The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Zhuhai, China was an A1 Grand Prix race held on December 16, 2007, at the Zhuhai International Circuit, China. It was the fourth meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season.
Pre-race After suffering injuries in a sportscar racing accident in the United States, Tomáš Enge is back to drive the A1 Team Czech Republic car.Tomas Enge is back! a1gp.com (December 11, 2007) Erik Janis who drove since the first round in Zandvoort, this season, will be rookie driver.
Qualifications India and Narain Karthikeyan score the team's best-ever grid slot with a 3rd position in the Main Race.India takes best ever grid-slot a1gp.com (December 15, 2007)
Sprint race qualificationsPosTeamTimeGap1 Germany1'23.203 -2 Switzerland1'23.425 +0.2223 Ireland1'23.675 +0.4724 China1'23.784 +0.5815 Great Britain1'23.850 +0.6476 Czech Republic1'23.921 +0.7187 France1'23.928 +0.7258 Netherlands1'23.965 +0.7629 India1'23.972 +0.76910 Canada1'24.029 +0.82611 USA1'24.104 +0.90112 Brazil1'24.141 +0.93813 New Zealand1'24.141 +0.93814 South Africa1'24.207 +1.00415 Portugal1'24.263 +1.06016 Italy1'24.307 +1.10417 Malaysia1'24.391 +1.18818 Australia1'24.770 +1.56719 Indonesia1'24.893 +1.69020 Lebanon1'24.915 +1.71221 Pakistan1'24.958 +1.75522 Mexico1'25.246 +2.043Main race qualificationsPosTeamTimeGap1 Switzerland1'23.465 -2 Great Britain1'23.650 +0.1853 India1'23.767 +0.3024 France1'23.784 +0.3195 Germany1'23.890 +0.4256 China1'23.930 +0.4657 USA1'23.992 +0.5278 Malaysia1'24.036 +0.5719 South Africa1'24.100 +0.63510 New Zealand1'24.114 +0.64911 Canada1'24.149 +0.68412 Portugal1'24.250 +0.78513 Ireland1'24.294 +0.82914 Brazil1'24.328 +0.86315 Lebanon1'24.328 +0.86316 Czech Republic1'24.350 +0.88517 Pakistan1'24.378 +0.91318 Netherlands1'24.460 +0.99519 Australia1'24.538 +1.07320 Indonesia1'24.667 +1.20221 Italy1'24.810 +1.34522 Mexico1'24.886 +1.421
Sprint race The start make it through but Australia, South Africa, Lebanon and Brazil and Malaysia are all involved in a multi-car crash in turn 5, lap 1 and the Safety car is out.Sprint race: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (December 16, 2007) Brazil and South Africa collide and result the Lebanon is out, Malaysia and South Africa retire in the pit and Brazil loses a lap. Safety car is in on lap 4 and the order is Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, China, Czech Republic and Great Britain. Switzerland come near Germany; China is pushing Ireland hard. In lap 8, Neel Jani (Switzerland) sets the fastest lap and in lap 11 Cong Fu Cheng (China) passes Adam Carroll (Ireland) for 3rd. Ireland fights back until crossing the line. New Zealand and Canada fight for 10th since Safety car is on and in lap 11, the two cars touch. Canada spins down to 15th. The same lap, Portugal crash at the final turn. Germany wins its first race of the season in front of Switzerland, China, Ireland, Czech Republic, Great Britain, India, France, Netherlands and New Zealand. A1 Team China and Cong Fu Cheng enjoy their success in their home race.
PosTeamDriverLapsTimeGridPoints1 GermanyMichael Ammermüller1320'31.4321152 SwitzerlandNeel Jani13 + 0.601212+13 ChinaCong Fu Cheng13 +4.6324104 IrelandAdam Carroll13 +6.707385 Czech RepublicTomáš Enge13 +7.386666 Great BritainOliver Jarvis13 +7.865557 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan13 +8.661948 FranceLoïc Duval13 +9.033739 NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen13 +9.6508210 New ZealandJonny Reid13 +12.99213111 ItalyEdoardo Piscopo13 +14.7091612 USAJonathan Summerton13 +16.8951113 AustraliaIan Dyk13 +17.1691814 PakistanAdam Langley-Khan13 +20.9442115 CanadaRobert Wickens13 +21.7841016 MexicoDavid Garza Perez13 +23.3882217 IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto13 +23.7921918 BrazilSérgio Jimenez12 +1 Lap1219 PortugalJoão Urbano10 +3 Laps15Ret South AfricaAdrian Zaugg1 Damage14Ret MalaysiaAlex Yoong1 Damage17Ret LebanonChris Alajajian0 Collision20
Main race Just before the race, it was announced that the second pit stop window will be between laps 25 and 33.Feature race: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (December 16, 2007) The race start at 15:00, local time. At the first turn, Ireland and Brazil collide and are delayed. Germany ran wide and lost a lot of places. Malaysia stranded out of the track after a collision with New Zealand and the Safety car is out in this first lap. Brazil, with smoke coming out of the car, Canada and Australia comes into pits meanwhile Edoardo Piscopo (Italy) his pulled off onto the side of the circuit. Robert Wickens retire is car in pit because of mechanical failure the lap before the Safety car is in, on lap 5. Several fight in the next laps. New Zealand has passed China and then USA for 6th. The first pit stop window is open on lap 8 and the current standing is Great Britain, Switzerland with the current fastest