For the first time in the history of the series, the top two nations in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport are level on points, as the championship battle heads to the streets of Durban, South Africa for round seven on 22-24 February.

As the championship reaches its climax with four rounds on the 10-event calendar remaining, New Zealand leads the series due to number of race wins but is level with France on 96 points. Switzerland lies just three points behind while host nation South Africa is now fourth on 79 points, after Adrian Zaugg secured his nation's second win of the season last time out after an incredible drive in treacherous conditions at Eastern Creek in Sydney.

The Durban event is the only street circuit on the calendar and, unlike some of the permanent race tracks which host A1GP events, none of the drivers are able to test or race there at other times of the year. The tight, twisty street circuit punishes mistakes more than any other track and is considered to be one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar.

The crowds have flocked to South Africa's maiden A1GP races – the biggest international motor racing meeting the country holds. A1 Team Netherlands' Jos Vertappen was the hero of the inaugural event in 2006, demonstrating the dangers and the glory of racing on such a narrow circuit.

The Dutchman crashed on the last lap of the Sprint race but won the Feature with an impressive overtaking manoeuvre at the end of the race. The second meeting in February 2007 was dominated by A1 Team Germany's Nico Hülkenberg. He took his seventh and eighth victories of the season, breaking the record for the most number of wins by any one driver in A1GP.

The French team is yet to announce its driver line-up for Durban and is at a crucial point in the championship battle. Loic Duval, who secured France's first win in 37 races last time out in Sydney, said in Australia that it was unlikely he would be able to take part in any further A1GP events this season due to prior commitments.

A1 Team Great Britain has confirmed that Oliver Jarvis, Zandvoort Feature race winner, will return to the cockpit to race for his nation in Durban, a circuit he experienced last season in the rookie session. Robbie Kerr, who finished on the Feature race podium last time out in Australia, and has secured two second place finishes in his four races at the Durban street circuit for GBR, will also be on hand to lend support to the team and pass on his technical expertise.

A1GP drivers will be visiting the Mount Moriah Ministries Care and Support Centre on Wednesday afternoon to see the work of the project and to interact with the children. The Centre is run by Food4Africa and cares for disadvantaged and malnourished children in the surrounding community. The project began as a soup kitchen and now provides care for over 200 children and offers skills training as well as physical and emotional support to adults in the community. A group of children and volunteers from the Centre will be visiting the A1GP paddock on Friday afternoon to watch free practice and meet the teams and drivers.