The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Great Britain was an A1 Grand Prix race, held on May 4, 2008, at Brands Hatch, Kent, United Kingdom. It was the tenth and last meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season.
With their results in the Sprint race, Switzerland was crowned as the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix champion.
Pre-race Switzerland only needed to score 3 points more than New Zealand to become champions. Third position was also contested, as Great Britain had the possibility of taking the place away from France.
Qualifying At Great Britain's home track, Robbie Kerr qualified in pole position for the Sprint race, and on the front row for the Feature race. India earned their first pole position in A1GP, by qualifying on pole for the Feature race.India grabs first ever pole a1gp.com (May 03, 2008) New Zealand, the only team that mathematically could still beat Switzerland for the title, only qualified in 10th and 17th positions.
Sprint race qualifyingPosTeamTimeGap1 Great Britain1'14.424 -2 USA1'14.426 +0.0023 Switzerland1'14.772 +0.3484 Ireland1'14.935 +0.5115 India1'15.040 +0.6166 Portugal1'15.077 +0.6537 South Africa1'15.142 +0.7188 France1'15.216 +0.7929 Germany1'15.306 +0.88210 New Zealand1'15.312 +0.88811 Netherlands1'15.338 +0.91412 Australia1'15.344 +0.92013 Czech Republic1'15.357 +0.93314 Malaysia1'15.439 +1.01515 Canada1'15.470 +1.04616 China1'15.954 +1.53017 Italy1'16.049 +1.62518 Pakistan1'16.086 +1.66219 Brazil1'16.117 +1.69320 Lebanon1'17.394 +2.97021 Mexico1'17.403 +2.97922 Indonesia1'17.553 +3.129Feature race qualifyingPosTeamTimeGap1 India1'14.682 -2 Great Britain1'14.909 +0.2273 Switzerland1'14.957 +0.2754 Ireland1'15.020 +0.3385 Germany1'15.042 +0.3606 France1'15.266 +0.5847 South Africa1'15.284 +0.6028 China1'15.313 +0.6319 USA1'15.398 +0.71610 Netherlands1'15.620 +0.93811 Portugal1'15.627 +0.94512 Malaysia1'15.664 +0.98213 Canada1'15.667 +0.98514 Brazil1'15.671 +0.98915 Czech Republic1'15.690 +1.00816 Italy1'15.827 +1.14517 New Zealand1'16.003 +1.32118 Pakistan1'16.063 +1.38119 Australia1'16.175 +1.49320 Indonesia1'16.876 +2.19421 Lebanon1'16.942 +2.26022 Mexico1'17.062 +2.380
Sprint race After the start Great Britain took the lead ahead of USA, Ireland, Switzerland, India, Portugal, South Africa and New Zealand.Sprint race: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (May 04, 2008) On Lap 4, Robbie Kerr set the fastest lap. China attacked Australia for 14th, and India pressured Switzerland for 4th place, but the positions remained the same during the race. On Lap 12, Cong Fu Cheng (China) slowed and fell from 15th to 21st. But some laps later, Cheng took fastest lap. Adam Carroll (Ireland) and Jonathan Summerton (USA) fought for 2nd position, whilst Great Britain won the Sprint race at their home track.. In finishing 4th, Neel Jani and Switzerland took the 2007-08 title.Switzerland takes 2007/08 title a1gp.com (May 04, 2008)
PosTeamDriverLapsTimePoints1 Great BritainRobbie Kerr1519'19.143152 USAJonathan Summerton15 +1.126123 IrelandAdam Carroll15 +2.186104 SwitzerlandNeel Jani15 +4.12585 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan15 +4.46766 PortugalFilipe Albuquerque15 +5.39757 South AfricaAdrian Zaugg15 +6.11448 New ZealandJonny Reid15 +8.38539 NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen15 +9.825210 FranceFranck Montagny15 +10.878111 GermanyMichael Ammermüller15 +11.20312 Czech RepublicFilip Salaquarda15 +11.99513 MalaysiaFairuz Fauzy15 +14.35414 AustraliaJohn Martin15 +15.84615 CanadaJames Hinchcliffe15 +17.31716 BrazilAlexandre Negrão15 +18.10717 ItalyEdoardo Piscopo15 +18.60118 PakistanAdam Langley-Khan15 +23.88719 IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto15 +29.95420 MexicoDavid Martínez15 +30.32221 ChinaCong Fu Cheng15 +31.521 +122 LebanonKhalil Beschir15 +36.238
Feature race It was 19 °C for the Feature race.Feature race: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (May 04, 2008) Mandatory pit stops were to take place between laps 8 and 16, and the second window was between laps 32 and 40. Switzerland already took the title, but New Zealand, France and Great Britain were all in contention for the 2nd and 3rd places overall.
