A1GP style series (FICTIONAL!)

[Speedblood]

Hello people

At lunch time at work today I randomly thought up a new sportscar series (like you do...)
Anyway taking the A1GP style format of nation against nation but in an endurance sportscars format. And further still, two classes! (1 Prototype and 1 GT per nation)
I started thinking and wrote down active or realistic drivers that could participate. This is the list of the 16 countries at the moment I put in with there respective drivers that I could think of!

Great Britain
Prototype: Allan Mcnish, Jamie Campbell-Walter, Andy Wallace
GT: Oliver Gavin, Darren Turner, Ryan Sharp

France
Prototype: Romain Dumas, Nicolas Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin
GT: Christophe Bouchut, Soheil Ayari, Emmanuel Collard

Germany
Prototype: Marco Werner, Timo Bernhard, Sascha Maassen
GT: Stefan Mucke, Dirk Muller NEED 1 MORE!

Italy
Prototype: Rinaldo Capello, Emmanuel Pirro, Andrea Bellichi
GT: Thomas Biagi, Fabrizio Gollin, Andrea Piccini

Spain
Prototype: Marc Gene, Miguel De Castro, Angel Burgueno
GT: Antonio Garcia NEED 2 MORE!

Netherlands
Prototype: Jan Lammers, Jos Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen
GT: Peter Kox, Mike Hezemans NEED 1 MORE!

Denmark
Prototype: Tom Kristensen, Casper Elgaard, John Nielsen
GT: Jan Magnussen, Allan Simonsen (Am I right?), NEED 1 MORE!

USA
Prototype: Butch Leitzinger, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: Terry Borcheller, Johhny O'Connell, NEED 1 MORE!

Japan
Prototype: Shinji Nakano, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: HELP!

Sweden
Prototype: Stefan Johansson, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: HELP!

Finland
Prototype: JJ Lehto, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: Toni Vilander, Mika Salo, NEED 1 MORE!

Brazil
Prototype: Ricardo Zonta, Tommy Erdos, NEED 1 MORE!
GT: Alexandre Negrao, Jaime Melo, NEED 1 MORE!

Belgium
Prototype: Vanina Ickx, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: Eric Van De Poele, Marc Duez, NEED 1 MORE!

Austria/Switzerland (couldn't think of many drivers for each one )
Prototype: Marcel Fassler, Alex Wurz, Harold Primat
GT: Karl Wendlinger, Phillip Peter, Alain Menu

Australia
Prototype: David Brabham, Ryan Briscoe, NEED 1 MORE!
GT: Alex Davison, NEED 2 MORE!

Portugal
Prototype: Pedro Lamy, Joao Barbosa, NEED 1 MORE!
GT: Miguel Ramos, NEED 2 MORE!

Now I need you lot to...
1) Help me fill in the gaps
2) Say whether my current lot are the best choice or in wrong class
3) Or find better drivers! (And if the actual drivers on here think they should be on my list!)

(I'm trying to avoid gentlemen drivers as you can imagine.)
Also this is a chance to see who you think are the respective countries best GT and Prototype drivers
And if you feel a country is missing please say so
And finally, who do we think has the best line up?

I'm keen to know what you all think!

[ger80]

Originally Posted by Speedblood

Netherlands
Prototype: Jan Lammers, Jos Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen

I am not sure that this will work ....

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by ger80

I am not sure that this will work ....

Better than splitting them between the proto and the GT, that might cause not accidental accidents

[Jonerz]

I have a few idea pertaining to the USA entry.

USA
Prototype: Butch Leitzinger, Pat Long, John Fogarty
GT: Terry Borcheller, Johhny O'Connell, Scott Pruett

I'll certainly mull this over some more later, as I do enjoy this sort of thing myself, creating fictional series' creating fantasy driver lineups, choosing best racing drivers of respective countries. I just added what I could think of off hand as soon as I saw the thread.

Chris

[Speed-King]

Germany
Prototype: Marco Werner, Timo Bernhard, Sascha Maassen
GT: Stefan Mucke, Dirk Muller, Mike Rockenfeller(I think he's better in a GT than in an LMP)

USA
Prototype: John Fogarty, Alex Gurney, Scott Pruett (would probably not work, Pruett and the Gainsco boys don't get along too well)
GT: Andy Lally, Johhny O'Connell, Pat Long

Belgium
Prototype: Vanina Ickx, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: Eric Van De Poele, Marc Duez, Marc Goosens

Brazil
Prototype: Ricardo Zonta, Christian Fittipaldi, Christiano DaMatta
GT: Alexandre Negrao, Jaime Melo, NEED 1 MORE!

