PressSnoop

It’s finally official. After days of rumor and speculation swirling around next weekend’s Nikon SuperGP race weekend in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia, it has been confirmed that the A1GP Series will not be coming to Australia. Nikon SuperGP General Manager, GREG HOOTON and TONY COCHRANE, Executive Chairman of V8 Supercars Australia, made the announcement Saturday. Hooton said A1GP had failed to fulfill its contractual obligations and Nikon SuperGP had terminated its agreement with the ill-fated series.

With Hooton and Cochrane for the pit lane conference was Nikon SuperGP Chairman, TERRY MACKENROTH, and PHIL REEVES, Queensland Minister for Child Services and Sport (now there’s a combination).

There was no mention of the money the Queensland government had committed to the event (purportedly $11.5 million) or the previous threat by Acting Queensland Premiere, ANDREW FRASER, to sue if organizers breached their contract.

A1GP Chairman, Tony Teixeira, said in an issued statement “The series found itself in a race against time to make the deadline for when its cars would have to leave the UK to be on track in Surfers Paradise next Thursday. The series organisers never doubted this was possible, but today have been forced to accept this now cannot happen.”

The cars had FIA-mandated sidepod changes required before the cars could be shipped, and the changes had not yet been done. The changes had been required last year and then waived until Season Five. The cars are in storage at DOT (Delivered on Time Ltd) in England. It’s been said that Ferrari was witholding tech services and access to the engines.

Thursday Hooton had held a pit lane press conference to announce that 19 A1GP teams were entered, including Team USA. The statement was worded so that it wasn’t actually said that the A1GP cars would race in Australia … just that they were entered and going through the motions of making down payments on accommodations, applying for visas, etc.

Thursday morning, Andretti Green Racing (as it is still called, pending finalization of the transaction between team co-owners), said that the Team USA crew had not left for Australia. “We’re still hoping to be on the grid next week and are hoping to run the full season. Our team is trying to work through some details with A1GP that are related to how our team will operate in Season Five and as soon as we have those things ironed out, we’ll be all set. Based on our Indy car experience, we know that the Nikon SuperGP will be an amazing event and we’re hoping to be a part of it.”

Thursday morning another A1 team, A1 Team Malaysia, announced it would not be on the grid for the Australian race. Chief Executive, JACK CUNNINGHAM, said “It has been a difficult decision, but without the proper preparation, it would be foolish, unsafe and unfair of us to put any driver in this position (no pre-season testing, new track and minimal practice time.)

The Nikon SuperGP race weekend schedule will be revamped, featuring the highly popular local V8 Supercars. A new race program is being worked out between The Bligh Government, GCMEC (Gold Coast Motor Event Co.) and the V8s. There will be four 150km V8 Supercar races, instead of two. This adds up to 600km of V8 racing, the most of any weekend save the Bathurst 1000 endurance race, which was run a week ago.

Going into the weekend, V8 driver JAMIE WHINCUP/Vodafone Ford Falcon is leading the Supercar standings with 2476 points.

Reeves said: “I’d like to acknowledge the V8 Supercars for their ability and willingness to step up and ensure the Nikon SuperGP is a fantastic event. The Nikon SuperGP is an iconic event and this change I believe can only enhance its reputation as one of the world’s greatest motorsport events.”

Cochrane said “I would also like to thank our V8 Supercar teams who will now need to do a huge amount of work to change their cars, engineering and race plans for the weekend. Without their support this would not have happened.”

Promoters have offered a refund to anyone who ticket holders who want to reconsider attendance without the international series.

More details will be revealed prior to the race weekend, which begins on Thursday for four days.

Teixiera’s statement: “I want to personally apologise to the people affected by this regrettable but unavoidable decision. The Queensland Government, Gold Coast Motor Events Co, the management and Chairman of the event have been patient and supportive of us in the past weeks. We were proud to be part of what has become one of the world’s most iconic motorsport events, and are devastated at the decision we have had to make. We also know the Australian motorsport fans are very protective of this event and had welcomed us with open arms. To them I also apologise and stress that we wanted to put on a show for them that they would never forget.

“In view of what has happened A1GP will refund to Gold Coast Motor Events Co the sanction fee paid, and will donate AUS $50,000 to a charity designated by them. Also contractors engaged directly by A1GP who have already incurred expenses on our behalf will be fully reimbursed.

