2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Shanghai, China
 2007-08 A1GP of Shanghai, China | |
| Race Details | |
| Race 9 of 10 in the 2007-08 A1GP season. | |
 | |
| Date | April 13, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Location | Shanghai International Circuit Shanghai, China |
| Weather | Overcast |
| Sprint race | |
| Qualifying | |
| Pole |  Switzerland (Neel Jani) |
| Time | 1'34.163 |
| Podium | |
| 1st | Switzerland (Neel Jani) |
| 2nd |  Canada (Robert Wickens) |
| 3rd |  Portugal (F.Albuquerque) |
| Fastest Lap | |
| FL | Switzerland (Neel Jani) |
| Time | 1'35.400, (Lap 4) |
| Feature race | |
| Qualifying | |
| Pole | Switzerland (Neel Jani) |
| Time | 1'34.172 |
| Podium | |
| 1st |  USA (Jonathan Summerton) |
| 2nd | Portugal (F.Albuquerque) |
| 3rd |  Ireland (Adam Carroll) |
| Fastest Lap | |
| FL | Canada (Robert Wickens) |
| Time | 1'35.177, (Lap 33) |
| Official Classifications | |
| PDF Booklet | |
The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Shanghai, China was an A1 Grand Prix race, held on April 13, 2008 at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China. It was the ninth meeting in the 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix season.
Pre-race
A1 Grand Prix make official the creation of an off-track entertainment, the A1GP Global Village, to complete, with the support series A2 Grand Prix, the race weekends next season.[1] The Global Village deliver extra entertainments and interactive activities, merchandise shops, eat and drink... for fans and spectators. An official web site is launched A1GPGlobalVillage.com. The first edition will be in the last event of this 2007-08 season, on May 2–4, 2007-08, Great Britain.
Like the past season, A1GP organize a vote for the fan's favorite 2007-08 A1 team.[2] All A1GP fan, and other, can vote in the official A1GP site. The winning team, revealed at the A1GP's Gala Awards, on May 5, 2008, receive a special award.
Qualifications
Neel Jani (Switzerland) score the pole position for each Sunday races.[3] For the second consecutive venue, Mexico start from the back of the grid in each race because of bad performances.
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Sprint race
For the Sprint race, Switzerland take the lead behind Canada, Portugal, Malaysia, India, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Great Britain and Ireland.[4] New Zealand crash out at start after a collision with USA.
Cong Fu Cheng (China) passes Adam Carroll (Ireland) for 10th in Lap 4 when Neel Jani (Switzerland) score the Fastest lap. Despite efforts from Filipe Albuquerque (Portugal) on Robert Wickens (Canada) and from Michael Ammermüller (Germany) on Narain Karthikeyan (India), the order remin the same until the finish line.
Switzerland win the race with the Fastest lap. Canada take the second position behind Portugal, Malaysia, India, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Great Britain and China. Both Switzerland opponent for the title, France (12th) and New Zealand, doesn't score any points.
| Pos | Team | Driver | Laps | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland |
Neel Jani | 10 | 15'59.612 | 15+1 |
| 2 | Canada |
Robert Wickens | 10 | +4.643 | 12 |
| 3 | Portugal |
Filipe Albuquerque | 10 | +5.335 | 10 |
| 4 |  Malaysia |
Alex Yoong | 10 | +12.169 | 8 |
| 5 |  India |
Narain Karthikeyan | 10 | +13.068 | 6 |
| 6 |  Germany |
Michael Ammermüller | 10 | +13.810 | 5 |
| 7 |  South Africa |
Adrian Zaugg | 10 | +14.999 | 4 |
| 8 |  Italy |
Edoardo Piscopo | 10 | +15.835 | 3 |
| 9 |  Great Britain |
Robbie Kerr | 10 | +17.120 | 2 |
| 10 | China |
Cong Fu Cheng | 10 | +17.692 | 1 |
| 11 | Ireland |
Adam Carroll | 10 | +18.581 | |
| 12 |  France |
Franck Montagny | 10 | +19.114 | |
| 13 |  Czech Republic |
Filip Salaquarda | 10 | +21.165 | |
| 14 |  Brazil |
Alexandre Negrão | 10 | +22.111 | |
| 15 |  Australia |
John Martin | 10 | +24.363 | |
| 16 |  Pakistan |
Adam Langley-Khan | 10 | +26.298 | |
| 17 |  Netherlands |
Jeroen Bleekemolen | 10 | +28.053 | |
| 18 |  Lebanon |
Jimmy Auby | 10 | +29.029 | |
| 19 |  Indonesia |
Satrio Hermanto | 10 | +30.196 | |
| 20 |  Mexico |
Jorge Goeters | 10 | +38.267 | |
| 21 | USA |
Jonathan Summerton | 1 | +9 laps | |
| Ret |  New Zealand |
Jonny Reid | 0 | +10 laps |
Main race
After the start, USA led, ahead of Switzerland, India, Portugal, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Great Britain, France and Italy.[5] USA and Switzerland escaped from the rest of the field until the first mandatory pit stops. In Lap 6, Filipe Albuquerque (Portugal) passed for 3rd Narain Karthikeyan (India) in the final hairpin. Adam Carroll (Ireland) try to pass Narain Karthikeyan in the same turn, one lap later, but finally passes him in Lap 8. In Lap 9, the pits are open.
