Highlights

Chinese team disappoints as A1 closes season

By Zhou Weirong (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-04-04 06:14

SHANGHAI: The Chinese team comprising two Shanghai natives failed to ignite the anticipated excitement at the Shanghai International Circuit, as the first season of A1 Grand Prix of Nations closed on Sunday in Shanghai.

Team China's dragon-adorned red and yellow car was a major focus of the 80,000-strong crowd that showed up at the circuit which has also hosted other major car-racing events such as F1, MotoGP and V8.

Local organizers had expected the two Shanghai drivers, 21-year-old Jiang Tengyi and 19-year-old Ma Qinghua, to shine in front of the home crowd. Anything close to the fifth place that Jiang managed in the Feature Race at the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Dubai would have triggered massive crowd adulation. However, both drivers presented mediocre results in the Shanghai race.

Ma Qinghua ranked 17th in the Sprint Race, while Jiang took the 16th place in the Feature Race.

Thanks to the six points gained by Jiang in Dubai, China escaped being placed bottom of the pile, ranking 22nd among the 25 participating teams.

France became the first world champion winner of the "World Cup of Motorsports" after accumulating 172 points from 11 rounds. Switzerland and Great Britain ranked second and the third respectively.

The Czech Republic became the eighth nation to win an A1 Grand Prix event, crossing the line first at the end of the Shanghai Feature Race. Driver Thomas Enge snatched first place from Sprint race winner, Malaysia's Alex Yoong, who still managed to retain second spot ahead of Australia's Ryan Briscoe who saw his first podium finish of the season, the third for the team.

Alex Yoong, the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One, took the first pole position on Saturday and converted it into the team's first race win after a dominant performance in the Sprint Race. A1 Team Malaysia jumped from 10th in the Series standings to fifth after Yoong's performance in Shanghai.

Asked whether Formula One was better than A1 Grand Prix, the former F1 driver for Minardi said: "You cannot compare F1 and A1GP, they are completely different. Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport in terms of technology. It is about manufacturer against manufacturer, about engine deals and about money. A1GP is run by countries, the cars are identical, it is an equal playing field. The aim is to see which is the best team and driver, it is about the people. I would definitely stay in A1GP, it would have to be a good deal for me to move to F1. A very good deal!"

The A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Shanghai, was the last race in A1 Grand Prix's inaugural season. The first race of the second season will take place in the Netherlands in September.