05/10/2008
NEWS STORY
Australia - Sprint Race 11th Feature Race 4th
Sprint Race
Zandvoort delivered its forecast of cyclonic weather conditions to force a start of the Sprint race behind the safety car. The decision by the race stewards was a clever move to keep the grid together before releasing them to race.
Early into the race A1 Team Ireland lost control causing A1 Team Indonesia to run into them, as A1 Team Monaco and A1 Team China had their own problems to manage. On lap 2 our new country to enter A1GP, A1 Team Korea was too quick into the corner and run into John Martin's car causing him to leave the track momentarily losing three positions.
Once the race had settled with some grip on the Michelin tyres, A1 Team Australia overtook A1 Team Brazil to finish the race in 11th place. A1 Team Korean driver Jin Woo Huang came to the Australian team garage to apologise to John Martin, a good sporting gesture.
Alan Jones A1 Team Australia Seatholder: "It was unfortunate to see the Korean car run too quick into the corner and push John off the track through no fault of his own. The car was running okay and John was gaining some race pace towards the end. He did what was asked of him to keep his car on the track and be ready to race in the main event, the Feature Race"
John Martin: "I had good pace at the start until Korea came up too fast on the back of my car. Fortunately the damage was ok to keep racing after I passed Brazil; it was looking good to gain some points until the red flag came out to finish the race. I believe we have a good setup for the Feature whether a standing start or starting behind the safety car"
Feature Race
Zandvoort entertained a huge fanatical A1GP crowd here this afternoon. A fantastic effort to see so many fans turn up here today in terrible weather to support their country and A1GP.
Another race start under the A1 Safety car with all of the cars in line for two laps before they were released to race in conditions only the best can do with Ferrari Power.
There were many cars leaving the track, several hard shunts and a few mistakes with teams during their pit stops.
During the first pit stop there was a small delay allowing A1 Team Monaco to pass and in the second pit stop there was an electronic delay losing a place to A1 Team Lebanon who was allowed to go by John Martin at the end of pit lane.
Martin regained his position to finish 4th in the Feature race and take 5th place in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Championship.
Alan Jones A1 Team Australia Seatholder: "We are absolutely delighted to salvage an excellent result. John drove very well, the car is superb and the crew performed exceptional to prepare the car for him and have it in great shape for the next race in Chengdu"
John Martin: "After yesterday this is an awesome result. I want to thank our team so much for the work they did between the sprint and feature race. The main thing the team wanted was for me to finish and keep it on track and bring it home. We have a better understanding of the setup now, really looking for Chengdu"
Brazil - Sprint Race 13th Feature Race DNF
The 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season kicked off today at Zandvoort in the Netherlands, with 17 teams taking to the track for the first race of the campaign.
It was always going to be a challenging debut for A1 Team Brazil, as the squad only received the chassis yesterday morning and Felipe Guimarães had just thirty minutes of track time in the new car before racing. In the Sprint race Felipe was one of eight drivers to fall victim to the treacherous weather conditions and his race ended on lap ten after he aquaplaned into the Armco. Despite the team working frantically to try to repair the car for the afternoon race, it was not possible, and Brazil did not compete in the Feature event, although they were able to complete a handful of test laps towards the end of the race.
The team worked tirelessly on Saturday and through the night to this morning to prepare the newly arrived Brazil car for today's races. Felipe took to the track for the first time this morning at 8.10am, twenty minutes into the special 50-minute session allocated to the four teams who did not run any significant laps yesterday. Conditions were not ideal for the car's debut, with rain showers and heavy winds prevalent throughout the session, leading to on-track spray. Nevertheless, Felipe and the team made the most of the run out ahead of the Sprint race, completing 13 laps and setting a fastest time of 1:46.785.
Due to missing out on yesterday's qualifying, Brazil started the 14-lap Sprint race in 17th position from the pitlane. The race began behind the safety car due to the adverse weather conditions, After two laps the racing got underway and it was a frantic lap three, seeing several incidents involving Ireland, Monaco, Lebanon, Indonesia, Australia and Korea and which put Brazil up into 12th position. The pack settled down over the coming laps until lap ten when the weather worsened. After China and Brazil both aquaplaned into the Armco on separate parts of the track, putting and end to both team's races and causing considerable damage to Brazil's car, the Sprint was red-flagged due to the dangerous conditions.