[ger80]

Come on,
USA Prototype must be Andretti, Andretti, Andretti.

[Bramzel]

Oeh, I like games like this

Germany
Prototype: Marco Werner, Timo Bernhard, Sascha Maassen
GT: Stefan Mucke, Dirk Muller NEED 1 MORE!

Jörg Muller, Uwe Alzen, Michael Bartels, Mike Rockenfeller

Spain
Prototype: Marc Gene, Miguel De Castro, Angel Burgueno
GT: Antonio Garcia NEED 2 MORE!

Jordi Gené

Netherlands
Prototype: Jan Lammers, Jos Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen
GT: Peter Kox, Mike Hezemans NEED 1 MORE!

Jos Menten, Duncan Huisman

Denmark
Prototype: Tom Kristensen, Casper Elgaard, John Nielsen
GT: Jan Magnussen, Allan Simonsen (Am I right?), NEED 1 MORE!

Robert Schlünssen

USA
Prototype: Butch Leitzinger, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: Terry Borcheller, Johhny O'Connell, NEED 1 MORE!

Gunnar Jeanette, Patrick Long, Chris Dyson

Sweden
Prototype: Stefan Johansson, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: HELP!

Alx Danielsson, Fredrik Ekblom, Rickard Rydell

Belgium
Prototype: Vanina Ickx, NEED 2 MORE!
GT: Eric Van De Poele, Marc Duez, NEED 1 MORE!

Val Hillebrand, Anthony Kumpen, Bert Longin

Portugal
Prototype: Pedro Lamy, Joao Barbosa, NEED 1 MORE!
GT: Miguel Ramos, NEED 2 MORE!

Tiago Monteiro, Ni Amorim

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by ger80

Come on,
USA Prototype must be Andretti, Andretti, Andretti.

Marco would be good but aren't papa and grandpa getting a little long in the tooth? How about Marco, Gunnar Gennette and Pat Long for protos. Not too shabby or you could use Butch Leitzinger instead of Gunnar.

DK

[cptkablamo]

Originally Posted by Speedblood

Hello people

Australia
Prototype: David Brabham, Ryan Briscoe, NEED 1 MORE!
GT: Alex Davison, NEED 2 MORE!
I'm keen to know what you all think!

Since you have taken Allan Simonsen from us

Prototype - David Brabham, Ryan Briscoe, Tom Drewer
GT - Davison, Bryce Washington, John Bowe

[rich07]

Great idea Speedblood!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Speedblood

Netherlands
Prototype: Jan Lammers, Jos Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen

Originally Posted by ger80

I am not sure that this will work ....

+1

Allan Simonsen is a Dane not an Aussie though going by how much time he used to be here he was kind of an hounorary Aussie in a way.

[cptkablamo]

I always like when Simonsen runs in Europe he is considered an Aussie (mostly) and when he runs in Australia he is considered a Dane...although, the whole being born in another country has never stopped Australia counting a sportsstar or celeb as one of our own...

I like most others seemingly, just would like to see how that Dutch team would go - would be fun to watch

[Duff_44]

Here's my list... I have a couple holes here and there:

Great Britain
P: Allan McNish, Johnny Herbert, Jamie Campbell-Walter
GT: Oliver Gavin, Darren Turner, Richard Westbrook
Alternates: Andy Wallace, Ryan Sharp, Marino Franchitti, Jonny Kane, Johnny Mowlem

France
P: Romain Dumas, Nicolas Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin
GT: Christophe Bouchut, Emmanuel Collard, Soheil Ayari
Alternates: Simon Pagenaud, Franck Montagny, Alexandre Premat, Jean-Marc Gounon

Germany
P: Marco Werner, Lucas Luhr, Timo Bernhard
GT: Jorg Bergmeister, Dirk Muller, Dirk Werner
Alternates: Sascha Maassen, Stefan Mucke, Wolf Henzler, Mike Rockenfeller, Jorg Muller, Uwe Alzen, Michael Bartels, Marcel Tiemann, Marc Lieb

Italy
P: Rinaldo Capello, Emanuele Pirro, Andrea Bertolini
GT: Thomas Biagi, Fabrizio Gollin, Andrea Piccini
Alternates: Andrea Belicchi, Max Papis, Matteo Bobbi, Gianmaria Bruni, Fabio Babini

Spain
P: Miguel Angel de Castro, Angel Burgueno, Marc Gene
GT: Jordi Gene, Antonio Garcia, TBD

Netherlands
P: Jan Lammers, Jos Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen
GT: Peter Kox, Mike Hezemans, Jos Menten
Alternates: Tom Coronel, Duncan Huisman, Patrick Huisman

