10/01/2009
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Germany has postponed its debut in the fourth season of A1GP, meaning the team now plans to be on track for the first time in Gauteng, South Africa on 22 February.
"A1 Team Germany has been affected by delays," said A1GP CEO, Pete da Silva. "All the necessary ingredients to get the team on track in Taupo did not come together, so there was no other option but to delay the team's Season Four debut.
"On the positive side," he continued, "we hope the car can cover some test miles so when the team arrives in South Africa it will be able to catch up rapidly. With A1 Team Germany being totally new - a new Team Principal, a new service provider and a new driver in Andre Lotterer - there was no way it or the series was going to jeopardise its entry into Season Four without better preparation.
This was not the outcome A1 Team Germany Team Principal, Rolf Beisswanger, wanted to his quest to get the Season Two championship winners back on track.
"I cannot say I am anything other than deeply disappointed at the outcome," said Beisswanger. "We have been working flat out since I took on the role to get a team together that our country would be proud of. However, we shall not be at the next two races so have to make sure when we do make our debut the car will be ready to win.
"This does give us more time to get the sponsors and partners in place and we have to view Season Four as the launch pad for a full out assault on the championship in Season Five. My major aim is to wrest back the title the team won in Season Two and for that we have to be totally prepared."