Emerson Fittipaldi, Team Principal: "This has been one of those weekends in racing where the team pulled off a miracle. We only received our car at 9.30 on Saturday morning and the team worked so hard nonstop to get the car ready to race. We went to the first race with Felipe having completed just a few laps this morning in the rain and he was doing a great job trying to finish the race. Unfortunately he aquaplaned off and on the very next lap the race was red-flagged because the conditions were so bad. Two corners of the car were damaged so the team went flat out to try to fix it for the Feature but we ran out of time. I have to say thanks to the organisers who allowed Felipe out to complete a few laps at the end when the car was ready. I am very happy with the team's enthusiasm and hard work, the crew has been outstanding. In my opinion Felipe is a rough diamond and he had to cope with extremely difficult conditions this weekend. He has so much potential and it is our job to work with him over the coming races to bring out his talent."
Felipe Guimarães: "It was really difficult for us this weekend but everyone worked so hard to get us into the position so we could actually race today. I only drove the car for the first time this morning in the wet. Unfortunately we started the Sprint race from the back as we didn't make it for qualifying yesterday and with the limited running it was very hard to set up the car. The conditions were really impossible and I tried so hard to finish the race but I just went off the track and the car was damaged. We tried really hard to make it to the Feature but it wasn't possible. We are just looking forward now to getting some more time in the car and preparing fully for the next race in China."
Ireland - Sprint Race DNF Feature Race DNF
On a day when only seven cars finished the Feature Race, A1 Team Ireland's hopes of a strong start to the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season were dashed when Adam Carroll fell victim to the atrocious conditions and spun out of both the Sprint Race and main event.
Starting from third place on the grid for the Sprint Race, Carroll joined the other competitors in lining up behind the Safety Car on the rain and wind affected Zandvoort Park Circuit. When the Safety Car was finally called in, Carroll's green Team Ireland car came through the final corner behind The Netherlands and New Zealand only for the 25 year old from Portadown to be caught out by the cold, soaking wet track. His car spun 180 degrees before being hit by the Team Monaco entry driven by Clivio Piccione. Damage to the Team Ireland car included the rear suspension and floor, which were soon repaired in readiness for the Feature Race.
Starting the Feature Race from 15th position on the grid, Carroll made strong progress in the early stages, moving up to 9th place after four laps only to spin off the track and into retirement. With conditions worsening all the time due to torrential rain, the Team Ireland car was not alone in falling foul of the treacherous track surface, but the result was no less disappointing after a promising performance yesterday in practice and qualifying.
"It was going ok and I was making good progress when the car just went from under me as I braked for Turn 6 and there was no way to catch it," said Carroll. "It was just like earlier on in the Sprint Race – the car let go so suddenly I couldn't react in time. Very disappointing for the team and I can't believe we came away with nothing."
"A disappointing day for the Team and a missed opportunity for Team Ireland on a day when the conditions and slightly lower entry for this opening race meant a good points haul was certainly possible," said Team Principal Mark Gallagher. "Adam explained the spin in the Sprint Race took him completely by surprise and it seemed to be the same thing later. We cannot afford to have weekends where we don't score points."
In spite of the disappointing start to the season, A1 Team Ireland had a successful build up to the series which included Thursday's 65 lap test at Snetterton Circuit and a highly competitive performance in practice and qualifying which saw the team at the top end of the time sheets throughout. Technical Director Gerry Hughes was overseeing the team for the first time, but the team was also helped this weekend by highly respected ex- Formula One Technical Director Gary Anderson, whose assistance and advice was invaluable at this stage of the season.
Korea - Sprint Race DNF Feature Race 7th
Sprint Race
A1 Team Korea took part in its first A1GP race today, at a wet and windy A1GP Zandvoort, Netherlands. Joining 17 other teams on the grid, A1 Team Korea driver Jin-Woo Hwang became the first Korean to race for this country. Despite running near the top ten in the early stages, Hwang went off track in the treacherous conditions while attempting to overtake A1 Team Australia and was unable to finish the race.
