Brands Hatch - A1GP - Sprint RaceA1 Team Switzerland has won the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, after finishing fourth in this morning's sensational Brands Hatch Sprint race in the UK, in which Great Britain's Robbie Kerr took a fantastic home race victory ahead
of USA and Ireland.
The crowd went wild as home favourite GBR's Robbie Kerr dominated the action from pole position to win the 20-minute race, moving the British team up into third place in the championship before this afternoon's final race of the season. Kerr, who took victory in the Brands Hatch Sprint race last year, has now scored three wins for his nation during his A1GP career.
USA's Jonathan Summerton, who started second and has been on impressive form all weekend, held position throughout the race and, despite pressure from Carroll in the Celtic Tiger, went on to finish second and take his third podium for the American squad this season.
Much to the delight of the home fans, Ireland's Adam Carroll finished on the podium in third place, after making a brilliant start from fourth on the grid, diving past the Swiss car going into Paddock Hill and seizing third. Twenty-five-year-old Carroll has now notched up a total of four podium finishes - including one win - for the Irish team in his debut A1GP season.
New Zealand's Jonny Reid, who had a poor qualifying session on Saturday but was still in with a chance of overhauling the Swiss team in the title fight this morning, crossed the line eighth. The Kiwis are now preparing to defend second overall in the championship during this afternoon's season finale Feature race, as third-placed GBR is set to pile on the pressure.
An emotional Max Welti, seat holder of newly-crowned A1GP champion A1 Team Switzerland, said: "It's absolutely outstanding. It's such a great feeling - you just cannot believe it! To represent Switzerland all over the globe and to actually do it is fantastic.
We're writing a page in the history books. Neel came on the radio after he crossed the line to thank the team - he knows that to win the world championship is not only his achievement, but everybody in the team as well."
Sprint Race results:
POS DRIVER A1 TEAM LAPS TIME GAP
1 Robbie KERR GREAT BRITAIN 15 19:19.143 -
2 Jonathan SUMMERTON USA 15 19:20.269 1.126
3 Adam CARROLL IRELAND 15 19:21.329 2.186
4 Neel JANI SWITZERLAND 15 19:23.268 4.125
5 Narain KARTHIKEYAN INDIA 15 19:23.610 4.467
6 Filipe ALBUQUERQUE PORTUGAL 15 19:24.540 5.397
7 Adrian ZAUGG SOUTH AFRICA 15 19:25.257 6.114
8 Jonny REID NEW ZEALAND 15 19:27.528 8.385
9 Jeroen BLEEKEMOLEN NETHERLANDS 15 19:28.968 9.825
10 Franck MONTAGNY FRANCE 15 19:30.021 10.878
(...)
2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport points standings:
POS A1 TEAM POINTS
1 Switzerland 158
2 New Zealand 124
3 Great Britain 114
4 France 112
5 South Africa 96
7 Germany 83
8 Netherlands 82
9 Canada 75
10 USA 56
11 Portugal 55
12 China 47
13 India 46
14 Brazil 44
15 Malaysia 25
16 Mexico 22
17 Australia 20
18 Czech Republic 10
19 Italy 10
20 Pakistan 1
