Full Throttle

The 2007-08 A1GP championship will be decided at Brands Hatch next month after leaders Team Switzerland failed to clinch the title in Shanghai.

Driver Neel Jani dominated Sunday morning’s Sprint Race from pole position and, with New Zealand’s Jonny Reid failing to finish, Switzerland needed to take another two points from their nearest rivals in the Feature Race to claim the title.

Jani gave himself the best possible opportunity by qualifying on pole, but he was beaten off the line by Team USA’s Jonathan Summerton. A gearbox problem causing the loss of second and fifth gear saw the 24-year-old slip down the field and eventually finish fifth.

After leading into the first corner, Summerton never relinquished his grip at the front to claim Team USA’s first ever victory in the series.

Jani shadowed Summerton in the early stages but a fantastic out lap from the latter after his first pit stop allowed Team USA to increase their gap - which increased to over seven seven seconds by lap 20 due to Team Switzerland’s mechanical woes.

Summerton, who drove the Feature Race with a bruised hand after colliding with Reid in the Sprint Race, cruised to the chequered flag 9.729 seconds ahead of Filipe Albuquerque, who recorded a second podium of the day for Portugal after finishing third in the sprint.

Adam Carroll took third for A1 Team Ireland while A1 Team New Zealand’s Jonny Reid finished fourth.

Despite failing to settle the championship battle in the Far East, Switzerland nevertheless head to Brands Hatch with a commanding 29-point lead over New Zealand.

France remain third on 111 points after new driver Franck Montagny managed an eighth in the Sprint Race, meaning that Great Britain, placed fourth on 99 points, can still overtake them on home ground.

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