lap, India, France, South Africa, New Zealand, China and USA. Narain Karthikeyan(India), Loïc Duval (France) and Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) comes in pit. Neel Jani (Switzerland) still out for one more lap during the long pit stop of the British driver. The Netherlands damage the suspension and retire on lap 9. After most of the racers have made their first compulsory stop, Switzerland lead the race. Portugal stack up India, France, Great Britain and South Africa until it goes off on lap 14. The next lap, South Africa passes Great Britain for 5th. In lap 16, after Portugal pit, Switzerland lead from India, New Zealand, France, South Africa and Great Britain. Australia is back on track after losing 3 laps in garage. France receive a drive-through penalty for clipping USA's left-rear airline as it left the pit box. Loïc Duval return on track on 15th. Chris Alajajian (Lebanon) clips a kerb, spin and lost a lot of time in lap 18. Lap 19, Adam Carroll (Ireland) pull into the pits and Satrio Hermanto (Indonesia) retire into the gravel. France is on a charge, is now 10th and take the fastest lap in lap 21. The second pit stop window is now open on lap 25. Switzerland have a problem with the right rear tyre and bring the car to the pits but it lost time to take the wheel off. India is now leading. After a slow stop for Great Britain and India, Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) make the fastest lap on lap 29. China is going to be given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pits. Now, the standing is India front of New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland and France. Germany and Great Britain are pushing South Africa until the finish line. Cong Fu Cheng (China) is fighting with Jonathan Summerton (USA) since lap 37 and passes in lap 40 when USA has gone wide across the grass. Jonny Reid (New Zealand) is now close from Narain Karthikeyan (India). India wins and score the team's first ever win in A1GP,First win for A1 Team India a1gp.com (December 16, 2007) it is the 14th nation to take a win. The final standing is India, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Great Britain with fastest lap, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, China and USA.
PosTeamDriverLapsTimeGridPoints1 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan451:08'30.7593152 New ZealandJonny Reid45 +0.50210123 South AfricaAdrian Zaugg45 +4.1289104 GermanyMichael Ammermüller45 +4.907585 Great BritainOliver Jarvis45 +5.26726+16 SwitzerlandNeel Jani45 +14.516157 FranceLoïc Duval45 +18.572448 Czech RepublicTomáš Enge45 +27.1401639 ChinaCong Fu Cheng45 +27.5796210 USAJonathan Summerton45 +33.3887111 MexicoDavid Garza Perez45 +49.3532212 PortugalJoão Urbano45 +1'03.8311213 LebanonChris Alajajian44 +1 Lap1514 PakistanAdam Langley-Khan44 +1 Lap1715 AustraliaIan Dyk42 +3 Laps19Ret IrelandAdam Carroll27 Collision13Ret IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto19 Accident20Ret NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen9 Suspension18Ret CanadaRobert Wickens3 Accident11Ret ItalyEdoardo Piscopo1 Damage21Ret BrazilSérgio Jimenez1 Damage14Ret MalaysiaAlex Yoong0 Collision8
After-race After the first win of the A1 Team India in A1 Grand Prix this weekend, on feature race, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the nation's Prime Minister congratulate Narain Karthikeyan and the team.India goes crazy for A1GP a1gp.com (December 30, 2007) In January 2008, just before the next round, in Taupo, New Zealand, Narain Karthikeyan meets Indian President, Pratibha Patil who congratulate him and the team's achievements in Zuhai.Narain meets Indian President a1gp.com (January 17, 2008)
Notes It was the 26th race weekend (52 starts). It was the first venue in Zhuhai International Circuit, the fourth in China (including Shanghai and Beijing venues) It was the first race for David Garza PerezMexico to race newcomer Garza a1gp.com (December 10, 2007) and Edoardo Piscopo.Piscopo to make Italy race debut a1gp.com (December 14, 2007) It was the first race weekend for Gonçalo Araújo,Portugal names next three rookies a1gp.com (December 3, 2007) Clemente Faria Jr,Brazil name Faria as Taupo rookie a1gp.com (December 5, 2007) Alexandre Imperatori,Swiss to use track expert rookie a1gp.com (December 11, 2007) Niall Quinn,Quinn wins Ireland rookie role a1gp.com (December 5, 2007) David Garza Perez and Danny Watts.Jarvis back for Great Britain a1gp.com (December 7, 2007) Records: India won its first race. Switzerland scored 6 poles position. Lebanon participate on 26 rounds (52 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix. Alex Yoong participate on 25 races (48 starts). Neel Jani won 218 points.
References
External links Germany wins the Sprint race Sprint race: lap-by-lap Sprint Race Results First win for A1 Team India Feature race: lap-by-lap Feature Race Results