baronrojo

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kaiser

Ferrari confirma negociaciones con A1GP

07 octubre 2007

Ferrari ha confirmado haber iniciado negociaciones con los organizadores del campeonato de A1GP para convertirse en el suministrador de motores de dicha Serie.

Previo al comienzo del Gran Premio de China, un portavoz de la empresa de Maranello ha revelado que las especulaciones son ciertas y que en un futuro no muy lejano podría proveer motores a A1GP.

Actualmente, los equipos de A1GP, que iniciaron la tercera temporada la semana pasada en Zandvoort, Holanda, compiten con chasis Lola y motores Zytek.

baronrojo

Christian Vietoris in A1

27.09.2007 Racing for Germany

Christian Vietoris, an extremely popular driver, has finished his 2007 ATS Cup Formula 3 season. The 18-year old German from Gönnersdorf entered the cup as reigning Formula BMW Champion and is now going to contest the A1 Grand Prix single-seater series for Team Germany.


What is your stock taken of the season?
I’ve learned a lot in the ATS Formula 3 Cup although I have to admit that I had expected to secure better results. Particularly the work with the Ligier, in the opening stages of the season, proved to be very helpful for me. We changed a lot of the car and this resulted in a clear improvement of my technical knowledge and understanding. At the same time, I also succeeded in improving my gear-changing and starting skills. At the end of the day, the 2007 season proved to be a very good learning year, for me.

What were your expectations at the beginning of the ATS Formula 3 Cup season?
I had very high expectations and hadn’t thought that I would finish fifth, in the end. Yet, apart from the competitive grid, there were several other factors causing this result: factors such as the Ligier we had some problems with and own mistakes. We weren’t as slow as the results might make you believe. Unfortunately, things didn’t always run as planned. We had the pace to finish third at least.

To what extent did the Formula 3 Cup represent a help for your forthcoming A1 GP season?
Unfortunately, the A1 GP single-seater and the Dallara are completely different cars. Therefore, I won’t benefit too much in the technology area. When it comes to the cooperation with the team and the car, however, I have learned a lot. When it comes to the setup work, for instance. And that will prove to be helpful, this winter. I also improved my cooperation with the engineer. Furthermore, I learned how to cope with pressure and expectations. At the same time, I raced for a German team in the ATS Formula 3 Cup while I’ll be surrounded by Englishmen, in the A1 GP squad. Hence, better English knowledge would have been an advantage.

What are your goals for the A1 GP season?
I definitely want to try to defend the title Nico Hülkenberg secured for Germany in 2006. I know that I’ll be under even bigger pressure, hence, and that I will have to cope with high expectations. Finishing as one of the top three in the championship should be possible.

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baronrojo

El monoplaza saltarin....................

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baronrojo

Oficial: Ferrari suministrará motores a A1GP

11 octubre 2007


El constructor italiano Ferrari ha confirmado esta mañana un acuerdo de 'colaboración tecnológica' con el Campeonato Mundial de A1GP.

Ferrari ha firmado un contrato de seis años para suministrar motores y asesoría relacionada con el diseño de los chasis para los monoplazas que participarán en el Campeonato de A1GP hasta el año 2014.

La sociedad con Ferrari incluye un acuerdo de licencia exclusivo mediante el cual todos los productos de A1GP podrán usar el nombre de la empresa de Maranello y la frase 'Powered by Ferrari' a partir de 2008.

Así mismo, Ferrari ha indicado que el acuerdo se extenderá a una segunda categoría: las A2GP, cuyas pruebas comenzará en 2009

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baronrojo

Ferrari joins A1GP

Thursday, October 11, 2007


Legendary Italian sportscar manufacturer Ferrari will design and build engines for the new A1GP World Cup of Motorsport car, officials have just announced.
A1GP Chairman Tony Teixeira confirmed that Ferrari will supply the engines, as well as consult on the design and manufacture of the new A1GP car, for introduction next season (2008/09), as part of a six-year deal with the firm.
The partnership with Ferrari extends to an exclusive licensing agreement for all A1GP merchandise to use the Ferrari name and phrase ‘Powered by Ferrari’ from January 2008.
Ferrari will also supply the engines and consult on the design and manufacture of the chassis for A2GP – a new regional open-wheel feeder series to A1GP. Testing is scheduled to begin for the series in 2009.
Teixeira said: ‘Partnering with a world-class organisation like Ferrari will officially position A1GP one of the most significant motorsport series’ in the world.’
A1GP also maintained its commitment to commercial partners and fans as a principal factor in confirming the partnership.
‘Ferrari will bring immense value to our brand and in our opinion there is no better partner to progress the series,’ added Teixeira. ‘We will be meeting with our commercial partners over the next few weeks to discuss the opportunities this partnership presents.’
For reaction and more on this momentous announcement, including video features and exclusive analysis, please keep checking back on www.a1gp.com.

