Just six months after the launch of A1 Grand Prix in Dubai, series founder and CEO, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, announced the signing of the first six national seat holders and unveils the final specification of the A1 Grand Prix car.
The United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Portugal, Pakistan and the Lebanon are the first countries to have secured their seats for the unique winter one-make championship commencing in Autumn 2005.
The announcement of the first national seat holders coincides with the official UK launch party being held in London with key figures from all the identified national seat holders in attendance to witness the formal unveiling of the A1 car.
Sheikh Maktoum will be presenting the UK national seat holders with their car at the launch party. In the perfect example of how the Motorsport and business worlds have combined, the Chairman of the UK seat holders, John Surtees MBE, the only man to have won World Championships on two and four wheels, will be working closely with the man representing their business interests, Tony Clements. John Surtees will join Sheikh Maktoum on stage to take delivery of the car.
“This is a significant step forward for A1 Grand Prix. We set ourselves demanding targets and six months down the line we are exceeding our own expectations,” said Sheikh Maktoum. “We are delighted to welcome all six national seat holders to the series, and the fact we have many more countries waiting to announce their participation in the series means our concept has been wholeheartedly embraced by both the business and Motorsport fraternities.”
The definitive specification UK car has a distinctive red, white and blue livery that reflects the nationality of the team that will be running it. It is the culmination of hours of hard work on the designer’s drawing board, in a wind tunnel and on test tracks at Snetterton, England and Jerez, Spain.
