A1GP’s Pitstop of Mystery

30th August 2007

A1GP’s Pitstop of Mystery

posted in A1 Grand Prix |

A1GP Team Australia With the A1GP Series about to embark on their third season at Zandvoort they have announced changes to it’s sporting regulations.

In the first two seasons of A1GP, the Feature race grid was decided by the finishing order of the earlier Sprint race.

This year they’re splitting the two qualy sessions with two used to determine the grid for the Sprint event and the second two sessions utilized to form the Feature race grid. The previous practice of using an aggregate of two qual sessions is being scrapped in favor of a teams fastest lap across the four qual sessions will be used.

Additionally, a change to points awarded is being made. The victor of each race will recieve 15 points, second 12 points, third ten points, fourth eight points, fifth six points, sixth place five points and so on until the tenth placed team which will receive one point. A further point can be earned in each race by setting the fastest lap.

Last but not least, A1GP will also have a ~~International Man~~ Pit Stop of Mystery.

The Feature race grid is still required to complete a mandatory stop between laps 8 and 16 as in the past.

A second stop will take place in a different pit stop window and varies dependent on venue. The window in which this new pit stop must be taken will only be revealed as the pit lane opens; half an hour before the lights turn green.

Thus, A1GP’s “Pit Stop of Mystery”.

I don’t see it’s “mystery” to be much of a disadvantage, not in this day and age of ECU’s and computer control of every function on the car. 30 minutes is more than enough time to crunch the numbers and determine how to service the car during its first stop.

It will provide a second chance for some of the weaker teams to screw up a stop, something that’s been common in the past, and will continue if they don’t step up their pit stop practice.

The Feature race length will remain at 69 minutes plus one lap, the Sprint race’s length will be increased to 29 minutes plus one lap.

IN OTHER NEWS: Nicolas Prost has been confirmed as a member of A1 Team France as the team

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2007 at 4:59 pm and is filed under A1 Grand Prix. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On August 31st, 2007, peterg said:#

Sorry Marc you’ve lost me? National colours? The OZ national colours are green & gold, you’ve seen the Rugby, the Wallabies are kitted out in green & gold.

If you mean the colours of the flag, look at team Netherlands, the flag is blue & white but the car runs in the national orange. Same deal with New Zealand, a red white & blue flag with a car in “all black” with silver tern, just like the rugby.

The previous OZ livery was predominately gold with a little green. Maybe the photo above is a intrem colur scheme waiting for some sponsors.

posted on August 31st, 2007 at 9:23 am

2 On August 31st, 2007, Marc said:#

I didn’t say all the teams ran national colors, just vaguely remember A1 Aussie having some red… or something last year.

Sorry. I’d vote for a Koala Bear tan and the red Ayers Rock turns at sunset for A1 Team Aussie’s colors, but I don’t count I’m just a dumb Yank.

What of the “Mystery pit stop?” It’s a bit of a gimmick to me and don’t see where it will create many problems for the teams.

posted on August 31st, 2007 at 10:15 am

3 On August 31st, 2007, peterg said:#

Mystery stop?? total gimmick, considering you are guaranteed a safety car period in any A1 race it will only cause confusion.

Nicolias Prost, God help us, I’m still retching from Mathius Lauda’s contribution to GP2 & A1GP. Sons of former F1 champs should have a COMPULSORY karting background from the time they are in diapers, ala Piquet/Rosberg.None of this, I’ve turned 18 & I think I will follow in dad’s footsteps bullshit.

posted on August 31st, 2007 at 12:33 pm

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