In the extreme wet conditions, the A1GP cars lined up on the grid on wet weather tyres. Having assessed track conditions, organisers decided to start the race behind the safety car. Lining up in 15th place, A1 Team Korea slotted in behind 14th place A1 Team Indonesia. The racing and overtaking got underway on lap three, when the safety car pulled into the pit lane and the drivers were shown the green flag.
While the slippery conditions got the better of many drivers, including Monaco, South Africa and Indonesia, Hwang kept the Korean car on track and was up to 13th place on lap three. A lap later Hwang was 12th, with the Australian car in his sights. Pushing hard to make up a place and chasing points for his country, Hwang tried to pass the Australian car going into the first corner, but with little grip tagged the wheel of the Australian car, putting both in the gravel trap. Sinking into the gravel, the car could not return to the track, meaning the A1 Team Korea car, nicknamed Dokdo, could not finish the race. As other drivers also went off track, the race was red flagged with three laps remaining. A1 Team Seat Holder Jung-Yong Joshua Kim said, "It was very exciting to stand on the grid before the Sprint race and see the Korean car with cars from nations around the world. Jin did a very good job in his first A1GP race, he was fighting hard for position when he went off track. I am confident that we will be able to challenge for a good result later today in the Feature race." Reflecting on his first race in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, Jin-Woo Hwang added, "It was very difficult on track this morning. I don't have a lot of experience racing in the wet, and the track was very slippery. When the green flag was shown I managed to make up positions, and was closing in on Australia. I thought I was quicker than him and tried to pass him down the inside, but we touched wheels and I went into the gravel. I couldn't get the car on the track again, so I couldn't finish. It is a shame for the team, but we will try hard in the Feature race."
Feature Race
A1 Team Korean finished seventh in an action packed Feature race at the A1GP Zandvoort, Netherlands today. The team battled through the rain in a chaotic and incident filled race to take four points in only their first race weekend in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. The team's resilience in the wet means 25 year-old Jin-Woo Hwang becomes the first Korean to score points in A1GP as well as the first Korean to represent his nation in a motorsport event.
Having been penalised for overtaking under a yellow flag in the Sprint race, Hwang was forced to start the Feature race from the back of the grid in 17th place. With conditions even more severe than in the morning, the racing action at Zandvoort once again started behind the safety car. Track conditions were still perilous when the green flag was given on lap three, with a number of cars going off track. Doing an impressive job to stay on track, Hwang passed a spinning USA and China by the end of lap four, putting A1 Team Korea in 14th place.
Following problems for Switzerland, Ireland and South Africa and Italy, Korea were 11th by lap six, and just outside the points. With the first of two mandatory pit stops having to be taken between lap eight and 16, the order began to change as the various A1GP teams dived into the pits.
Despite limited experience in the A1GP machine, Hwang was pushing hard, overtaking Indonesia for 10th place on lap 10. Hwang pitted on lap 15, with the Korean pit crew successfully changing all four tyres and returning the Korean car to the race track in tenth place. Shortly after pitting, Hwang went off track, but with no damage done and the engine still running, was able to rejoin the race. By lap 29, the Korean car was still in tenth place, and in contention for the final point. As the rain continued to fall, Hwang stayed calm while other drivers spun off, and as several cars clashed, A1 Team Korea were seventh at the chequered flag.
A delighted Jin-Woo Hwang said, "I am very happy to have finished seventh today. It was very difficult on track, but I was concentrating on getting to the end of the race and keeping the car on the track. I don't have much experience driving in the wet or of pit stops, so this is a good result for us. I feel happier in the car now than at the start of the weekend, and I hope we can get better at the next race in China."
A1 Team Korea Seat Holder Joshua Kim added, "This is a great result for the team and Korea. This is an important moment for Korea and the first time the country has done so well in a motorsport event. I hope we will be able to take strength from this and improve at the next race."
Lebanon - Sprint Race 10th Feature Race 8th
A1 Team Lebanon enjoyed their two best ever A1GP performances in the season opening A1GP, Zandvoort, Netherlands event today with a tenth place finish in the Sprint race and the team's first World Cup of Motorsport points in the Feature race. Although driver Daniel Morad crashed out before the chequered flag while lying in fourth place, he was classified eighth and scored three points for the Lebanon team.
