The first half of the inaugural season of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations finishes in the United Arab Emirates this weekend (December 9, 10 and 11) with the sixth round of the series in Dubai, home of the series founder Sheikh Maktoum, the 28-year-year-old businessman and member of the ruling family.

Team South Africa travels to the state of the art Dubai Autodrome to join the 24 other competing nations in confident mood. "We are competing against some really talented and experienced drivers and teams. In this competitive environment we have shown encouraging progress from a pace perspective since the opening round at Brands Hatch in England in September", said Mike Carroll, sporting and technical manager of Team South Africa.

"At Brands Hatch we were more than 2% slower than pole position and qualified 15th out of the 25 national teams. At the last race at Sepang in Malaysia we qualified 13th but were only 0.8% slower than pole position. The competition is getting closer with every race as the teams and drivers become more accustomed to the A1GP cars.

"The tighter grids will mean that small gains in pace will play a more significant role in determining qualifying position and generally speaking you end up racing where you qualify. Our drivers and technical team will once again be focussed on working hard to try and achieve some more gains in pace. Rarely do things change like a light switch in motorsport and all our team members know they will need to apply themselves diligently and consistently to make long term progress."

The 21-year-old Capetonian Stephen Simpson will be the nominated driver with Gauteng's 25-year-old Gavin Cronje travelling as reserve. "I'm really looking forward to racing on the Dubai Autodrome. It's a very technical circuit from all accounts but, like Sepang in Malaysia, it is a modern circuit with generous run-off areas and a wide track. We saw how this resulted in the best racing of the series in Malaysia and I'm sure we'll have more of the same in Dubai."

Dana Cooper, CEO of Team South Africa, is upbeat about the team's chances this weekend. "We've come a long way together and I'm sure we will be in the points in Dubai this weekend."

Vulindlela carries the names of sponsors Absa, SABC Sport and Aon and supplier Soviet clothing, as well as the numbers 29.1.06 and the word Durban and KZN, to signify that South Africa will host one of the 12 rounds of the series in January.

"We are very excited, and proud, to be hosting a round of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations," said Dana Cooper. "Construction is underway on the Durban beachfront and ticket sales are already moving briskly at Computicket.

"KwaZulu Natal and Durban will host the only street race in the A1GP series and it promises to be a highlight of the first season of this World Cup of Motor Sport."

Dubai Autodrome, which is 25 minutes from central Dubai, is one of the most modern, and challenging, circuits in the world and was the first FIA-sanctioned circuit to incorporate wide asphalt run-off areas rather than gravel traps.

It is a clockwise 5.39-km circuit featuring 16 turns and a state of the art grandstand accommodating over 7 000 spectators. In November it hosted the final round of the FIA GT Championship.

The SABC will broadcast Saturday's qualifying live from 12h00 to 14h00 and Sunday's two races live from 11h00 to 14h30.