The Chairman of A1GP Australia Pty Ltd Mr Alan H Evans released the following statement yesterday in regard to the season opening A1GP event that was due to take place next weekend on the street circuit in Surfers Paradise at the Gold Coast in Australia which has now been cancelled...

“The Directors and Officers of A1GP Australia Pty Ltd have been endeavouring over the last several weeks to obtain clarification on the status of A1GP from A1 Holdings the international company which is the commercial rights holder of the A1GP series and also the company which has control of the A1GP Race Cars and the A1GP teams.”

“During this period of time we have received numerous assurances from Mr Tony Teixeira, the Chairman of A1 Holdings both in writing and verbally that the necessary funding would be in place to ensure that the A1GP could meet its contractual obligation to conduct A1GP Races during the course of the Nikon SuperGP on the Gold Coast from the 22nd - 25th October 2009.”

“The information we had been provided with was such that we all genuinely believed that A1 Holdings was in a position to provide the necessary funds to meet the contractual obligations entered into by A1GP. The matter has been further complicated by the proper requirement of the Federation Internationale Automobile (FIA) for A1GP to undertake two modifications to the race cars to ensure the safety of the drivers. In the time now available to A1GP they are not able to complete both modifications and this will preclude them from racing.”

“On behalf of A1GP, I sincerely apologise to the Queensland Government, the Gold Coast Motor Events Company and its General Manager Mr Greg Hooton but most particularly the motor sport public for the failure of A1GP to fulfil its obligations. We and all other parties involved in the staging of the A1GP on the Gold Coast genuinely believed in the information continuously provided to us that A1GP would be in a position to compete at the Nikon SuperGP.”

“It would now appear that there is no doubt that A1GP is not in a position to ship the cars to Australia in time to participate in the event. Unfortunately it appears that a great concept in motor sport namely A1GP with its equal cars with teams and drivers representing their nation has run its course in Australia for this year, we are however, hopeful that in future years we can return to Australia and compete to demonstrate the competitiveness of the category.”