2005 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Eastern Creek, Australia

[mabs_nsx]

Team Fastest
FRANCE 1'18.886
SWITZERLAND 1'19.337
NEW ZEALAND 1'19.786
MEXICO 1'19.876
NETHERLANDS 1'20.072
BRAZIL 1'20.324
PORTUGAL 1'20.635
GREAT BRITAIN 1'20.708
AUSTRALIA 1'20.777
PAKISTAN 1'20.837
ITALY 1'20.983
MALAYSIA 1'21.183
GERMANY 1'21.274
USA 1'21.274
CANADA 1'21.405
IRELAND 1'21.769
RUSSIA 1'22.068
SOUTH AFRICA 1'22.373
CZECH REPUBLIC 1'22.482
LEBANON 1'23.148
INDIA 1'23.188
JAPAN 1'23.218
CHINA 1'23.397
AUSTRIA

[mabs_nsx]

Qualifying session 2 has started.

[Gerben24]

And here is the sprint race line-up:

1 FRANCE 2'37.036
2 PORTUGAL 2'37.526 +0.490
3 SWITZERLAND 2'37.636 +0.600
4 BRAZIL 2'38.082 +1.046
5 GREAT BRITAIN 2'38.122 +1.086
6 IRELAND 2'38.627 +1.591
7 CANADA 2'38.636 +1.600
8 NETHERLANDS 2'38.669 +1.633
9 MALAYSIA 2'38.720 +1.684
10 MEXICO 2'38.959 +1.923
11 ITALY 2'39.184 +2.148
12 GERMANY 2'39.379 +2.343
13 AUSTRALIA 2'39.402 +2.366
14 NEW ZEALAND 2'39.514 +2.478
15 SOUTH AFRICA 2'39.895 +2.859
16 CZECH REPUBLIC 2'40.109 +3.073
17 PAKISTAN 2'40.397 +3.361
18 RUSSIA 2'40.671 +3.635
19 JAPAN 2'40.889 +3.853
20 CHINA 2'41.781 +4.745
21 LEBANON 2'42.014 +4.978
22 USA 2'42.133 +5.097
23 AUSTRIA 2'42.142 +5.106
24 INDIA 2'42.546 +5.510

Portugal and Canada surprised me a lot. I thought Portugal would slip down the order again after the last home race at Estoril. Australia, New Zealand & the Czech Republic are very dissapointing if you ask me. Australia has been swopping drivers, I don't know who was driving the car during qualifying. I noticed Tomas Enge has also been replaced, that's probably the main reason for them ending up in 16th.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by hgmonaro

weight distribution... Aussie driver, big balls!

Or a few bottles of Foster's beer.

[luke]

24 grid and each a different country. Wow. Good talent as well.

[strider]

Excellent performances from Portugal (Alvaro Parente), Ireland (Michael Devaney) and Canada (Sean McIntosh). Piquet was (for him) disapppointing unless he had some traffic problems off-camera. Much better effort from from Robbie Kerr after Estoril, but he must avoid getting involved with other cars in the Sprint race tomorrow.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by Gerben24

Australia has been swopping drivers, I don't know who was driving the car during qualifying.

Davison

I noticed Tomas Enge has also been replaced, that's probably the main reason for them ending up in 16th.

He hasn't been replaced, he was driving.

[SALEEN S7R]

Another good solid qualifying performance from team GB, looking good for Sunday? Nice to see Canada doing well, Sean McIntosh has been fast over the last couple of rounds perhaps he will finish in the points again this weekend. Once again though Dams have shown that they are the team to beat.

[MCWB]

Some of my pics from today (click thumbnail to enlarge, then click to enlarge again if desired), full gallery is here:

Adrian Sutil (Germany)



Adam Khan (Pakistan), absolute comedian. This is one of six lockups at the same corner (turn 6) in six consecutive laps.



Allan Simonsen in this gorgeous Ferrari 360 came from 25th to 4th in 40 minutes during this afternoon's 1hr 'endurance' race.



Stop tailgaiting me aight!



Leanne Tander in F3.



My mate Adam Khan, don't tell me he's locking up again? This time at turn 2, twice (or three times?) out of 4 qualifying runs.



Will Davison with a small lockup at turn two.



Click here to see the rest of the gallery!

[marcus]

Nice pics

[bocster]

ahh, another great day at the track

alittle bit of rain but the rest was great. afew more people then thursday and and lotsa pitbabes walking around. i had a $5 pluto pup and a $4.50 pie and a $5.50 ham burger (i was hungry). Austalian merchandising stuff is great and will be avalible online as of next week.

okay now for the serious stuff

the times for the Australian and NZ qualifing look bad but they actually arent to bad. each team gets 4 sets of tyres for practice and qualifing. most teams use 2 sets for practice and then 2 sets for the qualifing. the tyres are only at their best for 1 flying lap the yah lose about a second. Will davision went out on his new set first up and stuffed up ( 120.7) he then did (120.7) on old tyers (119.4) on new tyres and a (119.9) on old again.. i think he had a 119 flat in him which would have put him in about 5 or 6th. NZ stuffed their second run on new tyres with a big lockup but by the looks of it JR probably had a 119.3 in him.

so not all to bad. except for those frenchies. Ok ,who remembers Dick Johnson at Bathurst and that Big rock that someone chucked onto the track. Well the french car is red ,white and blue and if yah throw one at the right time we probably wont see the french back to race 6

[Mr Jinxx]

I suspect Portugal may have had the equal of France, if Parente hadn't missed that apex

I understand that the A1GP organisers may be contemplating banning testing at a track by any driver (not in the A1 car, but in any car) at a circuit on the A1 schedule, for a period of up to 6 months before the race. Subject to it forming part of a pre-existing race schedule of a driver. Tricky to police, perhaps, but a reasonable suggestion, given that some teams have more money than others, and are throwing everything at it to win.