“One effect of the UK operating arm of the series going into liquidation in June was that access to the cars and the ability to pay its suppliers has been impeded. What should have been a summer upgrading the machinery in time for the first race of the 2009/10 season has turned into a frustrating time for achieving this.

“We have recently announced 19 teams who were ready to race in Australia. I know they are still committed to racing in our unique series that pits nation versus nation. A1GP may be down, but I do not accept we are out. We have had four exciting seasons that have proved we are a force in the sport and now we shall consolidate on what we have achieved to date. My efforts will be on finding a way forward with the support of some very loyal people.”

ALAN EVANS, The Chairman of A1GP Australia Pty Ltd, issued a long apologetic statement. 

”The Directors and Officers of A1GP Australia Pty Ltd have been endeavouring over the last several weeks to obtain clarification on the status of A1GP from A1 Holdings the international company which is the commercial rights holder of the A1GP series and also the company which has control of the A1GP Race Cars and the A1GP teams.

“During this period of time we have received numerous assurances from Mr Tony Teixeira, the Chairman of A1 Holdings both in writing and verbally that the necessary funding would be in place to ensure that the A1GP could meet its contractual obligation to conduct A1GP Races during the course of the Nikon SuperGP on the Gold Coast from the 22nd – 25th October 2009.

“The information we had been provided with was such that we all genuinely believed that A1 Holdings was in a position to provide the necessary funds to meet the contractual obligations entered into by A1GP.

“The matter has been further complicated by the proper requirement of the Federation Internationale Automobile (FIA) for A1GP to undertake two modifications to the race cars to ensure the safety of the drivers. In the time now available to A1GP they are not able to complete both modifications and this will preclude them from racing.

“I have today written to all the relevant parties to advise that due to inability of A1 Holdings to ensure the provision of 18 A1GP cars, drivers and teams, that we understand the Gold Coast Motor Events decision that we are unable to fulfill the terms of the contract.

“I will also advise the relevant National motor sport authority of all the circumstances leading to this action. 

”On behalf of A1GP, I sincerely apologise to the Queensland Government, the Gold Coast Motor Events Company and its General Manager Mr Greg Hooton but most particularly the motor sport public for the failure of A1GP to fulfill its obligations. Be we and all other parties involved in the staging of the A1GP on the Gold Coast genuinely believed on the information continuously provided to us that A1GP would be in a position to compete at the Nikon SuperGP.

“It would now appear that there is no doubt that A1GP is not in a position to ship the cars to Australia in time to participate in the event. 

”Unfortunately it appears that a great concept in motor sport namely A1GP with its equal cars with teams and drivers representing their nation has run its course in Australia for this year, we are however, hopeful that in future years we can return to Australia and compete to demonstrate the competitiveness of the category.

Not that it matters at this point, but Teixeira and Evans gave conflicting car counts – 18/19 A1GP Series cars coming to Australia.

• MARCO TO RACE A1GP TEAM USA IN CHINAYoung MARCO ANDRETTI of Andretti Green Racing will drive the A1GP Team USA car in the next round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsports in Chengdu, China on 9 November 2009. KIM GREEN, one of the three co-owners of Andretti Green Racing, confirmed the driver nomination Sunday morning after IndyCar warm-up at Surfers Paradise. Andretti will share the ride with DANICA PATRICK, the other American AGR driver. AGR hasn’t yet determined which driver will run which races – AGR doesn’t want to make a hasty decision.

  In China, Andretti will have extra track time as he’s never been in the car. He  has been working with a racing simulator.

  MICHAEL ANDRETTI, AGR co-owner, had made the surprise AGR announcement in Holland the Friday of the season’s opening race at Zandvoort on 5 October 2009. Despite naming his two American AGR drivers for the team, the team has received a lot of calls from American drivers wanting to be considered. Owner Andretti said the driver line-up would be announced later. While he was in Holland, his a, KEVIN SAVOREE, was with the AGR P2 American Le Mans team at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, while Green was in Indianapolis holding down the fort.

