With the A1 Grand Prix of Nations beginning tomorrow in Australia, the corporate structure of the Australian operation has been strengthened by the appointment of Roy Pater as Chief Executive Officer.

Pater, with a strong business background in the IT&T and automotive sectors will be CEO of A1 Team Australia and a Director of A1GP of Nations, Australia Pty Ltd., the company established to run the Australian leg of the 12 race 'World Cup of Motorsport' series.

The former South African, who is now an Australian citizen, will work alongside A1 Team Australia's Team Principal, 1980 World Formula 1 Champion, Alan Jones and Director Peter Nolan in over-seeing the business of A1 Team Australia and the A1 Grand Prix of Nations at Eastern Creek this weekend.

"A1 Team Australia has a very strong background in Motorsport," said Pater. "Alan Jones is one of the most respected authorities on motorsport worldwide and Alan Docking Racing is well renowned as one of the best open-wheel teams in the world. My role will be to facilitate the business side of A1 Grand Prix in Australia and build A1 Team Australia into a viable enterprise for all the stakeholders involved."

Throughout his career, Pater, who moved from South Africa to Australia in 2000 has specialised in startup companies, particularly in Asia Pacific and South Africa, having successfully established three profitable startup companies, something he relates to A1 Grand Prix.

"A1 Grand Prix is a very new company. In a very short time, it has established a business model covering 25 national franchises, 12 events around the globe, all being overseen by a global office. That would be a massive undertaking in five years, so my challenge is to make the Australian arm profitable and establish a solid strategic local business model."

Under the A1 Grand Prix system, each of the 25 nations involved are responsible for the sponsorship and broadcast rights in their country of origin.

"When His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum and Tony Teixeira established the A1 Grand Prix franchise model, the idea was that each country would be responsible for making the business profitable.

"My aim is highly ambitious. I, like Alan and the rest of the team, are firmly focused on bringing The World Cup of Motorsport downunder and keep it down here. We have a good shot at achieving our aim with a strong management team under the leadership of Alan Jones, A1 Team Australia chairman and Seatholder, Peter Nolan, General Manager and Director with the physical race team led by Alan Docking Racing, which makes for a great mix of business and motorsport talent."

"My background is in IT, being the first to launch wireless Internet globally. It is one of the most dynamic, fast-paced industries in the world where being at the cutting edge is imperative. In many respects, no different to motorsport.

"A1GP is a business and like all businesses, it needs to be profitable. I want to build A1 Team Australia and A1GP of Nations, Australia Pty Ltd into solid, profitable business models.

"Our goal is to make Australia proud of A1 Team Australia and A1 Team Australia proud to represent our nation. For me, to be involved in my passion, which is motorsport, is a lifelong dream come true. The fact that I can represent my new country, Australia, in the process is a great privilege and something that I am extremely proud of."