Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Circuito Guadix, Silverstone Circuit, Donington Park, Circuit Paul Ricard and Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Andrea Bertolini was the main test driver, but testing was carried out by Marc Gené, Patrick Friesacher, Jonny Kane and Danny Watts during the sessions at Silverstone Circuit.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

Off-season tests and car presentations

On August 2–3, 2008, the first press and public presentation of the A1GP Powered by Ferrari car was held on the TT Circuit Assen with former A1 Team Netherlands driver, Renger van der Zande.[13] Two weeks after, the car was presented in Rotterdam during the Bavaria City Racing Festival. The A1 Team Netherlands car was driven by Carlo van Dam.[14]

Pre-season tests of the new 'powered by Ferrari' car took place on consecutive weekends in September at Donington Park, Mugello and Snetterton.[15][16]

Rule changes

A number of rules were changed for the 2008–09 season.[17]

An update to the sporting regulations means that technical details of the fastest lap in any session (practice or qualifying) will be made available to all teams after the session ends.[20] This is to allow slower or weaker teams to learn how they can improve their own lap times, making the "field spread" that much smaller.

Several detailed changes to the Friday "rookie sessions" were released on 1 September 2008:[21]

Season calendar

The season started at the Circuit Park Zandvoort, Netherlands on 5 October 2008.

Further timetable details were announced on 9 June 2008.[22]

On 21 August 2008, the Italy race at Mugello was moved back following a delay in the build schedule of the new chassis, and Zandvoort was named as the first race of the season.[23] A replacement date was not announced.[24]

Further timetable changes were announced on 26 August 2008. The Chinese round was confirmed to be held at Chengdu Goldenport Circuit, and swapped places in the calendar with the Indonesian round at Jakarta.[25] Subsequent to that, the Indonesian race was moved back further, to 8 February due to track construction.[25]

On 9 September 2008, Brands Hatch was confirmed as hosting the race in Great Britain at the end of the season. It was also announced that as a replacement date for the Mugello race could not be found, the race was removed from the season's schedule.[16]

According to a revised international FIA calendar issued on 19 December, the A1GP season finale is to be held at Interlagos on the weekend of 15–17 May 2009.[26]

Round 5 at Lippo Village, Indonesia was cancelled on January 16 due to the circuit missing a construction deadline, mainly caused by a heavy rain season.[27] The Mexican round was also moved back by one week, so as to avoid clashing with a Radiohead music concert, which was to take place in the baseball stadium inside the circuit at the original date.[28]

On February 17, 2009, the A1GP Gauteng official preview reported that the Mexico City round was no longer to take place on the weekend of March 20–22 and a replacement date was being sought.[29] eTicket.com.mx advertised the event as it should take place on the weekend of the 22–24 May, and was confirmed on March 31, 2009, subject to the FIA-stipulated changes to the Peraltada corner.[30][31]

On the 5th of March, the proposed Interlagos race was removed from the circuit's official calendar, presumably signalling an end to A1GP's plans to run a race meeting there.[32]

On April 29, 2009, it was confirmed that the Mexican round was cancelled due to an outbreak of swine flu.[33][34]

Round Date Country Circuit Pole Position Fastest Lap Winner Report
S 21 September 2008 Italy Italy Autodromo Internazionale di Mugello CANCELLED Report
F
1 S 5 October 2008 Netherlands Netherlands Circuit Park Zandvoort Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen France Loïc Duval Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy Report
F Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy United States Charlie Kimball France Loïc Duval
2 S 9 November 2008 China China Chengdu International Circuit Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Report
F United Kingdom Danny Watts Netherlands Robert Doornbos Portugal Filipe Albuquerque
3 S 23 November 2008 Malaysia Malaysia Sepang International Circuit Switzerland Neel Jani Switzerland Neel Jani Switzerland Neel Jani Report
F Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll
4 S 25 January 2009 New Zealand New Zealand Taupo Motorsport Park Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Switzerland Neel Jani Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Report
F Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Portugal Filipe Albuquerque Switzerland Neel Jani
S 8 February 2009 Indonesia Indonesia Jakarta Street Circuit CANCELLED Report
F
5 S 22 February 2009 South Africa South Africa Kyalami Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen Portugal Filipe Albuquerque Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen Report
F Monaco Clivio Piccione Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy Switzerland Neel Jani
6 S 12 April 2009 Portugal Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Netherlands Robert Doornbos Report
F Netherlands Robert Doornbos Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Switzerland Neel Jani
7 S 3 May 2009 United Kingdom Great Britain Brands Hatch Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Report
F Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll Australia John Martin Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll
S 24 May 2009 Mexico Mexico Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez CANCELLED Report
F