Torrential weather conditions shaped the outcome of the Sprint race today. With A1 Team Lebanon having its best qualifying performance of its A1GP history, Morad lined up in tenth place on the grid. The pouring rain and strong winds were deemed dangerous for the safety of the drivers and the race organisers elected to start the race behind the safety car.
After two laps of touring the Dutch circuit the safety car returned to the pits to release the field for green flag racing. There was drama up and down the grid as the drivers struggled to cope with the rain soaked track with its pools of water. Unfortunately Morad was caught braking into turn 1, running off track and into the gravel. He was quickly able to rejoin the field, but had dropped to 14th place. The young Canadian-Lebanese driver was undeterred and set about catching his rival nations ahead. As the race settled he was able to make up places, while also coping with the challenging conditions, moving up to 11th by mid-distance. In the closing stages, with the weather still limiting visibility and throwing up spray behind each car Morad continued to push on, finally capturing the elusive top ten finish position for A1 Team Lebanon.
The Feature race also started behind the safety car, with the heavy rain continuing to fall. The Lebanon team were tenth on the grid and after two laps behind the safety car, the race began in earnest. Morad drove smoothly, and while others around him succumbed to the tough track and dire weather, he moved up to fifth place by the time of his first mandatory pitstop.A lightning quick tyre change from the Lebanon crew helped Morad to move up to fourth position after all the teams had made their first stops.
A safety car period to remove a stranded Portuguese car calmed the field down and regrouped them at half distance and after a few laps the A1GP cars were off racing again. When the second pitstop window opened the Lebanon crew gave Morad another quick, clean stop and he was soon back racing hard and up to fourth place.
Sadly, with less than four laps remaining Morad, whilst trying to pass the slower Chinese car, was caught in a river of water as he downshifted, which put him into a spin on the pit straight. He flew through the gravel and into the tyre barriers, ending his race. However, at the race finish with only seven cars crossing the line, the team were awarded eighth place to take three World Cup of Motorsport points, their first ever points finish since they started competing in the Series three years ago.
Morad said at the end of the day, "The sprint race was very tough, with the spray reducing visibility to virtually nothing. Our strategy was to keep clean and finish the race which we did. In the Feature race the team did an awesome job with the pitstops and helped me to gain places, but I just lost it close to the end when I hit standing water. I'm gutted that I wasn't able to finish, but at the same time I'm thrilled to have brought Lebanon their first points in the Series. I know how much this means to the team and to the nation, so I leave here with plenty of positives."
Tameem Auchi, Seatholder, A1 Team Lebanon, added, "First of all I'd like to congratulate Daniel on bringing Lebanon the first World Cup points. We've waited a long time for this moment and finally we have achieved our first goal of the season. The team has worked extremely hard within a very short space of time to be ready for this weekend and I'm delighted that their efforts have been rewarded. It's only the first of ten rounds and I think that we've shown that there is great potential with Daniel, the new car and the team."
Billy Karam, A1 Team Lebanon Ambassador, sums up the weekend saying, "We've had excellent results this weekend - more than could be expected for the first two races. I know everyone in Lebanon would like to join me in congratulating the team for their achievements. We look forward to seeing Daniel and the team racing in China."
Malaysia - Sprint Race 1st Feature Race 2nd
Sprint Race
It was the perfect start to the new season of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport for A1 Team Malaysia in Zandvoort, Netherlands today. Fairuz Fauzy dominated the Sprint race, coping with torrential rain, in the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car, to take the first spoils and claim an excellent maiden win of the season for his nation.
The opening round of the ten event A1GP Series finally got underway today at the Dutch circuit. Despite heavy rain, a packed racing venue watched Fauzy drive to his first A1GP victory. The Malaysian team started from fourth on the grid after a strong qualifying performance yesterday. The safety car was used for the start of the race due to the bad weather but green flag racing started after two laps.
Fauzy picked up one place after the Irish car spun at the start, but lost out to a charging Switzerland a few laps later. Fauzy then fought back, reclaiming the place to lie third at half distance. Showing great maturity and bravery Fauzy then made a sweeping pass on second placed Netherlands to claim the runner up spot. With just four laps to go Fauzy then hunted down leader, New Zealand and made a perfect overtaking manoeuvre to take the lead and drive away from his trailing rivals. He took the chequered flag, returned to the pits and immediately celebrated with his team before stepping onto the top step of the podium to hear the Malaysian national anthem and lift the winner's trophy above his head.