Denmark
P: Tom Kristensen, Casper Elgaard, John Nielsen
GT: Jan Magnussen, Allan Simonsen, Nicolas Kiesa
Alternates: Robert Schlunssen

USA
P: Butch Leitzinger, Chris Dyson, Alex Gurney
GT: Johnny O'Connell, Terry Borcheller, Johannes van Overbeek (yes, he's American despite his name)
Alternates: Darren Law, Patrick Long, Jon Fogarty, Scott Pruett, Andy Lally, Gunnar Jeannette

Japan removed in favor of separate Austria & Switzerland teams (could be added later)

Sweden
P: Stefan Johansson, Thed Bjork, TBD
GT: Rickard Rydell, Fredrik Ekblom, Niclas Jonsson

Finland
P: JJ Lehto, Mika Hakkinen (ran DTM, which is about the speed of a prototype), TBD
GT: Toni Vilander, Mika Salo, Markus Palttala

Brazil
P: Ricardo Zonta, Gil de Ferran, Tommy Erdos
GT: Alexandre Negrao, Jaime Melo, Christian Fittipaldi
Alternates: Cristiano da Matta

Belgium
P: Eric van de Poele, Didier Theys, Marc Goossens
GT: Bert Longin, Anthony Kumpen, Kurt Mollekens
Alternates: Marc Duez, Val Hillebrand, Stephane Lemeret, Vanina Ickx

Austria (separate team from Switzerland)
P: Alex Wurz, Robert Lechner, Philipp Peter
GT: Karl Wendlinger, Richard Lietz, Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer

Switzerland
P: Marcel Fassler, Harold Primat, Christophe Pillon
GT: Alain Menu, Jean-Denis Deletraz, Gabriele Gardel

Australia
P: David Brabham, Ryan Briscoe, TBD
GT: Alex Davison, Jason Bright, John Bowe
Alternates: Tom Drewer, Bryce Washington (I don't know anything about these 2 drivers, whether they lean P or GT)

Portugal
P: Pedro Lamy, Joao Barbosa, Tiago Monteiro
GT: Miguel Ramos, Ni Amorim, Pedro Chaves (can he be talked out of retirement?)

I think adding Japan (back in), Canada, another South American team, and another Asian team would be a good move.

[gucom]

I have just a tiny question (not trying to spoil the fun here but just curious how this would be solved)... prototypes don't need to be country-related, but can any1 here imagine Italy defending its national pride in a Porsche, or Americans getting all patriottic about a Ferrari? With private teams, sure, but when you're racing for your country...

[minimangler]

I've shamelessly just copied and pasted your list, speedblood
But I'm changing a fair few...

Great Britain
Prototype: Allan Mcnish, Jamie Campbell-Walter, Warren Hughes
GT: Oliver Gavin OR Darren Turner OR Andrew Kirkaldy OR Richard Westbrook OR "Super" Sean Edwards

France
Prototype: Nicolas Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin, J-M Gounon
GT: Christophe Bouchut, Soheil Ayari, Emmanuel Collard

Germany
Prototype: Marco Werner, Timo Bernhard, Stefan Mucke
GT: Dirk Muller Sascha Maassen, Marc Lieb OR Uwe Alzen

[/B]Italy
Prototype: Rinaldo Capello, Emmanuel Pirro, Andrea Bellichi (There has to be better, but it escapes me ATM.)
GT: Thomas Biagi, Andrea Bertollini, Gianmaria Bruni OR OR Andrea Piccini OR Mateo Mallucelli OR Mateo Bobbi

Spain
Prototype: Marc Gene, Miguel De Castro, Angel Burgueno
GT: Antonio Garcia Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo

Netherlands
Prototype: Jos Verstappen, Jeroen Bleekemolen Michael Vergers (he counts, right?)
GT: Peter Kox, Mike Hezemans Jan Lammers,

Denmark
Prototype: Tom Kristensen, Casper Elgaard, John Nielsen
GT: Jan Magnussen, Allan Simonsen (Am I right? He also counts as an Aussie, he's racing for both.)

USA
Prototype: Butch Leitzinger, Andretti, Scott Sharp,
GT: Terry Borcheller, Johhny O'Connell, Yeah, I'm struggling too Pat Long?

Japan
Prototype: Shinji Nakano, Hideki Noda, YOJIRO TARADA
GT: Daisuke Ito, Ukyo Katayama, ASIMO (Honda's robot )

Sweden
Prototype: Stefan Johansson, Ulrika Johnson?
GT: MAGNUS WALLINDER But past that, I'm stuck with Z. Ibrahimovic, H. Larsson, F. Ljunberg

Finland
Prototype: JJ Lehto, Raikonnen
GT: Toni Vilander, Mika Salo, I'm all out.

