SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

The A1 Grand Prix series is on the move

The new A1 Grand Prix series, based in Dubai, has announced that it has deals with six franchise-holders for the winter series which will kick off in the autumn of next year. The franchises sold are for United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Portugal, Pakistan and the Lebanon. The A1 series has not revealed any more details except that the British franchise has been sold to a consortium which includes former F1 racer and team owner John Surtees and businessman Tony Clements.

The new series is now beginning to come together with the 3.4-litre V8 engine being mated with a Lola chassis. The development testing began this summer and has been conducted by Ralph Firman, while John Wickham, another former F1 team owner, is working as Operations Manager. The company recently signed a tyre supply deal with the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. In terms of coverage the series has no landed a deal to be shown in the UK on Sky Sports television.