"Just six months after the launch of A1 Grand Prix in Dubai, series founder and CEO, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum has announced the identity of the first six national 'seat holders' and unveiled the final specification of the series' car.
The UK, South Africa, China, Portugal, Pakistan and the Lebanon are the first countries to have secured their places in the winter one-make championship, billed as the World Cup of Motorsport' which will start in the autumn of 2005.
Sheikh Maktoum will presented the UK 'team' with its car at the London launch party held to unveil the final specification of car. In the perfect example of how the series' ambition to combine the worlds of motorsport and business, the chairman of the UK operation, John Surtees MBE - the only man to have won world championships on two and four wheels - will be working closely with businessman Tony Clements. Surtees will join Sheikh Maktoum on stage to take delivery of the car.
“This is a significant step forward for A1 Grand Prix," the Sheikh commented, "We set ourselves demanding targets and, six months down the line, we are exceeding our
own expectations. We are delighted to welcome all six national seat holders to the series, and the fact we have many more countries waiting to announce their participation in the series means our concept has been wholeheartedly embraced by both the business and motorsport fraternities.”
The definitive UK car has a distinctive red, white and blue livery that reflects the nationality of the team that will be running it. It is the culmination of hours of hard work on the designer's drawing board, in a wind tunnel and on test tracks at Snetterton and Jerez.
The series expects to announcing further national 'seat holders' at a South African launch event, in Johannesburg, in a few weeks' time."
Finally an event that we can take part in... c'mon Singapore ... send your best driver!
UK's entry with team colors