  AGR now runs the A1GP US entry in the four-year old series. For the first three years, Team USA was run by RICK WEIDINGER of Indianapolis. Green said AGR was approached within a fortnight of the opening race in Zandvoort to run the US team. Since the A1GP announcement that AGR would be fielding the US team, Weidinger has refused several requests for an interview, saying through his spokesman that he wasn’t ready. Weidinger thought he had the US franchise. It’s been said that Weidinger is suing A1GP for $50 million in a publicly filed court document in McLean VA.

  The opening A1GP September round was canceled due to the mandatory new cars with Ferrari engines not yet ready for all teams. The cars are higher tech, nicely built and good for racing, said Green.

  With a short window regarding the open window for AGR to enter A1GP in October, it was quick but thorough with its due diligence. After determining that A1GP was a strategic and business opportunity in a series fighting to gather momentum, then AGR went to work. It fielded a team drawn from within its ranks, and sent them to England to work on their car. There was also the matter of quickly finding a driver. It was too soon for the two American AGR drivers – Andretti and DANICA PATRICK, who had other commitments. On Monday before the race, American CHARLIE KIMBALL – who had raced with the American entry in the past – was called in Europe where he was already, and he was in England Tuesday for seat fitting and preparations. As Kimball was not a Rookie to the series, he didn’t run in the Rookie Orientation session at Zandvoort. He finished eighth in the sprint race and tenth in the feature race.

  Several A1 teams have British-based crews, but AGR plans to utilize its Indianapolis-based  team. TINO BELLI, AGR’s Technical Director for IRL & ALMS will run it. AGR has assembled Bogner Regis from the South Coast. The tools and pit equipment will be kept in England. The A1GP crews have a limit on the number of boxes it can ship to each race, and the number of crew members it can bring – possibly 12.

  There was a A1GP two-day test Thursday and Friday at Snetterton in October just prior to the Dutch round, in which AGR participated on Friday. Then its car, along with the others still a work in progress, took the night ferry to Holland, while the crew flew. The whole exercise was a big logistical challenge for AGR as it was also getting ready for the Petit Le Mans the same weekend.

  Usually A1GP keeps custody of the cars, delivering them the day before the three day weekend for the teams to work on them, and then collecting them the day after the race. However in this case, because the cars were so late in delivery, the teams were allowed to work on the cars once they were delivered. The advance AGR crew arrived the weekend before the Dutch race. Driver CHARLIE KIMBALL, who had already raced in the US car, was called on Monday before the race and arrived on Tuesday. He finished tenth in the feature race, after finishing eighth in the sprint race.

  AGR has a four-car IndyCar team with Andretti, and Patrick. Their foreign teammates are  2004 IndyCar Champion, TONY KANAAN, and HIDEKI MUTOH, who won the 2008 IRL Rookie Championship. The team originated in 2003. It now has extended into the American Le Mans Series, running a LMP2 team, with several drivers throughout the season.

  Patrick indicated in a Friday Surfers Paradise IRL media conference that she is looking forward to racing in A1GP. She was very excited when it happened. “There are definitely events we’re trying to do for the upcoming season. It will be a really cool opportunity for a driver to get seat time in a high performance car; and I love to travel and see different parts of the world.”

  Green said the series would be a fantastic opportunity and great for the American drivers, giving them good seat time. The current IRL has limited testing. with the next test not until 2009, and it will be great to race in the ‘off-season.’ The three AGR team owners will split A1GP race duties. Green’s first A1 race will be the round in South Africa on 22 February 2009, at a site TBA.

  Green knows another A1GP team owner, JAN LAMERS, who is involved with Team Netherlands, Back in 1986 Lammers drove for GERRY FORSYTHE and DAN GURNEY, Green, of Australia,  also knows of ALAN JONES of Team Australia. Green wants Americans involved in the unique format of the A1 series, which is of team participation rather than individual drivers. AGR doesn’t intend to bring both of its drivers to each race and have them swap out between practice, qualifying and the two races – a practice used by some A1 teams. All of A1 races are on road or street courses, which will provide valuable experience to its two IndyCar drivers whose IRL experience has been mainly on ovals.

  AGR’s core business is with three series – IR with IndyCar and Indy Pro Series, ALMS, and now A1GP, plus the promotion of two street races – Toronto and St. Petersburg. Already there have been discussions about a A1 race in the United States. AGR has struggled with its ALMS P2 teams, which is an expensive series; it’s no longer a gentleman’s series. The 2009 sponsorship isn’t there yet. Maybe the team will consider Grand-Am Rolex Series, which is less expensive.