Fauzy said of winning his first A1GP race today, "I am so happy to take this win. It was very difficult on the track today and made even more challenging with the lack of experience we have with this new car, but we have worked really hard as a team and now we have a fantastic win. We start from pole position for the next race as well, so I hope we can have more success, but if the weather stays like this it will be another huge challenge for everyone. I'm looking forward to it!"
Jack Cunningham, Chief Executive, A1 Team Malaysia added, "It's a tremendous win for the team today. Everyone has put so much effort into preparing the car and being ready for this event, so to take the win makes it a very special occasion. Fairuz drove superbly, in some of the most difficult weather we've seen, and I'm delighted for everyone in the team and for our commercial partners who have been so supportive."
Feature Race
Fairuz Fauzy and the Malaysian A1GP team followed up a sensational opening race victory with a second placing in the Feature race at Zandvoort in the Netherlands today as the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport kicked off a ten event global tour with two action packed races and a capacity crowd braving torrential rain to enjoy the feast of nation-versus-nation A1GP racing.
Fauzy took up his pole position on the grid for the Feature race this afternoon, but with the rain relentlessly pouring down at the Zandvoort circuit there was no alternative but for the organisers to declare a safety car start for this race. After two laps the field of 17 nations taking part this weekend were released to race for national glory.
Fauzy led the grid away at the green flag and retained his lead in the opening laps pitting early in the first pitstop window, while second placed team, France, continued on. An errant wheel nut delayed the team by a few seconds but Fauzy was soon back out.
The French team made a late stop and in the process took the lead of the race with Malaysia four seconds behind at the end of the first round of pitstops. As the laps counted down Fauzy remained in second place, and the second round of pitstops saw a clean stop from the Malaysian crew placing Fauzy back out on track in the runner up spot. A dramatic accident for the Lebanon and China cars brought out a safety car close to the end of the race, with the race finally finishing under the safety car. A1 Team Malaysia claimed second place, and after winning the Sprint race now lead the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport standings.
Fauzy said of his two podium results, "It's been a dream start to the season for A1 Team Malaysia. We were certainly hoping to have a good performance here, and two podiums is just great. The weather conditions were treacherous today, which made it difficult for all of us, but that makes it all the more rewarding. There is something extra special when you are driving for your nation, so I'm very proud of our achievements today. It's been a real team effort and I'm delighted that we are leaving Zandvoort leading the championship."
A1 Team Malaysia Chief Executive, Jack Cunningham, added, "Fairuz performed extremely well. These are probably the worst conditions we've seen and he showed real professionalism, real ability to think under pressure, recognition of how to get the best out of the car, defeat the weather; a really excellent performance. On top of that I think all the teams should be congratulated on the fantastic event they have put on today, defying all the odds that have faced us in the build up to the start of the season."
Monaco - Sprint Race DNF Feature Race 6th
The continuing wet weather played an integral role at Circuit Park Zandvoort today. A1 Team Monaco were forced to retire after an incident on lap two of the Sprint race, but rallied to a commendable 6th place in this afternoon's Feature race. The mixed fortune in results means that the newest team on the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Powered by Ferrari grid is currently in 6th place in the championship with 5 points.
Starting from fifth on the grid behind the safety car for the start of this morning's 14-lap Sprint race, Clivio was in a good position when the safety car returned to the pits at the beginning of lap two. However, when Adam Carroll of A1 Team Ireland immediately spun on the exceedingly wet track across the front of the pack, Clivio had no space to manoeuvre the car around Carroll resulting in front bodywork damage and immediate retirement.
The focus then switched to the afternoon's 40-lap Feature race, with Clivio beginning to the rear of the grid with A1 Team Korea. After a safety car race start, the parade of cars continued to make their way carefully around the track in ever worsening weather, track and visibility conditions. Clivio maintained a solid pace after the safety car went in and had risen to 8th place with 34 laps remaining when aquaplaning became an issue for many of the teams. Clivio remained out of trouble and put continuous pressure on the cars ahead until the team made its first mandatory stop on lap 10.
