Australian A1 GP Team

mabs_nsx · 30 Mar 2005, 11:29 (Ref:1265149)

F1 World Champion Jones launches Australia A1 GP team:
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=23946

djt46 · 30 Mar 2005, 22:29 (Ref:1265776)

Full launch announcement from this morning's media brief which includes announcement of Team NZ:

Sydney, 30 March – A1 Grand Prix marked its first birthday today with the launch of A1 Team Australia exactly one year on from the championship's official launch in Dubai. With 15 national teams signed up so far and another 10 teams in the final stages of negotiations, A1 Grand Prix is now counting down to its first race this September. To date, some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, with an estimated net worth of 50 billion US dollars, have demonstrated their commitment to the championship by investing in their national teams. Presidents, Prime Ministers and numerous government ministers, statesmen and high-profile celebrities have backed A1 Grand Prix through attendance at the five national launches which have taken place so far. In the latest high-profile ceremony, Australia became the sixth country to unveil its A1 Grand Prix race car and the second nation to be announced as an A1 Grand Prix race venue. A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum took the opportunity to confirm Australia would host an A1 Grand Prix race at a location and date that will be confirmed when the final calendar is announced. Speaking of his country's involvement in the new championship, A1 Team Australia Chairman Alan Jones commented, 'There is no doubt that Australians love their sport and their motor racing. To compete in an international series and to have one race in Australia is very exciting. We are here not just to win but to use this as an opportunity for Australia’s up and coming drivers'. A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum spoke of his excitement for Australia's involvement in the championship. 'With over 200 countries in the world and only 25 places on the A1 Grand Prix grid, I'm delighted and honoured to have A1 Team Australia launch this evening with such national support from its government, businesses and people.' Sheikh Maktoum took the opportunity of the launch of the Australian A1 Team to announce the participation in A1 Grand Prix of Australia's closest rival, New Zealand. The franchise, which brings the total to 16, has been bought by entrepreneur businessman Colin Giltrap of Giltrap Group Holdings Limited. Christian Jones will take the wheel of the Australian A1 Grand Prix race car for a media demonstration at the Eastern Creek circuit on Thursday 31 March.

djt46 · 30 Mar 2005, 22:35 (Ref:1265781)

going to be a bit of a competition between A1GP TEam Australia and ChampCars Team Australia on colour schemes and team names, Green and Gold for A1, Green and Yellow for CC!

djt46 · 30 Mar 2005, 22:49 (Ref:1265794)

BTW the car has been on show this morning on the Channel Seven breakfast show Sunrise

racer69 · 30 Mar 2005, 23:47 (Ref:1265817)

Is that maybe a hint towards a broadcaster?

Seriously though, any idea on who may show the races, presuming something is in the pipeline as we have a team?

djt46 · 30 Mar 2005, 23:54 (Ref:1265820)

Not really but the sports guy was having a great time sitting in the car and he did mention something about see you back here in November for the A1 race!

TSR · 31 Mar 2005, 02:18 (Ref:1265862)

In the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) It said the Ch 7 would be telecasting the A1 races, My only problem with the Aus A1 team is that it looks like Alan Jones is favouring his son over other drivers, eg like Will Power & Will Davidson etc.

mixxer · 31 Mar 2005, 02:23 (Ref:1265863)

Anybody near EC, apparently they are shaking a car down there today.

Mekola · 31 Mar 2005, 02:45 (Ref:1265871)

Any idea about possible drivers?

Craig Lowndes, Jason Bright, Christian Murchison come to mind, and of course Will Power and Will Davison.
Matthew Halliday, even he's a New Zealander, also joins my shortlist, mostly, when he'd proved to be good in the Formula Renault V6 during 2003...

mac · 31 Mar 2005, 02:58 (Ref:1265874)

Christian Jones is the one widely tipped to get the seat.

Christian is Alan's son and won the Asian Formula 3 Championship last year.

Last I heard he was going to be backing up in that championship this season, but it appears he may be driving the A1GP car later in the year.