  With the 2009 scheduling of IRL for Surfers Paradise very much up in the air, A1GP has put in a bid for consideration. The Queensland Premiere, ANNA BLIGH has said the popular weekend must have an international open wheel series, for the State government to continue funding the street race event.

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport powered by Ferrari has a two-day open test Thursday and Friday at Snetterton, and starts the season Saturday morning at the 2.684-mile/4.63-km Circuit Park Zandvoort in The Netherlands. The first Saturday practice will be longer than usual – one hour fifty minutes. The Entry Lists for both are still a work in progress.

Andretti Green Racing, owned by MICHAEL ANDRETTI, KIM GREEN, and KEVIN SAVOREE, will run the US team in A1GP this year, starting with the Dutch race, with the driver lineup to be announced at Zandvoort by Andretti.  The documents are still being finalized. No word on AGR participating in the Snetterton test. Names being mentioned as driver (s) include two of AGR’s IRL drivers, Andretti’s son, MARCO ANDRETTI and DANICA PATRICK. Another name just surfacing is J.R. HILDEBRAND, who finished fifth overall in the IRL Indy Lights Series this year. Previously he had raced in the Atlantic series for Newman Wachs.

AGR has a busy weekend, as its American Le Mans Series LMP2 team is running the 10-hour ALMS Petit Le Mans endurance race at Road Atlanta on Saturday. The drivers will be Marco Andretti, TONY KANAAN, and FRANCK MONTAGNY. Kanaan is one of the four AGR IRL drivers.

No where in any of the official A1GP information is there mention of the previous franchise holder – A1 Team USA Holdings, of which RICK WEIDINGER is the majority partner and the one in charge. Weidinger’s group has been running A1GP Team USA since its inception four years ago. The Indianapolis-based USA Holdings believes it has a binding, legal agreement with A1GP and didn’t receive official word about AGR until the press release Wednesday afternoon. USA Holdings had been at Silverstone last weekend to take delivery of its car, but none was forthcoming. AGR was also in England last weekend. At this point, there has been no official comment from Weidinger.

There has been talk but no confirmation that the car AGR will be running this weekend originally was being prepared by Team Great Britain and was seventy percent completed when given to AGR. What has been confirmed is that Team Great Britain will not be racing at Zandvoort due to “the delay in the A1GP car build schedule.”

There has been a scramble to get A1GP cars assembled for the 2008-2009 season. A1GP changed to cars from Ferrari and there has been a scramble to build cars since the announcement last October. The original 2008 A1GP season’s opener at Mugello was canceled due to cars not being available. Some teams are just taking possession of their cars, leaving little preparation time or ability to test; and others either don’t have their cars or the parts. Lack of building components was cited as the reason there was a clog in the pipeline.

Teams receive their chassis and components from A1GP and assemble their car, and then return it to A1GP. The cars are retained by A1GP and brought to each venue for the teams to tweak and race prepare, and then returned to A1GP until the next race.

There were only five cars testing last weekend at Snetterton. Another test, originally scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday this week has been rescheduled for Thursday and Friday, and A1GP expects 12-13 cars to participate. A1GP is expecting 18-19 cars for the two-day race weekend which starts 9 am Saturday at Zandvoort.

A1GP just recently announced a change in the points system to accommodate the schedule changes and inability of some teams to race this weekend due to no fault of their own. Now the A1GP teams will be allowed to drop their worst event score, so several teams can drop the Dutch race in which they didn’t participate. The teams will count their nine best scores.  In addition to Great Britain, other teams not making the Dutch race include India and Mexico.  It will be a difficult pill to swallow for Great Britain as it won last year’s feature race at Zandvoort.

Another team rumored not to be present in The Netherlands is Team Germany, as seat holder WILLY WEBER is thought to have put the A1 team up for sale.

Team Switzerland, 2007-2008 Nations Cup of Motorsport Champion, just took delivery on its car midweek and is scrambling to make Zandvoort.

Team Malaysia and Team Holland are in Zandvoort waiting for others to arrive.

Mexico’s Rookie driver will be ESTEBAN GUTIERREZ, but the primary driver has yet to be announced.

The next A1GP round will be 7-9 November 2008 at Chengdu in China and all 2008-2009 teams are expected to race.