USA, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Canada pits early, in Lap 10 and Jonny Reid (New Zealand) with a fast stop, exits ahead Alex Yoong (Malaysia) and Narain Karthikeyan (India). USA lead still Switzerland after the stops but the Swiss driver, Neel Jani, lost the second gear of his car. In Lap 15, Jonathan Summerton (USA) is 4.3 seconds ahead of Switzerland losing time. In the next lap, for speeding in the pit lane, Lebanon received a drive-through penalty, five laps then his driver received a 10-second Stop and Go penalty. Portugal was then pushing Switzerland for 2nd position. Ireland close to both drivers and New Zealand it is also faster than Switzerland and comes near in the few next laps. The second pit stop window opens in Lap 24.
Ireland and New Zealand got ahead of Switzerland at the pit stops. In Lap 27, Portugal had the fastest lap. After the pits, USA still led Portugal, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Malaysia, India, France, Great Britain and Germany. In Lap 33, Robert Wickens (Canada) had the fastest lap.
The victory went to Summerton, who gave his country the honours for the first time. The Yanks' victory made them the 16th nation to win an A1GP race.
| Pos | Team | Driver | Laps | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA |
Jonathan Summerton | 38 | 1:02'25.206 | 15 |
| 2 | Portugal |
Filipe Albuquerque | 38 | +9.729 | 12 |
| 3 | Ireland |
Adam Carroll | 38 | +15.303 | 10 |
| 4 | New Zealand |
Jonny Reid | 38 | +19.533 | 8 |
| 5 | Switzerland |
Neel Jani | 38 | +26.193 | 6 |
| 6 | Malaysia |
Alex Yoong | 38 | +34.410 | 5 |
| 7 | India |
Narain Karthikeyan | 38 | +35.967 | 4 |
| 8 | France |
Franck Montagny | 38 | +38.213 | 3 |
| 9 | Great Britain |
Robbie Kerr | 38 | +39.280 | 2 |
| 10 | Germany |
Michael Ammermüller | 38 | +39.890 | 1 |
| 11 | Czech Republic |
Filip Salaquarda | 38 | +47.568 | |
| 12 | Italy |
Edoardo Piscopo | 38 | +50.348 | |
| 13 | Brazil |
Alexandre Negrão | 38 | +50.968 | |
| 14 | Australia |
John Martin | 38 | +52.624 | |
| 15 | China |
Cong Fu Cheng | 38 | +53.240 | |
| 16 | South Africa |
Adrian Zaugg | 38 | +55.629 | |
| 17 | Pakistan |
Adam Langley-Khan | 38 | +1'05.352 | |
| 18 | Netherlands |
Jeroen Bleekemolen | 38 | +1'14.390 | |
| 19 | Indonesia |
Satrio Hermanto | 38 | +1'20.252 | |
| 20 | Canada |
Robert Wickens | 38 | +1'21.003 | +1 |
| 21 | Mexico |
Jorge Goeters | 37 | +1 lap | |
| 22 | Lebanon |
Jimmy Auby | 37 | +1 lap |
After race
Switzerland and New Zealand are the only team that can win the championship. Switzerland lead with 29 points the season before the last venue in Great Britain.
A1 Team Korea was announced to be part of the next season of the competition.[6] The seat holder will be Joshua Kim of Omnibus Investment and Good EMG support the project. In Shanghai this weekend, a ceremony officialise the participation of South Korea in the 2008-09 season.
Notes
- It was the 31st race weekend (62 starts).
- It was the 3rd venue in Shanghai International Circuit and the 5th in China.
- It was the first race for Jorge Goeters[7] (Mexico), Franck Montagny[8] (France), Alexandre Negrao[9] (Brazil).
- It was the first weekend as Rookie driver for Nathan Antunes[10] (Australia).
- Records:
- USA and Jonathan Summerton win their first race.
- Switzerland score 9 pole positions.
- Lebanon participate on 31 rounds (62 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix.
- Neel Jani score 289 points.
- Jorge Goeters was the oldest driver to start a race at 37 years, 9 month and 18 days.
- Alex Yoong participate on 28 races (54 starts).
References
- ↑ A1GP launches Global Village a1gp.com (April 02, 2008)
- ↑ Vote for your favourite A1 Team a1gp.com (April 09, 2008)
- ↑ Double Swiss pole a1gp.com (April 12, 2008)
- ↑ Shanghai Sprint: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (April 13, 2008)
- ↑ Feature race: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (April 13, 2008)
- ↑ Korea joins A1GP a1gp.com (April 14, 2008)
- ↑ Mexico switches driver a1gp.com (April 09, 2008)
- ↑ Franck Montagny in for France a1gp.com (April 05, 2008)
- ↑ Negrao earns Brazil promotion a1gp.com (April 08, 2008)
- ↑ Australia recruits new rookie a1gp.com (March 09, 2008)
External links
- Switzerland closes in on title
- Sprint race: lap-by-lap
- Sprint race results
- The home of the brave
- Feature race: lap-by-lap
- Feature race results
- A1GP Global Village A1GPGlobalVillage.com
| Previous race 2007-08, Mexico |
A1 Grand Prix 2007-08 season |
Next race 2007-08, Great Britain |
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