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baronrojo

Paddock reacts to Ferrari news

Thursday, October 11, 2007
Members of the A1GP paddock have reacted overwhelmingly in support of the news that A1GP will use Ferrari engines from next season.
It was announced this morning that the legendary Italian motorsport manufacturer will provide powerplants to all cars from next season, as well as consult on the design and manufacture of the new chassis.
The partnership will last for six-years and also includes supplying engines and consultation on chassis design and manufacture for the new A2GP series, a regional championship which will begin testing in 2009.
A1 Team Germany seat holder Willi Weber has many special links with Ferrari, having managed Michael Schumacher, who won multiple Formula One titles with the Italian concern.

‘This partnership is a genuine coup – idealistically, but also from the technical and economical stand point,’ Weber said. ‘On an entirely emotional, subjective level there is not a better decision. Does a brand name exist that better embodies motorsport worldwide? I don’t think so.
‘Ferrari is a name that ties generations of fans to it, that represents a unique environment and that continues to enthral me after decades in motorsport.’
The sentiment was echoed by other seat holders.

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baronrojo

A different kind of horsepower

Thursday, October 11, 2007

A1GP: Powered by Ferrari

It is almost too good to be true. One of motor racing’s most enigmatic names joining forces with one of global motorsports’ newest and most ambitious series.

Even though A1GP is only just over two racing seasons old, it has done more than enough to convince one of the world’s biggest automotive dynasties to become a partner and actively be involved in the future of the series. British magazine Autosport perhaps best summed it up best when it first wrote about a mooted tie-up. ‘Extraordinary’ was the adjective it used.

Extraordinary, it most certainly is.

Any car event in the world – no matter what series – has someone spectating with a Ferrari cap or waving the famous prancing horse emblem on a flag from the grandstand. Ferrari is an automotive legend unrivalled by any other.

Following confirmation today from A1GP executives, from 1 January 2008, Ferrari will become a partner of A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.

From the 2008/09 season, Ferrari engines will power every car on the A1GP grid, and the chassis will all have had the firm’s input. Ferrari will consult on the design and manufacture of all the next generation of A1GP cars.

Although the current Lola Zytek-built cars will remain for the 2007/08 season, behind the scenes, Ferrari will begin work on the engines for Season Four, and start consulting of the design the car that will be introduced at the same time.

Ferrari has seen A1GP’s considerable reach into some strong emerging commercial markets – particularly Asian nations such as China, Malaysia and India as well as the Middle-East.


First, a little history

We’ve all know the name Ferrari but what made the marque so revered?

Ferrari was founded in 1929 by racing driver Enzo Ferrari, initially as a way of sponsoring and supporting other racing drivers in Alfa Romeos and not as a manufacturer it its own right.

With the war and Alfa’s on-off involvement, Enzo started his own firm, Ferrari S.p.A, in 1945.

Production sports cars were only built from 1947, and for many years the prime purpose of the firm was simply to finance its participation in Formula One and other motorsports.

But Ferrari’s sportscars became known for their elegance and style, both in terms of classic design and engineering excellence. Its cars became a luxury icon for the wealthy, and still today they turn heads when driving down any public road.

Ferrari is the most successful manufactuer in Formula One, adding considerable popularity worldwide with the many victories and championships. Only last Sunday it secured its 200th Formula One Grand Prix victory.

The firm is also synonymous with two things – the racing cars always being painted in scarlet red and having a yellow badge with a ‘prancing horse’ as its emblem.

The famous scarlet colour originates from before World War II, when all Italian cars were designated red, because that was their sporting colour.

The prancing horse logo stems from a car race Enzo participated in the late Twenties. He was asked by the mother of a famous pilot to paint a horse on the side of his car, because it would bring him luck. He did, and eventually added the yellow of his native town of Modena.


The A1GP deal

A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira has worked on the secret deal for more than three months, but it was only this weekend that it was able to be announced to the public.

The first thing that strikes you about the deal is that it is for six years. In its infancy, A1GP only initially tied up such deals for three years. The length of the deal should prove to any doubters left that A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is here to stay and part of the global motorsport map. The deal runs from 1 January 2008 until 31 March 2014.

All the engines will be built by the firm in Italy, but the chassis will be built by an as-yet-unnamed third-party supplier. Because such a deal is a world first, Ferrari do not currently have the physical capacity to build the number of racing chassis required. However, it will be involved throughout this process and will consult on the design.

Because the car has not been designed yet, little is known about what it will look like and its exact make up. However, we do know a few things.

The car will keep the core values established with A1GP – a level playing field, where overtaking is not only possible, but probable. All cars will be identical and the ‘Powered by Ferrari’ trademark will be seen on every nation’s car.

