Eastern Creek handed GP
By Robert Grant
May 31, 2005
AUSTRALIA'S round of the inaugural A1 Grand Prix motor racing series has been pencilled in for Sydney's Eastern Creek on November 6.
The GP will be the fourth of the 12-race series on a provisional calendar released today.
A1 is a national concept featuring one team from each of 25 countries, with the first race due to get underway at England's Brands Hatch circuit on September 25.
Former world Formula One champion Alan Jones heads Australia's team in the championship which will be largely bankrolled by Dubai's Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum.
Jones said drivers for the Australian outfit had still not been selected but among those being considered are his son Christian and fellow young racers Will Power and Will Davison.
Cars have still not been allocated but Jones said they would begin to come off the production line shortly for shakedown tests.
The teams will all run in identical open wheel cars, built by Lola and powered by 520 bhp V8 engines.
More than $1.3 million in prize money will be up for grabs in each race with championship points in the series allocated to the leading 10 teams.
Drivers must be selected from their own country and the teams will rely more on driver skill than the barrage of technology which controls Formula One racing.
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"What makes this series so unique is that everyone is on a level playing field with exactly the same vehicle," Jones said at the team launch.
"What will make the difference is the ability of the driver and the team - and that's where Australia is going to shine."
Rounds of the series have been confirmed in England, Germany, Portugal, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, South Africa, Mexico and the US (Texas and California).
Yet to be confirmed are races in Indonesia or Singapore and in Beijing.
The championship will run in the F1 off-season, from September this year through to March 26, 2006.
A1 series dates
Sept 25, 2005 - Brands Hatch, England
Oct 9 - Eurospeedway GP, Germany
Oct 23 - Estoril, Portugal
Nov 6 - Eastern Creek, Australia
Nov 20 - Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
Dec 11 - Dubai Autodrome, United Arab Emirates
Jan 15, 2006 - To be confirmed (Indonesia or Singapore)
Jan 29 - Durban, South Africa
Feb 12 - Parque Fundidora Monterrey, Mexico
Feb 26 - San Antonio, Texas
March 12 - Laguna Seca, California
March 26 - Beijing Goldensport, China (subject to FIA approval or alternative circuit as directed by Chinese government).
