A1GP announces first 6 national franchises

cos · 30 Sep 2004, 08:31 (Ref:1110933)

They are: The UK, South Africa, China, Portugal, Pakistan and Lebanon. More info here and here.

This is the idea for the "UK" livery:

More pics of the car and 3.4 litre engine here.

Russfeld · 30 Sep 2004, 09:42 (Ref:1110987)

ehhhhh....

Who's paying for them?

RMR · 30 Sep 2004, 10:50 (Ref:1111076)

Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al-Maktoum!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/3703092.stm

Rob29 · 30 Sep 2004, 10:53 (Ref:1111081)

Pakistan? AFAIK they don't have a driver or a circuit.

Mathias · 30 Sep 2004, 11:08 (Ref:1111099)

Whatever happened to British Racing Green? It's not in use in F1 any more...,

SALEEN S7R · 30 Sep 2004, 11:45 (Ref:1111148)

Hmm, not sure if someone has suggested this before but, if motorsport does want to get into the Olympics somehow this kind of series would be ideal, 1 car built by Lola, or whoever and leased to the various nations. Most countries nowadays have good motorsport teams and I think the idea could catch on, would be great to have some kind of motorsport at the olympics huh? Each nation would obviously have to have drivers from their nationailty and the teams running them would have to be the country's nationailty too. Just a thought...

cos · 30 Sep 2004, 12:17 (Ref:1111180)

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob29
Pakistan? AFAIK they don't have a driver or a circuit.

They've got to start somewhere....

Apparently the UK franchise has been sold to a consortium which includes John Surtees.

Kicking-back · 30 Sep 2004, 12:43 (Ref:1111218)

I love the look of that car - the styling rather than the livery.

This would be ideal for the next generation Champ Car.

Mathias · 30 Sep 2004, 12:48 (Ref:1111224)

Saleen - there was a discussion about this on another forum during the Other Olympics. Just to fill you in...,

The current Olympic charter says that for a sport to qualify, it must be played in a certain number of countries (can't remember how many offhand), and that, crucially, it cannot involve mechanical propulsion, which effectively rules out all motorsports.

In order to get a "new" sport recognised by the Olympics, it must be suggested 12 years before the event at which it is introduced. So, even if we could get the charter changed to allow for motorsports, we wouldn't see it until 2020 at the earliest (we've just missed the deadline for 2016).

Ho hum!

strider · 30 Sep 2004, 12:51 (Ref:1111229)

Why are the tyres branded Cooper, when they're made by Avon? Perhaps to appeal to the American market.

Kicking-back · 30 Sep 2004, 12:52 (Ref:1111230)

Didn't realise they were made by Avon.

Mathias · 30 Sep 2004, 12:57 (Ref:1111237)

I think Avon is now Cooper-Avon. The reverse of what Foxy says is true - they only call Cooper-Avon tyres "Avon" to appeal to the UK market...,

strider · 30 Sep 2004, 13:11 (Ref:1111248)

Mmm, not convinced. As far as I know, Avon is the racing division of what is now Cooper-Avon Tires (sic). There was a buyout a few years ago. The only Cooper tyres I have seen in this country were for commercial vehicles.

**ghinzani** · 30 Sep 2004, 14:27 (Ref:1111310)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mathias
I think Avon is now Cooper-Avon. The reverse of what Foxy says is true - they only call Cooper-Avon tyres "Avon" to appeal to the UK market...,

The same Cooper who bought Swift and made them Cooper-Swift to such good effect?

climb · 1 Oct 2004, 06:55 (Ref:1111954)

Original rims mercifully abandoned

Rob29 · 1 Oct 2004, 08:08 (Ref:1112007)

In view of the other news yesterday maybe this series could start earlier at Magny Cours & Silverstone?

Russfeld · 1 Oct 2004, 10:21 (Ref:1112141)

The two have nothing to do with each other.

Kicking-back · 1 Oct 2004, 10:36 (Ref:1112168)

It's a winter series, so Silverstone and Magny Cours wouldn't be suitable.

And it's not intended as an F1 rival - it's intended to give us racing action in the winter when other series are on their off-season.

Suze · 1 Oct 2004, 10:36 (Ref:1112169)

Maybe I'm the only one...but doesn't this just remind you of Premier1 or whatever it was called? (The football teams and motor-racing thing, know Leeds signed up).

Ok, so if it starts next year...where are they going to race? (tracks specifically) who's going to drive it etc etc? Maybe I'm missing the point, but I can't see it taking off. (and you can quote that back if necessary!)

Kicking-back · 1 Oct 2004, 10:37 (Ref:1112172)

The difference between this and P1 is that this has lots of money behind it.

It'll race in Bahrain, Dubai, South Africa, Australia during the European winter.

Suze · 1 Oct 2004, 10:41 (Ref:1112175)

But (not knowing much about two of these countries!) - how many "good qulaity" circuits have Bahrain and Dubai got for example? How popular is motorsport over there etc?

Didn't P1 also claim they had a lot of money behind it? (albeit not a Dubai Prince or whatever he is!)

They have got a website - http://www.a1gp.com/home.html
Can we put links in posts?!

Russfeld · 1 Oct 2004, 10:53 (Ref:1112206)

Its got a fairly flawed business plan, unfortunately.

Suze · 1 Oct 2004, 10:54 (Ref:1112210)

In some ways, I do think it'd be good if / when it takes off. Where's the business plan please?

PenelopePitstop · 1 Oct 2004, 11:13 (Ref:1112239)

Dubai & Bahrain both have a very good quality circut.

Suze · 1 Oct 2004, 11:17 (Ref:1112243)

Circuit or circuits?

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