After a delay in the first pitstop caused by an issue with a wheel gun, Clivio emerged in 9th place ahead of Korea and Indonesia, with the top three teams yet to make their initial stops. The safety car was deployed once again, on lap 16, when Korea and Portugal both left the track and remained out for three laps. Clivio, now running in 8th place, was able to maintain position until his right front wing endplate became damaged when he ran wide with 18 laps of the race remaining and he came into the pits. With the loose bodywork removed, the team sent Clivio back out on track, seeing the chance scoring its first championship points as only ten teams remained in the race. He emerged just behind the home team Netherlands out of the stop and made his final mandatory pitstop on the second last lap of the race. This was made under safety car rules, following the accident involving A1 Teams Lebanon and China, and Clivio was held at the end of the pitlane, to be allowed to rejoin the race on the final lap. As the safety car came in and the seven remaining cars made a charge for the line, Clivio took the chequered flag in 6th position to take the team's first championship points of the season.
Clivio Piccione: "It was difficult starting from the back of the grid for the Feature race as visibility was zero. It was unbelievably slippery and the car was difficult to handle and to keep on the track, so I said to myself ‘just get to the end of the race'. We were gaining positions lap after lap and I was feeling good in the car. Unfortunately we had a problem in the first pitstop and we lost quite a lot of time. I was then catching the cars in front of me when I overshot the chicane and landed on the grass. I lost a front flap and from there on the car as just un-driveable for a couple of laps, so Graham (Taylor) called me in to remove the broken piece. Unfortunately it was not in the official pitstop window, so we knew that we had to do another stop. From that point on the car was difficult to drive; I had a lot of understeer in the right-hand corners and although I went quicker and tried to push, I was careful it was not too much, but just enough to keep my position and to finish the race. The second pitstop was good; I think that the team did a good job, but unfortunately, again, the safety car was deployed and we got held at the end of the pitlane for a couple of minutes. I do not know what would have been the result without those two misfortunes and if we did not have a three-stop race, but overall I am happy. We got some points on our first weekend and I am happy for the team also. Sixth place in the championship is not a bad start."
Netherlands - Sprint Race 4th Feature Race 5th
On a soaked Zandvoort A1 Team Netherlands has started the A1GP Season 2008/09 with a fourth and fifth place finish. The debut of the A1GP Powered by Ferrari had a lot of on track spectacle and horrendous weather conditions, with constant rain and a lot of wind. In these circumstances Jeroen Bleekemolen took the maximum possible result, supported unconditionally by the crowds lining the circuit.
There was asthonisment and admiration for the number of spectators at the event. Over 85,000 people rewarded the spectacular A1GP races with their presence. "The new A1GP series can proudly boast the title "Powered by Ferrari', A1 Team Netherlands can use the title ‘Powered by the Public," said Jan Lammers. "It truly was a unique and amazing event. I think with this amount of public interest and weather conditions it is safe to say that A1GP is a waterproof formula, when you talk about entertainment in racing. I cannot describe how thankful we are to the public for their unconditional enthusiasm."
In this mornings Sprint race Bleekemolen started from pole. On an already wet Zandvoort circuit it was decided to start the 14 lap race from behind the safety car. A wise decision by the organization. A1 Team Netherlands managed to stay in the lead, but saw A1 Team New Zealand closing in after a few laps. Bleekemolen had trouble finding the grip in the difficult conditions and to make matters worse his visor had fogged up, seriously diminishing his sight. New Zealand's Earl Bamber started to push the A1 Team Netherlands driver, forced an error by Bleekemolen at the Audi-S and took the lead. Meanwhile Malaysia had climbed and was rapidly closing in on the leaders. Soon A1 Team Netherlands was overtaken and moments later Fauzi took the lead. By then Bleekemolen had to succeed a position to France and was under pressure from China, which then spun. Switzerland put on the pressure and it looked like that they were going to pass. But then luck was on A1 Team Netherlands side, the race was red flagged after a crash by Brazil. With the fourth place A1 Team Netherlands takes five points. Malaysia took victory, followed by New Zealand and France.
