19 February 2008

After six rounds of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, South Africa has accumulated its best performance statistics in three seasons of the unique international motor racing series that pits nation against nation in identical cars.

In 12 starts, A1 Team South Africa's 21-year-old driver Adrian Zaugg and Vulindlela - the car that carries the prison number of Nelson Mandela and is painted in the distinctive red, white, blue, black, yellow and green colours of the South African flag - has scored two wins, four podium finishes, two fastest laps, and three pole positions in qualifying.

South Africa is joint-second in number of wins, third in podiums, second in fastest laps and joint-first in poles.

Fourth in the championship
In the process, the SA team, competing against 21 other nations in a competition that will see 10 rounds and 20 races in nine countries including South Africa, finds itself in fourth place in the championship with four rounds and eight races remaining.

When Zaugg and Vulindlela line up for the start of Sunday's Sprint race on 24 February, there will be high expectation from the tens of thousands of South African fans in the grandstands that circle the unique Durban street circuit, and among the thousands more that will be watching on television around the country.

Last year, in his debut race on home soil, the young South African was unfortunate not to have qualified higher than ninth when a top four position was very much on the cards; he was denied an opportunity to record a time in the second of the four 15-minute segments that make up the exciting A1GP qualifying format when his timed lap in the third session was compromised by the mistake of another competitor.

A heart-breaking weekend
Zaugg endured a heart-breaking weekend at the wheel of Vulindlela. The 20-year-old followed up a seventh place finish in the 20-minute Sprint race in the morning with a luckless outing in the afternoon's 70-minute Feature race.

On the opening lap, he was stranded against the tyre wall after two cars collided in front of him in turn one, a 90-degree hairpin, and he then rode some debris from one of the cars. The safety car was deployed and Zaugg managed to get going again to rejoin the field in 19th place.

After two laps behind the safety car, the race got underway again, but just two laps later an over-ambitious attempt by Indonesia (Ananda Mikola) to pass Zaugg down the inside of turn one saw the two cars collide. Mikola retired on the spot while the South Africa limped back to the pits.

Extensive damage
The South African team spent the next 40 laps repairing the extensive damage to Vulindlela and Zaugg rejoined the race – to the delight of the partisan crowd - with five minutes remaining.

He was rewarded with the fastest lap of the race – on the 49th and final lap - and was officially classified in 17th place, 38 laps behind the winner.

"It was not the South African debut I had hoped to make," said Zaugg. "I am hoping to make up for it and give the South African supporters something to cheer about this time around. "I'm really looking forward to racing in Durban, in my home country. I am highly motivated to do well in front of the home fans, especially after our win in Australia three weeks ago.

'I am confident'
"I enjoy the street circuit format. I have developed an excellent working relationship with my engineer (Briton Humphrey Corbett) and we have a great technical team behind us, so I am confident we will deliver a good result this weekend."

Fresh and relaxed from spending a few days with his family in Cape Town, Zaugg said he was very proud and felt privileged to be representing his country in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.

"It's a great platform for aspiring young drivers to show off their skills in a very competitive environment. The cars are evenly matched and at the end of the day it's all about the skill of the drivers, their engineers and the technical teams," he said.

SABC3 will televise Saturday's qualifying live from 14:00 to 16:00 and Sunday's races from 14:00 to 16:30 (delayed recording of the 11:00 Sprint race at 14:00 and the Feature race live from 15:00).

Championship Standings

1. New Zealand 96*
2. France 96
3. Switzerland 93
4. South Africa 79
5. Germany 77
6. Great Britain 58
7. Netherlands 55
8. Ireland 50
9. Brazil 38
10. Canada 37

Source: A1GP World Cup of Motorsport

	Adrian Zaugg celebrates victory alongside Switzerland's Neel Jarni and Great Britain's Robbie Kerr at Eastern Creek, Australia (Photo: A1GP.com)

	Adrian Zaugg at the wheel of Vulindela, which means 'clear the way' (Photo: A1GP.com)

	A1GP fans set for Durban delight A1 Team SA rides high in Sydney SA's Zaugg on A1 GP podium Ferrari boost for A1GP and SA Zaugg, A1 GP Team SA on fire Germany dominates A1 GP Durban Zaugg stuns with debut A1GP win Formula 1: Jody Scheckter

	A1GP World Cup of Motorsport  A1 Team South Africa  Adrian Zaugg

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