Christian does have talent and I am sure he would do a good job, but I would love to see Will Davison in the car.

djt46 · 31 Mar 2005, 03:28 (Ref:1265879)

Christian Jones and Skeik Makhtoum are doing the driving today at Eastern Creek so that might hint at something, helps to have Dad owning the team!

djt46 · 31 Mar 2005, 03:30 (Ref:1265881)

nationality is important here so we won't able to 'borrow'any Kiwis I'm afraid, also they are running their own team so they will want the best they can muster.

djt46 · 31 Mar 2005, 05:18 (Ref:1265908)

Car looks good on the track at Eastern Creek, CJ was the driver.

mixxer · 31 Mar 2005, 06:13 (Ref:1265926)

Any image's from today ?

djt46 · 31 Mar 2005, 06:19 (Ref:1265929)

I do have some but never tried posting them here!!

Crash Test · 31 Mar 2005, 06:56 (Ref:1265945)

So does AJ own the team? Isn't this the bloke that sold off his trophies to raise himself some money a little while back?

Kicking-back · 31 Mar 2005, 06:58 (Ref:1265946)

AJ is the team figurehead - it's backed by various investors.

djt46 · 31 Mar 2005, 07:45 (Ref:1265976)

he's described as Team Principal, sounds like school!

djt46 · 31 Mar 2005, 07:46 (Ref:1265977)

Actually i think his official title is Chairman and Seat Holder

mixxer · 31 Mar 2005, 08:05 (Ref:1265986)

He sold off some of his trophys to help fund Christians foray in F3 from memory, nothing wrong with that.

Chucky · 31 Mar 2005, 08:17 (Ref:1265993)

Hot off the press courtesy of Racenews

Formula 3
Mar 31 2005
F3 and A1

F3 and A1. Despite appearances, this is not an algebra test, but rather the exciting equation that will see Australian Formula 3 aligned with the A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport.

Formula 3 Australia Category Administrator Jeff Mattner, last night confirmed that Round 7 of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship would be held in November as the premier support category to the Australian round of the A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport. At this stage, a venue for the meeting has yet to be announced.

Mattner also confirmed that the winner of the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship would be given a test in the A1 Team Australia car as part of their prize package.

A1 Grand Prix is the brainchild of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum of the Ruling Family of Dubai and will pit country against country in a true World Cup of Motorsport. Twenty-five countries will line up for the inaugural A1 Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in September.

The Australian team, launched last night at Sydney's Four Seasons Hotel, is headed by 1980 F1 World Champion Alan Jones. Four drivers are in the running for the 2005/06 series; 2004 Asian F3 Champion Christian Jones, 2004 Australian F3 Champion Karl Reindler, multiple F3 race winner (both British and Australian F3) Marcus Marshall and F3 race-winner (British) Will Davison.

For more information on A1 Grand Prix, visit the official site at www.a1gp.com

For more information on Formula 3 Australia, visit the official site at www.formula3.com.au

The next round of the 2005 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is at Mallala, South Australia on April 16-17.

Not a bad prize. We might actually get some real interest in open wheelers for once.

Just Do It! · 31 Mar 2005, 11:45 (Ref:1266119)

My money would be on Johnny Reid driving Colin Giltrap's NZ entry with a generous helping of the $7 million franchise cost and $10 million per year in running costs coming courtesy of his father. We will have to see. It's a huge amount of money to find in NZ annually, so it really needs a Giltrap to underwrite it

mitchie · 31 Mar 2005, 15:17 (Ref:1266303)

The other driver to have a run yesterday in the oh-so sweet sounding car at Eastern Creek was Will Davison. Car probably did around 30-35 laps all up with Jones and Davison doing the honours

That is some good news there, Chucky. The test prize is a nice little carrot for the drivers involved while running at the A1 weekend will be a good opportunity for the series

Australian drivers who should be in the frame? (forget the Supercar guys)

Marcus Marshall, Karl Reindler, Will Power, Ryan Briscoe, James Courtney, Christian Jones, Will Davison, Barton Mawer, John Pettit while the top Australian F3 guys wouldnt disgrace themselves either....

Roninho · 31 Mar 2005, 20:33 (Ref:1266532)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

My money would be on Johnny Reid driving Colin Giltrap's NZ entry with a generous helping of the $7 million franchise cost and $10 million per year in running costs coming courtesy of his father. We will have to see. It's a huge amount of money to find in NZ annually, so it really needs a Giltrap to underwrite it

You mean it costs 10 million a year to run the A1GP? American dollars?

carbontub · 31 Mar 2005, 20:49 (Ref:1266561)

It should be chosen from a number of drivers in NZ who have done well overseas in single seaters. There should be some sort of test day held to decide who should drive the car, the one with the most talent, not the biggest cheque book. The NZ goverment should get behind it as they have with the yachting.

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