"Just six months after the launch of A1 Grand Prix in Dubai,
series founder and CEO, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum
Al Maktoum has announced the identity of the first six national
'seat holders' and unveiled the final specification of the series'
car.
The UK, South Africa, China, Portugal, Pakistan and the Lebanon are
the first countries to have secured their places in the winter
one-make championship, billed as the World Cup of Motorsport' which
will start in the autumn of 2005.
Sheikh Maktoum will presented the UK 'team' with its car at the
London launch party held to unveil the final specification of car.
In the perfect example of how the series' ambition to combine the
worlds of motorsport and business, the chairman of the UK
operation, John Surtees MBE - the only man to have won world
championships on two and four wheels - will be working closely with
businessman Tony Clements. Surtees will join Sheikh Maktoum on
stage to take delivery of the car.
This is a significant step forward for A1 Grand Prix," the Sheikh
commented, "We set ourselves demanding targets and, six months down
the line, we are exceeding our
own expectations. We are delighted to welcome all six national seat
holders to the series, and the fact we have many more countries
waiting to announce their participation in the series means our
concept has been wholeheartedly embraced by both the business and
motorsport fraternities.
The definitive UK car has a distinctive red, white and blue livery
that reflects the nationality of the team that will be running it.
It is the culmination of hours of hard work on the designer's
drawing board, in a wind tunnel and on test tracks at Snetterton
and Jerez.
The series expects to announcing further national 'seat holders' at
a South African launch event, in Johannesburg, in a few weeks'
time."
Finally an event that we can take part in... c'mon Singapore ...
send your best driver!
UK's entry with team colors