Conditions had deteriarated further for the Feature race, where despite the torrential rain and wind many occupied the grandstands and dunes, and again the start was from behind the safety car. Just before the start there was a greeting by the Dutch Royal Air Force and on the starting grid Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende wished Jeroen success for the race. Bleekemolen also had a good start and was soon able to climb to third. With a new visor, better sight and a faster car he even was the fastest on track for a moment. Then bad luck struck mercilessly. Bleekemolen was right behind France at the first of two mandatory pitstops. A stuck wheelnut caused significant time loss. Soon after the gearbox started to act up and started to suddenly shift up and down. >From then on Bleekemolen only concentrated on finishing the race. All the other drivers barely managed to keep their cars on track, let alone set fast times. Not everyone was successful at this and for some their race ended in the gravel bed. Bleekemolen managed to get through the final laps, the final one behind the safety car after a huge crash by China and Lebanon and scored six points for A1 Team Netherlands with sixth place. France won the race, in front of Malaysia and New Zealand.
Jeroen Bleekemolen; "Of course you always want to win and especially from pole in your home race. It was too bad that we were unable to take victory this morning. The car was not perfect and my visor also fogged up. This afternoon we just had bad luck. We had a real good shot at winning the second race. It also went very good, the car was a lot better than in the Sprint race and the sight also was much better. Then you start to think; "This could well be the one'. I was behind France and we were really competitive. On a certain moment we were the fastest on track. Then the gearbox broke and I did everything in my power to keep the car on the track. Sometimes it would go into neutral and then you can easily go off. It was hard and we have made it, but this was the maximum possible. To drive in these conditions was unbelievably hard. I have to say that I also deeply respect all the spectators who fought this weather to cheer us on".
Jan Lammers; "The nice thing about pole postion is that you start from the front. But you can really only do worse from then on. It is a shame, this morning we had a set up that was not the best and a rather clumsy visor story. Off course it is not what we had hoped for, but at least there are thirteen others who did worse and unfortunately we have to accept it as it is. The start is there, the spectators have had an fantastic day despite the weather. In every turn someone went off, so everyone had their entertainment."
After the first two races A1 Team Netherlands is in fourth with 11 points. France and Malaysia share the lead with 22 points each. On November 9 the second race weekend for A1 Team Netherlands will be held. Then Robert Doornbos will make his official race debut in A1GP.
South Africa - Sprint Race 6th Feature Race DNF
France (Loic Duval) and Malaysia (Fairuz Fauzy) emerged from the opening round of the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in the joint lead after two incident-packed races that were dominated by wet and treacherous conditions.
Malaysia won this morning's Sprint race from New Zealand (Earl Bamber), France, the Netherlands (Jeroen Bleekemolen), Switzerland (Neel Jani) and South Africa (Adrian Zaugg). The race started behind the safety car after persistent rain fell over the circuit at the Dutch seaside resort and ended after 10 of the scheduled 14 laps when the red flag came out after yet another incident.
The longer Feature race also started behind the safety car with driving rain making conditions even worse than the earlier race. France emerged the victors after 36 of the scheduled 40 laps (the race ended after another safety car period), scoring their 15th A1GP win and the second for Duval, from Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia (John Martin), the Netherlands and A1GP newcomers Monaco (Clivio Piccione). South Africa became one of the many casualties of the conditions when Vulindlela was unceremoniously knocked off the Zandvoort circuit on lap six by the car of Italy, driven by A1GP rookie Onidi Fabio.
It was a big disappointment for 21-year-old Zaugg, who was lying fifth at the time. "I was being very careful in the conditions, which were really bad. It was difficult to see anything in the spray from the car ahead and the track surface was extremely slippery with a lot of water around."
"Adrian was very unlucky," said Mike Carroll, general manager of A1 Team South Africa. "He did well to survive the difficult conditions in the Sprint race and finish in the points without making any mistakes or being involved in any incidents. To go out so early in the Feature race through no fault of his own was most unfortunate. But that's what happens in wet races. It's a bit of a lottery and this time we didn't win the jackpot. However, we achieved a respectable result in race one under the circumstances and we live to fight another day.
"Our sister team France's performance was unbelievable," added Carroll. "Loic only drove the car for the first time in Saturday's qualifying session and qualified 11th on his 12th and last lap. His third place in the Sprint race and then his victory in the Feature race was quite outstanding. He gave a master class in driving in the wet."