[x_acto]

I really hope that Portugal do good in the race.

At least a podium it would be great!

[Kiwi3]

Nice pics MCWB

[David Towe]

Had a great day at the A1. Took my 11 year old son who whilst being experienced at my race meetings, had never seen this sort of a show, he had a ball.

Good racing, good classes and a brilliant effort by the rescue team to attend to the Japanese driver with speed and care just 20 metres away from us.

We'll be there next year as I'm sure many others will

[D.R.T.]

Great weekend of racing. Went down both Saturday and Sunday. Great racing, great value and by Sunday we finally got some good weather. Action packed racing, a few bonehead moves but all in all a brilliant display. Looking foward to Malaysia and also to when A1 comes to the Creek again in 06.

[Camo]

Anyone have the crowd numbers?
It seems the Australian public has taken to it...I think A1GP have a winning series on their hands. waiting for Malaysia and then the rest, I'm sure they will all do us pround with great events.
I find myself watching and respecting the talent of some of the not so well know racing countries, who will learn a lot from racing with the know ones. The scraps back in the pack are more entertaining that watching someone lead from the front.

[bocster]

finally get a chance to write

what a brilliant day,hats of to the Organisers

as you probably already heard 51000 people can , nearly double to what they were expecting. the australian commentators were extatic, it was like the had just found the holy grail. the drivers signing at 11am showed some real commitment to the crowds. Will Davision, Brian Herta , Alex Young ,Jos the Boss and the the others were their signing Autographs . the racing was spectacular ,the cars are loud and fast ,they move around ,they have colour and every one of them had passionate followers. Will Davision might normally have acouple of 1000 people at a race who follow him, if he's really really lucky ,this time 51000 people knew who he was and cheared. Whoever doesnt want to be involoved in this is crazy . Will is now on the same side of the fence as the cricket team ,thorpy ,hewit ,he's an Australian rep and once other drivers realise this theyl be lining up to take his seat.

dont worry about A1 GP ,its gonna be a biggy , nothin will stop it

[Robert Ryan]

Maybe a different venue, that 51,000 was for the several days., 30,000 on Sunday I cannot see Eastern Creek making money on those figures. How about replacing Champcar with A1GP? at Surfers...the place would be packed.

[bocster]

nah definately not the gold coast.sydney needs a big international motor race so it needs to stay in sydney, besides the fact that 15minute drive is really conveniant for me

the big talk going around is that they were tring to get a different venue but the logistics were to much to hadle at this early stage. theirs one place in sydney that has the roads and infrastructure to handle 250-300 thousand. good old homebush bay

[Camo]

I'm sure Adelaide could handle it this time of the year...lol

[SALEEN S7R]

Good news, I've just read that Shimoda has been released from hospital today after being in HDU overnight having tests. Full story here.

[MCWB]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

I cannot see Eastern Creek making money on those figures.

Fair call, but for the first year I don't think it's too bad? These things are long term investments, not 'make cash from day 1'. Free-to-air TV coverage of the rest of the races would help, but I doubt the circuit is the underlying problem. The concept is solid and the racing was great, as were the supports, so I don't doubt it'll be bigger and better next year. I loved the Saturday and Sunday when I was there, fantastic entertainment, and at $95 (including Friday as well) it's better value than either Indy or the F1GP.

[eldougo]

My wife and i had a great day on Sunday we had no problems getting into the Circuit traffic was heavy but moving.The racing and entertaiment was good, we camped on the fence at top of the straight good spot to see most of the track,crowds where great and bigger than i expected (loved the National flags) around the place it gave ti a great atmosphere .
I spoke to a few people and the all seemed to love the idea and gave the impression that they would be back 2006.As one chap said to me it beat driving to Melbourne spending time and money to get there and back.The racing was GREAT love the restarts those car sure get up and mombo on a fast track like "The Creek ",I took ear plugs for my wife but she said (I love the Noise).
At work today two people told me they want to come with me next year afdter seeing it on TV and thats a good sign .It was a pleasure to see cars sliding about getting out of shape under brakes ,young driver making mistakes and getting back on the blackstuff and into it again ,it reminded me of F5000 days ,except the did not blow up.To see them go 3 abreast through turn 1 was great that take BALL's.
I know where i be getting my FIX for speed next year ,I liked the way they went into the pit road at full speed made the other racing they have here look SLOW, and very boreing compared to these A1 racers.Bring on 2006.

[David Towe]

Did you see the amount of defromation in the rollover hoop...scary stuff, but it obviously worked well enough. I was on the fence just seconds after the hit and he was a shaken boy. The car was, as you've no doubt seen, a broken mess.
At last a series that makes the driver drive, not be a high speed computer programmer. Don't get me wrong I'll be at Albert Park in March, but really enjoyed what I saw on Sunday and the whole concept of the series.