Again the engine also hasn’t been designed yet, and the final performance figures will only be known when the engine hits the dyno test bed, but it is expected that the car will be more powerful. A1GP cars currently pull 525bhp in standard guise, however this increases to approximately 550bhp when the cars are using A1GP’s unique PowerBoost feature.

The new engine will still be a V8, but it is not known if there will be an increase in engine capacity yet.

The safety car has already become a Ferrari 599 GTB and this machine will continue to lead the field off at every event round the world.

Commercially, this will mean, for example, the ‘Powered by Ferrari’ brand will now appear on all team merchandise.



What it will mean for A1GP

Having Ferrari onboard, an already recognised worldwide name, can only enhance the stability, prosperity and attractiveness of A1GP both as a motorsport industry and as a commercial entity.

It shows that A1GP means business as a global series, and achieving something no other racing series has managed is a coup in itself.

It will mean that Zytek will no longer supply engines, and A1GP organisers have publicly thanked the firm for being an integral part of the series’ foundations. Who will supply the chassis and tyres will only be announced when the agreements have been finalised.

Ferrari will have a presence at race weekends through its dealer network, but what it what it won’t mean is any move for A1GP to become involved with Ferrari’s Formula One team or vice-versa.


A2GP – A1GP’s new series

Also in the Ferrari deal, was the announcement that plans are in place for A2GP to become a regional series to A1GP.

Planning for this new single-seater series is in its very early phases, and the only real concrete thing we know is that testing of a prototype vehicle for the formula will begin in 2009. There is currently no other timeline for the introduction of the series.

What it will be is a less powerful version of a current A1GP car, but again, it will still run with a V8 engine.

Like A1GP, Ferrari will supply the engines and consult on the design and manufacture of all the chassis for the series.

How this will be made up from a sporting side remains to be seen.

There are several possibilities for A2GP – having several regional series running to different schedules in specific countries worldwide, or even showcasing the series as a supporting formula to A1GP could happen. Could a relegation / promotion system exist between A2GP and A1GP? Who knows? The simple fact is these decisions haven’t been made yet.

While the announcement today brings up a whole host of questions, the news heralds yet more exciting times ahead for sports and A1GP fans.

What will the car look like? How will the car sound and race? Will more teams join A1GP? What will A2GP be like?

Well, watch this space. There will be only one place over the coming months where all these questions – and much, much more – be answered.

Stay tuned to a1gp.com.

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baronrojo

Driver Entry List
A1GP Brno, Czech Republic
RD 2: 14 Oct 2007

AUS: Dyk / Martin
BRA: Jimenez
CAN: Hinchcliffe
CHI: Cheng
CZE: Enge / Janis
FRA: Lapierre / Prost
GER: Vietoris
GBR: Kerr
IND: Karthikeyan / Sureshwaren
INA: Hermanto
IRE: Carroll
ITA: Toccacelo / Bossini
LEB: Beschir
MAL: Yoong
MEX: Jourdain Jr
NED: Bleekemolen / Luyendyk
NZL: Reid
PAK: Khan
POR: Urbano
RSA: Zaugg / Orr
SUI: Jani / Gachnang
USA: Rice / Kimball

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baronrojo

Female rookie for Switzerland

Thursday, October 11, 2007




Natacha Gachnang will be the first female to test for A1Team

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baronrojo

Practice: Friday, 12 Oct, 2007
Qualifying: Saturday, 13 Oct, 2007
Race: Sunday, 14 Oct, 2007
Sprint race: 11:00 AM (Local Time)
Feature race: 3:00 PM (Local Time)

Circuit Info Local Info Circuit History

Location: Situated near Kyvalka, 16km from downtown Brno and 2km from the D1 highway to Prague

Track length: 5.40 km (3.36 miles)

No. turns: 14

Direction: Clockwise

Lap record: 1m 47.2961s, recorded by Alex Yoong, A1 Team Malaysia, October 2006


Address:
Automotodrom Brno, a.s.
PO Box 1
641 00 Brno
Czech Republic


The circuit’s mixture of undulations and corners makes it interesting to drive and the numerous twists and turns means overtaking is common. The combination of the overtaking abilities of the A1GP race car, an exciting track with fast corners and long straights, together with the changing weather conditions in Brno, mean fans always expect an exciting race.

A1 Team Malaysia took a double victory in last year’s event, with Alex Yoong winning both the Sprint and Feature races. The latter was a controversial victory though, because Yoong collided with A1 Team Canada’s James Hinchcliffe approaching the end of the race, resulting in the Canadian car spinning down the order.

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baronrojo

1º ENTRENOS DE LOS ROOKIES:
1º VIETORIS ALEMANIA.
2º URBANO PORTUGAL.
.......4º Natacha Gachnang Switzerland

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