Brazil
Prototype: Ricardo Zonta, Tommy Erdos, Rubens Barichello (he'd be an excellent sportscar racer)
GT: Alexandre Negrao, Jaime Melo, Ronaldinho?

Belgium
Prototype: Vanina Ickx, Didier Theys, Eric Van De Poele,
GT: Marc Duez, Bert Longin, Anthony Kumpen

Austria/Switzerland (couldn't think of many drivers for each one )
Prototype: Marcel Fassler, Alex Wurz, Harold Primat
Austrian only...GT: Karl Wendlinger, Phillip Peter, Alex Muller
Swiss only...GT: Alain Menu, Gabrielle Gardel, Jean-Denis Deletraz

Australia + NZ...
Prototype: David Brabham, Ryan Briscoe, Allen Simonsen, (he can race for pretty much anywhere )
GT: Alex Davison, Paul Radisich, Craig Lowndes


Portugal
Prototype: Pedro Lamy, Joao Barbosa, Miguel Amaral
GT: Miguel Ramos, Ni Amorim, Pedro Chaves

Russia!
GT only: Alexei Vasiliev, Robert Pergl, Nikolai Fomenko

Slovakia...
GT only: Jan Konopka, Miro Konopka, Stefan Rosina (so I cheated for the last one, and went looking...)



Any advances on that?

[minimangler]

Oh, DUH!

Having just read Bramzels...RYDELL! and Jeanette too. What a cock I am.

[Aslak Vind]

No Mika Salo for Finland?

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by cptkablamo

I always like when Simonsen runs in Europe he is considered an Aussie (mostly) and when he runs in Australia he is considered a Dane...although, the whole being born in another country has never stopped Australia counting a sportsstar or celeb as one of our own...

I like most others seemingly, just would like to see how that Dutch team would go - would be fun to watch

Trust me, as a Dane its equally entertaining to watch. At Le Mans ACO managed to make poor Allan into a German..

But he is a Dane, so he might not fit into the Australian team

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

No Mika Salo for Finland?

He's in mine?

[mattt]

Originally Posted by gucom

I have just a tiny question (not trying to spoil the fun here but just curious how this would be solved)... prototypes don't need to be country-related, but can any1 here imagine Italy defending its national pride in a Porsche, or Americans getting all patriottic about a Ferrari? With private teams, sure, but when you're racing for your country...

Britain - Aston or Jag
Italy - Ferrari or Lambourghini(i know audi own them but)
Germany - Porsche or Audi
France - Peugoet or ?(could use any car they wanted)
America - Corvette
Holland - Spyker if its good enough


Performance balancing may be required

[Speedblood]

Crikey I missed out so many obvious people....
And cheers for splitting Austria and Switzerland. Knew that wasn't going to last long joined!
Sorry all you down under bout Simonsen but just went off what I've seen on FIA GT

I never actually properly thought about the cars. Just envisioned a very tight set of rules for the prototypes and GT3ish style GT cars.

Also the races themselves would simply be 1 race per participating nation.
The only ones I was stuck with were...

Switzerland- (Could use Dijon like f1 did years ago?)
Denmark + Finland- Can't think of any racetracks at all or suitable there

The rest is:
Great Britain- Silverstone
France- Le Mans! (Or Bugatti circuit if not possible)
Germany- Nurburgring (Sadly not Nordschleife )
Italy- Monza
Spain- Barcelona/Jerez/Valencia couldn't decide (city circuit not that horrible go kart track!)
Netherlands- Zandvoort (would Assen work if enviromentalists get in the way?)
USA- Sebring/Road America (you decide that one!)
Japan- Suzuka
Sweden- Anderstorp (any others?)
Brazil- Interlagos
Belgium- Spa
Austria- A1 Ring (May be a bit tight)
Australia- Bathurst Prototypes would be immense on the mountain
Portugal- Estoril

Again please change/choose better places if you want

[Dead-Eye]

Finland has a few tracks, http://www.motopark.fi/ for example, Denmark too...http://www.padborgpark.dk/

Switzerland doesn't, though...and A1 ring is still up in the air, the Salzburgring could work though...actually looks like a pretty cool location

[Speed-King]

Finland: Bring back the Helsinki Street Race from the 90s.

[mattt]

Isn't there a law in Switzerland that says the only races that take place have to have different start and end points

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by mattt

Isn't there a law in Switzerland that says the only races that take place have to have different start and end points

Hmm, if it really is like that, that's easy to circumvent. I haven't seen this year's ALMS race from Mid Ohio, but the Grand Am race was started on the back stretch and finished on the front stretch.

[mattt]

It was actually lifted recently