Meet A1GP Team… Monaco?
Yes, you read the headline correctly.
The Principality of Monaco is famous worldwide for its racing heritage, so A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is delighted to announce A1 Team Monaco will be competing in the series in Season Four. Not only will the red and white colours of the Monaco flag adorn the car, but the venture also has the personal blessing of His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The team will be headed by joint seat holders, Clivio Piccione and Hubertus Bahlsen. A former F3 and GP2 race winner, Piccione will also be only the second person in the series’ history to take on the dual role of being the race driver as well as seat holder. The 24-year-old Monegasque has enjoyed the patronage of Prince Albert II throughout his career, and also has the support for this venture from the Monaco Government and the President of the “Conseil National”.
Piccione says: “I am very proud to have been able to put this project together and I believe this new enterprise will bring a lot of excitement and glory to our country. It is a unique situation to be able to take on these two roles. I believe it is a great asset for me not just to be the driver, but to also have a real involvement within the team structure. I am really looking forward to racing for my country in the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car.”
Monaco resident Bahlsen, from Switzerland, races his own personal collection of historic Formula 1 cars, winning his group in the 2005 FIA Historic Formula One series.
“Linking A1GP’s unique race format - being the World Cup of Motorsport - with Monaco’s heritage in motor racing is a thrilling opportunity. I am looking forward to making this partnership successful, both with Clivio and Monegasque supporters as well as with A1GP,” says Bahlsen.
The team will be run on a day-to-day basis by its Team Principal, Graham Taylor. The Briton, from Gloucester, has worked in the sport for 21-years, and has engineering and management experience from Formula 1 to Touring Cars. (Graham has been Super Aguri Sporting Director and a technical director at Bridgestone among many other racing related positions - ed)
A1GP Chairman, Tony Teixeira, is particularly delighted to welcome this new team: “No doubt Monaco represents the smallest population of any of our national teams, but in terms of a worldwide reach there are fewer places that are better known. Our aim in A1GP was to be a truly global series and each year we welcome new teams that help us in this. We are very proud that a principality with such strong ties with the sport has chosen to become part of A1GP.”
Technorati Tags: A1GP, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, A1 Team Monaco
posted in A1 Grand Prix | 3 Comments
I don’t really buy the story although it would be a good way for AGR to stay active during IndyCar’s off season. And it damn sure couldn’t hurt A1 Team USA, anything is an improvement over the teams mostly mid-pack finishes over the last three years.
Matt Kobyluck arrived at Lime Rock Park for the NASCAR Camping World Series East Mohegan Sun 200 Saturday afternoon carrying the series point lead for the first time in two years. He asserted his leadership by posting his fourth win of the season and more than doubling his point lead.
It had previously been estimated the company owed $3 million. The track complex has hosted the A1GP and other motorsport events on land leased from Taupo District Council. Negotiations are continuing with A1GP organisers, but the company has no right of renewal when its three-year contract expires in January 2009.
Matt Kenseth tried to keep up.
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