A1 Team SA struggles in New Zealand
27 January 2009
The A1GP Taupo, New Zealand proved to be frustrating for Team South Africa as they struggled to make an impression at the weekend, from qualifying through to the sprint and feature races, which were won by Ireland's Adam Carroll and Switzerland's Neel Jarni respectively.
Team SA driver Adrian Zaugg qualified only eleventh for the sprint race and even worse, sixteenth for the feature race, which effectively made getting into the points a tough task.
To his credit, Zaugg managed to improve Vulindela's position in both races and work his way into the points. He finished tenth in the sprint and ninth in the feature race, which has helped Team South Africa move up in the overall standings from eleventh to ninth.
Sprint race
In the sprint race, which precedes the feature race, Ireland, with Adam Carroll at the wheel, took victory to extend its lead at the top of the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport standings.
The experienced Neel Jani grabbed second for Switzerland after a great put stop helped bump him up the order, from fourth on the grid. Third went to The Netherlands' Robert Doornbos, ahead of France's Loic Duval. Home driver from A1 Team New Zealand, Chris van der Drift, brought "Black Beauty" home in fifth place.
Carroll made an excellent start and was able to open up an early lead. He was first into the pits and a slick stop ensured he remained in the lead. Jani's pit stop was two seconds faster than the Irishman's and this propelled him up to second place.
Jani managed to close in on Carroll, but the man in the emerald green car drove faultlessly, not offering up any opportunities to pass, to take the checkered flag.
'A great race'
"It was a great race, obviously, from pole to win," said Carroll. "I am very, very happy and just have to go and try and do it all again."
Doornbos crossed the line in third to pick up the final podium place.
Switzerland's Jani claimed victory in the 50-lap feature race.
Carroll started on pole and got away cleanly, but Jani jumped up to second from fifth when Portugal's Felipe Albuquerque made contact with the Irish car and lost speed.
Lebanon and New Zealand were taken out of the running when the cars of Daniel Morad and Chris van der Drift collided. Morad was forced to retire, while Van der Drift was able to rejoin the race, but only after having fallen a lap behind.
Carroll, in the Irish car, began to open a small gap on Jani, recording a number of fastest laps. Portugal's Albuquerque was third after the first pit stops, followed by Australia's John Martin, and Loic Duval of France.
Jani into first
Problems after Carroll's second pit stop, which resulted in the Irishman stalling his car, saw Jani take the lead, with Carroll managing to hold off Albuquerque.
South Africa's Adrian Zaugg, meanwhile, had worked his way into tenth position by lap 29.
It remained tight at the front as Jani went on to victory, followed by Carroll and Albuquerque, in a tightly packed group.
That result left Ireland top of the championship standings on 65 points, with Switzerland in second on 52, followed by Portugal on 49.
"What a weekend in the end," said the feature race winner Neel Jani, who had been hospitalised the previous week with suspected meningitis. "On Monday I still felt really bad, but I just got better every day with the warm weather in New Zealand, and it looks like the clean, fresh air helped me as well, so that is good.
"The first race was already good, a great pit stop put me up to second, but here coming up from fifth to first was nothing we had ever thought of.
"I had a great start from fifth to second and I was already next to Adam. I settled for second, but then we had a little problem on the first pit stop as I didn't really get off well as I had a problem with the clutch, and then the second pit stop was fantastic, very quick from the guys.
'There must be a problem'
"I saw Adam next to me and heard his engine revving on the limiter and thought there must be a problem, and I just kept on my side then and was able to take him like that. Then I was just able to control the race.
"It was a great, great weekend and a fantastic car. This was the most points we have scored on a weekend this season and so now it is starting to come good for us, but there are still a lot of points needed to catch up Ireland."
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
- Ireland 65
- Switzerland 52
- Portugal 49
- France 41
- Netherlands 38
- New Zealand 35
- Malaysia 30
- Australia 30
- USA 19
- Great Britain 16
- South Africa 16
- Monaco 9
- Italy 8
- India 5
- Brazil 4
- Korea 4
- China 4
- Lebanon 3
- Indonesia 0
- Mexico 0
Next race: A1GP Gauteng, South Africa, 20 – 22 February 2009.
Source: SAinfo reporter and A1GP.com
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