India grabbed the lead off the start, ahead of Great Britain and Ireland. On Lap 2, Pakistan and Australia collided and hit the barriers. The Safety car was deployed. Alexandre Negrão (Brazil) had to pit to change the car's nose, following an off-track excursion on the first lap. The Safety car pulled in on Lap 8. Next lap, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) passed Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) for eighth. India has a slow pit stop, and Great Britain exit the pits ahead of them. Adam Carroll (Ireland) was closing and pushing Narain Karthikeyan (India). Canada received a drive-through penalty on Lap 13 and another on Lap 17. After the first set of mandatory pit stops, Great Britain leads India, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, France, Switzerland, China, Netherlands and USA.
On Lap 17, Ireland pulled alongside India to pass into Westfield and both cars touch. Ireland's front wing was damaged by contact with the left-rear wheel of India's car. After the wing flew off a lap later, Ireland suffered a puncture. After pitting, Ireland fell out of the points. On Lap 21, Canada received a third drive-through penalty. On Lap 23, Ireland set the fastest lap. The window for the second set of mandatory pit stops opened on Lap 32 and India, Great Britain and Germany all pit. India takes the lead back after a slow stop from Great Britain. On Lap 38, Germany is out in the gravel and Malaysia retires to the pits with engine problems. On Lap 44, Filipe Albuquerque (Portugal) passes Jonny Reid (New Zealand) for seventh.
India wins its second Feature race of the season. Great Britain is second ahead of Switzerland, China, France, Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Italy and Indonesia who score their first points of the season. With their second place, Great Britain took third place in the overall standings from France.
PosTeamDriverLapsTimePoints1 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan481:07'24.691152 Great BritainRobbie Kerr48 +1.078123 SwitzerlandNeel Jani48 +8.725104 ChinaCong Fu Cheng48 +9.13285 FranceFranck Montagny48 +12.96066 NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen48 +15.53857 PortugalFilipe Albuquerque48 +15.71448 New ZealandJonny Reid48 +19.86239 ItalyEdoardo Piscopo48 +26.353210 IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto48 +49.268111 South AfricaAdrian Zaugg48 +49.66112 USAJonathan Summerton48 +50.03213 IrelandAdam Carroll48 +50.247 +114 BrazilAlexandre Negrão48 +1'00.66215 Czech RepublicFilip Salaquarda47 +1 lap16 MexicoJorge Goeters47 +1 lap17 CanadaJames Hinchcliffe47 +1 lap18 LebanonKhalil Beschir46 +2 lapsDNF GermanyMichael Ammermüller39 Spun offDNF MalaysiaFairuz Fauzy39 EngineDNF PakistanAdam Langley-Khan2 ColisionDNF AustraliaJohn Martin2 Colision
After race On Monday 5 May, the A1GP's Gala Awards were celebrated at the Hilton Park Lane in London, at the end of its 2007-08 season.A1GP's Gala Awards a1gp.com (May 05, 2008) The awards presented at the event were: Best event for Mexico City, Mexico, Most improved team for A1 Team Ireland, Rookie driver of the year for Robert Wickens (Canada), Most spectacular overtaking move for Robert Wickens (Canada), A1GP.com favourite team for A1 Team Malaysia, A1 team PR excellence for A1 Team Netherlands, Best presented team for A1 Team Ireland, Best broadcaster for ESPN Star Sports.
Notes The Switzerland team ran with the message:the A1 Team Switzerland car carried the message: Jo Siffert, 40th Anniversary, Brands Hatch which commemorated his 1968 British Grand Prix victory at Brands Hatch. It was the 32nd race weekend (64 starts). It was the 3rd race weekend in Brands Hatch and the 3rd in the United Kingdom. It was the first race weekend as Rookie driver for Frankie ProvenzanoNew Zealand starts strongly a1gp.com (May 02, 2008) (Italy). Records: India and Narain Karthikeyan earned their first pole position. Lebanon have participated in 32 rounds (64 starts) without scoring a single point. Neel Jani scored 307 points.
References
External links Great Britain aces Sprint at home Sprint race: lap-by-lap Sprint race result India wins dramatic season finale Feature race: lap-by-lap Feature race result