Scoop map of SA A1 GP track!
2005-09-20 11:46
Circuit north of Durban city centre
According to the organisers the A1 GP is a unique new motor racing series, contested by 25 countries in identical cars over a 12-race schedule taking in 12 different countries including South Africa.
The South African A1 GP will be hosted in Durban on 29 January 2006.
No official map of the track has been released yet but Wheels24 managed to gather info about the track.
The proposed street circuit, with a distance of 2.99 km, for the local race is set around Sun Casino, an army base and water park in Durban.
It is claimed that A1 GP represents 80% of the world's population.
This event brings together teams and drivers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA.
Shakedown tests at Silverstone in England and Paul Ricard in France in August have prepared the competing teams for the opening races on Sunday.
South Africans Tomas Scheckter, Stephen Simpson, Alan van der Merwe and Gavin Cronje have all tested the South African car. Stephen Simpson will drive the car at Brands Hatch.
The South African car carries the colours of the national flag as well as Nelson Mandela's Robben Island prison number 46664.
"This is a proud moment for us and all fellow-South Africans," said Tokyo Sexwale, official seat holder for the South African team and chairman of A1 Grand Prix Team South Africa.
According to Sexwale, Sheikh Maktoum of Dubai's "vision" has provided South Africa an opportunity to compete against the nations of the world in a global motor racing competition.
Each race weekend consists of two official practice sessions on Friday, an official practice session on Saturday as well as four 15-minute qualifying sessions during which each car must complete a single flying lap, followed by a rolling start 30-minute sprint race and a grid start one-hour feature race with a mandatory pit stop.
Points are scored on a scale of 10 through 1 for the top 10 places in each of the sprint and feature races. In addition, the team that has recorded the fastest lap time over both races will receive a bonus point.
Prize money per race weekend totals $1m, with the winning team taking home $300 000, the runner-up $200 000 and the third-placed team $150 000.
The overall winner of the 12-race World Cup of Motorsport will be rewarded with a cash prize of $1m.