Young Kiwi driver Wade Cunningham will have an important role to play in this weekend's A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in Beijing, even if he can't dislodge Matt Halliday from the driver's seat for Sunday's point-scoring races.

The 2003 world karting champion and 2005 Indy Pro Series champion tested the A1GP car at Silverstone in August and will drive in the two 25-minute rookie sessions on Friday – practices that Halliday and fellow foundation driver Jonny Reid (right) are ineligible to participate in.

With the 23 competing nations switching from track focus into street circuit mode for the first street race of the season, the sessions will be important for trialling the car's set-up before the first official practice session on Friday afternoon local time.

It was a role performed by young German driver Nico Hülkenberg in the first two rounds as New Zealand and table-topping Germany share the same team engineers, Super Nova Racing. But Hülkenberg has shed the rookie tag and can't compete in the sessions, thereby leaving Cunningham in the spotlight.

A1 Team.NZL director of corporate affairs, Bob McMurray, says the pressure won't be on Cunningham to record quick times, but his performance and feedback will be crucial.

"We can't read too much into his times because the track will be dirty and he'll also need time to come to grips with the car and the circuit," McMurray said.

"Where he'll be invaluable is in communicating how the car is handling in this environment because street circuits are usually bumpier, more slippery and are narrower with more twists and turns.

"With less run-off areas and more barricades, there will also be more danger of bumps and scrapes and the acid will be on Wade to bring the car home in one piece."

McMurray said one of the New Zealand team's chief objectives is to help develop young Kiwi talent and Cunningham's presence is another important step in broadening the stable of Black Beauty drivers.

"We're developing a good relationship with Wade and while we appreciate he is focused on racing in the United States, we are pleased to have him in the fold because he is definitely a hot prospect.

"We think it will be of benefit for Wade to experience a different car in a totally different environment and we're sure he'll make the most of his opportunity."

New Zealand's decision to switch to Super Nova Racing has already paid dividends for Jonny Reid, who recently accepted an invitation to test for Super Nova in GP2, the main support class for Formula 1.

Reid, who is currently in New Zealand to train and catch up with friends and family, was only utilized on the final day of the three-day testing and performed admirably without setting the track alight.

"It was fantastic and I really enjoyed the experience," Reid said. "I wasn't that happy with the lap times I posted but there were extenuating circumstances and the team was pleased with my sector times.

"It was a buzz to drive the GP2 car because it's extremely impressive. The power was fairly similar to an A1GP car, but the downforce was different and the brakes were simply amazing, the best in any car I've ever driven.

"Hopefully there will be another chance to do a test and I'll be much more aware of what the car is about."