Season five (2009-2010) Calender

[RichardRenes]

The site of the Zandvoort city counsel shows that at October 17th 2008, an application was placed to hold the 2009 A1GP Zandvoort round at September 20th 2009.

Given the date, it's very likely that once again, Zandvoort is opening the season.

I will see you all there (better start booking now)

[Kiwi3]

Excellent.

[Asp]

Is it just me, or has there been plenty of good news and confirmations about Season 5 already? I can't remember so many rounds being talked about this time last year at any rate?

[RichardRenes]

Nope, last year, we only knew Zandvoort and expected Sepang at this stage

BTW, A1 doesn't like it that this news is allready out, but er.. they have to learn they can't control everything :P

[Go_For_Pole]

By the way, has it been discussed already that A1GP signed a deal with the Chinese to have two races per year for the next five years? It is mentioned in last week's Autosport.

[Kiwi3]

Have not heard that but it would not surprise me.

[Asa]

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

By the way, has it been discussed already that A1GP signed a deal with the Chinese to have two races per year for the next five years? It is mentioned in last week's Autosport.

If this is true, then I surely hope one of the rounds will return to Zhuhai. Guangdong-HK-Macau is a very good market.

[Kiwi3]

Originally Posted by Asa

If this is true, then I surely hope one of the rounds will return to Zhuhai. Guangdong-HK-Macau is a very good market.

Could not agree more, the A1GP people were pleasantly surprised last season by both the enthusiasm and how close Zhuhai is to HK. Idea was going to be to invite Ferrari owners from HK for a joint event, I wonder if that idea still exists.

[RichardRenes]

why not do something totally crazy and go to Macau too Surely between F3 and WTCC they can find a spot.

The car did testlaps last year

[Kiwi3]

Originally Posted by RichardRenes

why not do something totally crazy and go to Macau too Surely between F3 and WTCC they can find a spot.

The car did testlaps last year

A demo is one thing but for racing the hill sections of the circuit are a squeeze even for F3. I'd be amazed if the FIA would approve it for A1GP/GP2 level cars.

A race in Zhuhai with a preeceding demo in Macau for publicity however is a great idea. From downtown Macau it is a 10-15 minute taxi to the border, where you walk across to Zhuhai, and a further 45 min taxi ride to the Zhuhai circuit, so it's not far.

[Asa]

Macau is a Grade 4 circuit, formula cars with more than 2,000cc cannot race there. An F1 Jordan also did a demo in Macau, but obviously it was never going to host an F1 race.

Only problem is that A1 Team China really needs to improve its performances this season.

[Kiwi3]

At least Macau would be less bumpy and dusty than Chengdu...

[Asa]

In the Autosport A1GP report, Tony Teixeira was reported to said A1GP will not race at Chengdu again.

So that just leaves two circuits qualified to run A1GP races: Zhuhai and Shanghai. But F1 is now in Shanghai in April which means A1GP cannot go there at the same time.

Tentative 2009-10 Calendar:

Sept Zandvoort
Oct Surfers Paradise
Nov Sepang
Dec Zhuhai
Jan New Zealand
Feb Indonesia

[Kiwi3]

Originally Posted by Asa

In the Autosport A1GP report, Tony Teixeira was reported to said A1GP will not race at Chengdu again.

So that just leaves two circuits qualified to run A1GP races: Zhuhai and Shanghai. But F1 is now in Shanghai in April which means A1GP cannot go there at the same time.

Tentative 2009-10 Calendar:

Sept Zandvoort
Oct Surfers Paradise
Nov Sepang
Dec Zhuhai
Jan New Zealand
Feb Indonesia

A1GP is totally underwhelmed by the lack of enthusiam in Shanghai, I'd expect Zhuhai + an attempt at a street circuit somewhere.

It would make sense to move New Zealand next to Surfers and Indonesia next to Sepang or Zhuhai.

Surfers Paridise is Oct 22-25, 2009.

[Kiwi3]

A1GP website lists Surfers Paridise for October but nothing yet about Zandvoort in September.

When interviewed on the grid at Brands Hatch Jeroen Bleekemolen said something like "let's hope we get to race at Zandvoort again soon", not very convincing.

[RichardRenes]

I do hope for 1 round between Zandvoort and Surfer's. I heard Germany is still interested. In that respect it's too bad they lost the Czech team (and Brno)

[N.A-D.R]

Why do A1GP do heeps of races in asia? they should be going more into europe and america. maybe 4 rounds in europe, 2 round in america, then south africa, then u have surfers paradise, then 2 or 3 asian races. That would be a tast calendar.

[diabloA1]

Originally Posted by N.A-D.R

Why do A1GP do heeps of races in asia? they should be going more into europe and america. maybe 4 rounds in europe, 2 round in america, then south africa, then u have surfers paradise, then 2 or 3 asian races. That would be a tast calendar.

It's winter in Europe. Also the money is in Asia. Thats why more and more F1 races are in Asia

[N.A-D.R]

Originally Posted by diabloA1

It's winter in Europe. Also the money is in Asia. Thats why more and more F1 races are in Asia

I guess so... Would be cool though to get more of the classic european tracks on the calendar, a1gp would be so cool at them.

[Mak]

In an ideal world it would be nice to visit all countries that have cars entered in the series,(where possible), over a two year period. I know this will never happen, just a nice thought!

[Gaz170]

I guess they follow the money.....

[RichardRenes]

but hey, Jan Lammers did mention Montreal a lot in the latest podcast, didn't he?

[N.A-D.R]

Yeah for sure. Like going to tracks like the one at China they did this year was a **** track, not made for A1GP. Would be awesome to see A1GP at SPA or something.

[SALEEN S7R]

Originally Posted by N.A-D.R

Would be awesome to see A1GP at SPA or something.

Indeed it would be great to see A1 GP at Spa or indeed any of the great european circuits like Monza, Silverstone and Monaco, but the series tends to avoid F1 circuits, because the series organisers know that direct comparissans will be made between A1 GP and F1/GP2 etc. A1 GP has distanced itself from being a F1 feeder series like GP2/WSR/IRL or Superleague and is trying to establish itself as a alternative to F1. Whether or not it is suceeding in that quest is debatable, but thats another story.

[RichardRenes]

this is the 2009-2010 thread, not the 2008-2009 thread

Again: Jan Lammers did mention MONTREAL a lot in the latest podcast.

Also, Hockenheim may be available soon... they made a 5 million euro loss from the last F1 GP, and basically don't want to do F1 anymore.

And you will find this happen all over Europe.. circuits getting fed up with F1 and the huge sums they have to pay in advance to host a race.