Australian A1GP Practice Sees Hulkenberg Quickest Again
Written by Allan Brewer · February 3, 2007
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Photo: A1GP
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A1 Team Germany Ace Has Earned 1.21 Million USD to Date
New South Wales Blue Mountains and Stunning Sydney Play Host to Seventh Round
by Allan Brewer
allan@fastmachines.com
The seventh round of the A1GP 2006/07 calendar got underway this weekend with opening practice sessions at Australia’s lovely Eastern Creek International Raceway in New South Wales, a venue which attracted over 50,000 race fans for its inaugural “World Cup of Motorsports” event won by eventual series champion France fifteen months ago.
A1 Team Germany once again found itself on top when the stopwatches clicked closed as they displaced a very racy Great Britain team (which was 13th at practice’s start) atop the official timesheet, with a reborn New Zealand standing third.
A1 Team Australia overcame early handling problems to stake a credible claim to pole-contendor, as the team moved up from twelfth place to sixth place despite a dismaying incident in the pits when a refuelling nozzle burst and the team’s leading driver, Karl Reindler, was soaked with fuel.
Just as in Taupo, New Zealand earlier this year, the home-field advantage figures to play significantly into the results at A1GP Sydney. Alan Jones, seat holder for A1 Team Australia, asserted earlier that the home-crowd advantage combined with local track knowledge likely will give a timely boost to his team.
“When you hear the roar of the crowd and see the wash of green and gold, you can’t help but pick up your game and give it your all,” said Alan. “Last year was an extraordinary display of national spirit, but we do have a fantastic multi-cultural mix here in Australia so although we plan to use the home-crowd to our own advantage I know that every team out there will find their fair share of supporters. But that will just make the racing and the competition all the more exciting.”
In a bid to stoke the appetite of local fans A1 Team Australia last week took its race-car to Queen Square in Sydney and held a pit stop challenge as part of “Motorfest Exhibition”. Fans taking part in the casual competition were given two free tickets for the Eastern Creek race and had a chance to chat with Reindler and co-drivers Barton Mawer and Ian Dyk.
Going into this round A1 Team Germany holds the overall points lead in the championship chase after impressive wins by nineteen year-old racer Nico H
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