Standings

Pos Team Drivers Netherlands NLD China CHN Malaysia MYS New Zealand NZL South Africa RSA Portugal POR United Kingdom GBR T. Pts Drop Pts
spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea
1 Republic of Ireland Ireland Adam Carroll Ret Ret 1 2 5 1 1 2 4 Ret 2 5 1 1 112 112
2 Switzerland Switzerland Neel Jani 5 Ret 4 4 1 Ret 2 1 3 1 15 1 8 3 99 4 95
3 Portugal Portugal Filipe Albuquerque 9 Ret 6 1 4 2 6 3 2 5 3 2 5 5 92 92
4 Netherlands Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 4 5 6 8 1 4 6 2 81 6 75
Robert Doornbos 2 16 3 5 1 DNS
5 France France Loïc Duval 3 1 2 14 4 6 47 47
Nicolas Prost 8 Ret 10 Ret 13 6 9 10
6 Malaysia Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 1 2 13 5 15 10 8 10 9 NC 8 3 43 43
Aaron Lim 16 Ret
7 New Zealand New Zealand Earl Bamber 2 3 3 6 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 36 36
Chris van der Drift 7 11 5 13
8 Australia Australia John Martin 12 4 11 6 8 4 Ret 4 12 13 10 12 7 8 36 36
9 Monaco Monaco Clivio Piccione Ret 6 9 7 12 Ret 16 Ret 5 3 5 Ret Ret 4 35 35
10 United Kingdom Great Britain Danny Watts 3 3 Ret 16 Ret 7 28 28
Dan Clarke 12 12 11 7 13 7
11 United States United States Charlie Kimball 8 10 24 24
Marco Andretti 15 8 Ret 3 11 11 17 8 12 Ret
J. R. Hildebrand 4 14
12 India India Narain Karthikeyan 10 10 Ret Ret 9 7 6 12 6 11 2 Ret 19 19
13 Mexico Mexico Davíd Garza Pérez 16 15 14 15 19 19
Salvador Durán 15 Ret 16 Ret 9 4 3 6
14 South Africa South Africa Adrian Zaugg 6 Ret 5 9 9 5 10 9 7 Ret 17 Ret 19 19
Alan van der Merwe 15 11
15 Brazil Brazil Felipe Guimarães 14 Ret 20 Ret Ret 7 14 15 15 2 7 DNS DNS DNS 18 18
16 Italy Italy Fabio Onidi 7 Ret 17 17
Edoardo Piscopo 14 Ret 7 11 7 8 11 10
Vitantonio Liuzzi 4 Ret 10 9
17 Lebanon Lebanon Daniel Morad 10 8 12 13 11 12 Ret Ret NC 6 Ret Ret Ret 12 8 8
18 China China Ho-Pin Tung 13 9 17 12 10 9 13 Ret 16 8 7 7
Congfu Cheng Ret 14 14 Ret
19 South Korea Korea Hwang Jin-Woo Ret 7 19 17 DNS DNS 4 4
20 Indonesia Indonesia Satrio Hermanto Ret Ret 18 14 13 13 13 Ret 12 13 3 3
Zahir Ali 18 9 14 10
21 Germany Germany Michael Ammermüller 14 11 11 Ret 2 2
André Lotterer Ret 9
Pos Team Drivers spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea T. Pts Drop Pts
Netherlands NLD China CHN Malaysia MYS New Zealand NZL South Africa RSA Portugal POR United Kingdom GBR
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Finished, in points
Green Retired, in points
Blue Finished, no points
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Not classified (NC)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Blank Did not participate
Injured (INJ)
Excluded (EX)
Bold Pole position
* Fastest lap
spr Sprint Race
fea Feature Race

References

  1. "Korea joins A1GP". a1gp.com. 2008-04-14. Archived from the original on 18 April 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  2. "A1 Team Monaco joins A1GP". a1gp.com. 2008-08-29. Archived from the original on 2008-08-31. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  3. "A1GP  : The World Cup of Motorsport". Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  4. "Khan to lead and race for Pakistan". a1gp.com. 2008-09-10. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  5. The new A1GP car a1gp.com (May 12, 2008 )
  6. Michelin to supply A1GP a1gp.com (July 21, 2008)
  7. New car gets first run out Archived May 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. a1gp.com (May 27, 2008)
  8. New car continues test programme a1gp.com (June 13, 2008 )
  9. New car hits half season distance a1gp.com (July 07, 2008 )
  10. Engine coverage Archived October 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. a1gp.com (July 14, 2008 )
  11. Wind tunnel testing for new car a1gp.com (August 01, 2008)
  12. Faster than ever before Archived September 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. a1gp.com (August 22, 2008 )
  13. Assen gets a taste of new A1GP car a1gp.com (August 04, 2008 )
  14. Dutch delight Archived August 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. a1gp.com (August 19, 2008 )
  15. Two major test sessions planned a1gp.com (June 09, 2008)
  16. 1 2 "The battle of the Brands". a1gp.com. 2008-09-08. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
  17. a1gp.com. "Rule changes for new season". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  18. "Teams to get joker qualifying lap". a1gp.com. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  19. "New points system for 2008/09". a1gp.com. 2008-09-29. Archived from the original on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  20. a1gp.com. "The truth will out". Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  21. "Fortune Rookies". a1gp.com. 2008-09-01. Archived from the original on 2 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  22. "2008/09 schedule announced". a1gp.com. 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  23. "A1GP delays start of Season Four". a1gp.com. 2008-08-21. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  24. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  25. 1 2 "Chengdu race announced". a1gp.com. 2008-08-26. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  26. "Lippo circuit fails build deadline". a1gp.com. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  27. "A1GP Mexico City date change". a1gp.com. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  28. "Archived copy". Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  29. "Archived copy". Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  30. "Mexico City to conclude A1GP season". autosport.com. 2009-03-31. Archived from the original on 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
  31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-22. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  32. "A1GP Mexico City cancelled". a1gp.com. 2009-04-29. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  33. Beer, Matt (2009-04-29). "Mexico cancelled due to swine flu". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2009-04-29.

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