23/02/2008
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Switzerland's Neel Jani set the pace in this morning's third and final practice session for the A1GP Durban, South Africa, held in hot, humid and breezy conditions, ahead of what promises to be a thrilling qualifying session this afternoon.
Swiss racer Neel Jani clocked the fastest lap time halfway through the incident-packed final practice this morning and held the top spot for the remainder of the session, which was extended due to four red-flag periods involving India, Australia, Italy and Ireland. Jani was closely followed by Germany's Michael Ammermüller in second, who has been on impressive form all weekend in Durban.
Loic Duval, the third driver to get behind the wheel of the French car this weekend, finished a superb third fastest, having only arrived at the track just over an hour before the session started. The 25-year-old flew to South Africa overnight from Japan where he was fulfilling a motorsport commitment he had agreed to before the A1GP season began. The French team, currently level on points with New Zealand at the top of the championship table, has employed such an ambitious strategy in an attempt to keep its title challenge going.
Great Britain's Oliver Jarvis leapt up the order to second behind Switzerland with 25 minutes remaining and finally finished the session fourth fastest overall, just ahead of the Netherlands' Jeroen Bleekemolen in fifth. China's Congfu Cheng was on good form this morning, ending the session in sixth position.
Canada's Robert Wickens, who was flying at the start of the session due to running on relatively fresh tyres because he only completed four laps on Friday, finished the session seventh ahead of home nation South Africa's Adrian Zaugg in eighth. Current title leader New Zealand's Jonny Reid ended the morning ninth fastest followed by Portuguese newcomer Filipe Albuquerque in 10th.
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