http://www.smh.com.au/news/Motorspor...489418788.html
Sheik series showdown for Australia's top drivers
By Peter McKay
April 5, 2005
Australia's driver or drivers to contest the new global A1 Grand Prix Series - the world cup of motor sport - will be named after the likely lads go head to head at a drive-off in Australia.
A handful of names are on the shortlist, and others will be added in the coming weeks. Set to do battle for the prized, paid gig are Asian F3 champ Christian Jones, Australian F3 champ Karl Reindler, Australian champ car racer Marcus Marshall, and the two Wills - Power and Davison - both of whom raced in British F3 last season.
Others who will be keen to wave their credentials in front of A1 Grand Prix Team Australia head Alan Jones are Ian Dyk, Chris Agajanian and, perhaps, the brilliant James Courtney, the former Jaguar F1 tester now racing GT cars in Japan.
Starting at Brands Hatch, England, in September and running largely during the F1 off season, the 10-round A1 series will involve 25 national teams including India, Britain, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Lebanon, Pakistan, China, New Zealand and United Arab Emirates. Each team has two cars and two engines and may use more than one driver.
The three-day race weekend will consist of practice and qualifying, followed on Sunday by a 15- to 20-minute sprint race that will set grid positions for the 40- to 60-minute main event.
Only national sponsors can be displayed on the national car.
The mood was upbeat when Australia's A1 GP team and car were unveiled at a Sydney function a few days ago attended by a wealthy contingent who were entertained by musicians and given the hard sell from former world champ Jones and the A1 GP's founder, Sheik Maktoum Hasher of the ruling family of Dubai.
Sheik Maktoum, who arrived with bodyguards and a flotilla of black BMWs, revealed a fine line in self deprecation when he suggested the rest of the motor sporting world was sceptical when it saw a guy come out on a camel with two oil barrels on his back to sell the A1 GP idea.
The youthful sheik, who has a background in finance, isn't doing the A1 series just for fun. He intends to make money.
NSW tourism minister Sandra Nori lent her support to the project and came out unequivocally in favour of the Australian round being held at Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway.
Nori, who is also the Minister for Women, then threw down the challenge to Jones to deliver a female racing champion.
Watching proceedings, too, was Neville Crichton, the governing-director of motor vehicle importer Ateco Automotive. A Kiwi, he is supporting the Australian team. "It's terrific value," Crichton said. "The same money as a V8 supercar team."
A1 GP organisers are promising exposure to 80 per cent of the world's population.
The Australian round, though not yet confirmed, will be held at Eastern Creek, and securing the A1 GP marks a rare victory over motor race hungry Victoria.
One vital piece missing from the jigsaw, however, is a host telecaster, although Seven's Saul Shtein was at the unveiling.