2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Great Britain

The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Great Britain was an A1 Grand Prix race, held on May 4, 2008, at Brands Hatch, Kent, United Kingdom. It was the tenth and last meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season.

2007-08 A1GP of United Kingdom
Race Details
Race 10 of 10 in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season
DateMay 4, 2008
LocationBrands Hatch
Kent, United Kingdom
Sprint race
Qualifying
Pole Great Britain (Robbie Kerr)
Time1'14.424
Podium
1st Great Britain (Robbie Kerr)
2nd USA (Jonathan Summerton)
3rd Ireland (Adam Carroll)
Fastest Lap
FL China (Cong Fu Cheng)
Time1'16.184, (Lap 14)
Feature race
Qualifying
Pole India (Narain Karthikeyan)
Time1'14.682
Podium
1st India (Narain Karthikeyan)
2nd Great Britain (Robbie Kerr)
3rd Switzerland (Neel Jani)
Fastest Lap
FL Ireland (Adam Carroll)
Time1'15.997, (Lap 44)
Official Classifications
PDF Booklet

With their results in the Sprint race, Switzerland was crowned as the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix champion.

Pre-race

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Switzerland only needed to score 3 points more than New Zealand to become champions. Third position was also contested, as Great Britain had the possibility of taking the place away from France

Qualifying

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At Great Britain's home track, Robbie Kerr qualified in pole position for the Sprint race, and on the front row for the Feature race. India earned their first pole position in A1GP, by qualifying on pole for the Feature race.[1] New Zealand, the only team that mathematically could still beat Switzerland for the title, only qualified in 10th and 17th positions.

Sprint race qualifying
Pos Team Time Gap
1   Great Britain 1'14.424 -
2   USA 1'14.426 +0.002
3   Switzerland 1'14.772 +0.348
4   Ireland 1'14.935 +0.511
5   India 1'15.040 +0.616
6   Portugal 1'15.077 +0.653
7   South Africa 1'15.142 +0.718
8   France 1'15.216 +0.792
9   Germany 1'15.306 +0.882
10   New Zealand 1'15.312 +0.888
11   Netherlands 1'15.338 +0.914
12   Australia 1'15.344 +0.920
13   Czech Republic 1'15.357 +0.933
14   Malaysia 1'15.439 +1.015
15   Canada 1'15.470 +1.046
16   China 1'15.954 +1.530
17   Italy 1'16.049 +1.625
18   Pakistan 1'16.086 +1.662
19   Brazil 1'16.117 +1.693
20   Lebanon 1'17.394 +2.970
21   Mexico 1'17.403 +2.979
22   Indonesia 1'17.553 +3.129
Feature race qualifying
Pos Team Time Gap
1   India 1'14.682 -
2   Great Britain 1'14.909 +0.227
3   Switzerland 1'14.957 +0.275
4   Ireland 1'15.020 +0.338
5   Germany 1'15.042 +0.360
6   France 1'15.266 +0.584
7   South Africa 1'15.284 +0.602
8   China 1'15.313 +0.631
9   USA 1'15.398 +0.716
10   Netherlands 1'15.620 +0.938
11   Portugal 1'15.627 +0.945
12   Malaysia 1'15.664 +0.982
13   Canada 1'15.667 +0.985
14   Brazil 1'15.671 +0.989
15   Czech Republic 1'15.690 +1.008
16   Italy 1'15.827 +1.145
17   New Zealand 1'16.003 +1.321
18   Pakistan 1'16.063 +1.381
19   Australia 1'16.175 +1.493
20   Indonesia 1'16.876 +2.194
21   Lebanon 1'16.942 +2.260
22   Mexico 1'17.062 +2.380

Sprint race

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After the start Great Britain took the lead ahead of USA, Ireland, Switzerland, India, Portugal, South Africa and New Zealand.[2] On Lap 4, Robbie Kerr set the fastest lap.
China attacked Australia for 14th, and India pressured Switzerland for 4th place, but the positions remained the same during the race. On Lap 12, Cong Fu Cheng (China) slowed and fell from 15th to 21st. But some laps later, Cheng took fastest lap. Adam Carroll (Ireland) and Jonathan Summerton (USA) fought for 2nd position, whilst Great Britain won the Sprint race at their home track..
In finishing 4th, Neel Jani and Switzerland took the 2007-08 title.[3]

Pos Team Driver Laps Time Points
1   Great Britain Robbie Kerr 15 19'19.143 15
2   USA Jonathan Summerton 15 +1.126 12
3   Ireland Adam Carroll 15 +2.186 10
4   Switzerland Neel Jani 15 +4.125 8
5   India Narain Karthikeyan 15 +4.467 6
6   Portugal Filipe Albuquerque 15 +5.397 5
7   South Africa Adrian Zaugg 15 +6.114 4
8   New Zealand Jonny Reid 15 +8.385 3
9   Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 15 +9.825 2
10   France Franck Montagny 15 +10.878 1
11   Germany Michael Ammermüller 15 +11.203
12   Czech Republic Filip Salaquarda 15 +11.995
13   Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 15 +14.354
14   Australia John Martin 15 +15.846
15   Canada James Hinchcliffe 15 +17.317
16   Brazil Alexandre Negrão 15 +18.107
17   Italy Edoardo Piscopo 15 +18.601
18   Pakistan Adam Langley-Khan 15 +23.887
19   Indonesia Satrio Hermanto 15 +29.954
20   Mexico David Martínez 15 +30.322
21   China Cong Fu Cheng 15 +31.521 +1
22   Lebanon Khalil Beschir 15 +36.238

Feature race

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It was 19 °C for the Feature race.[4] Mandatory pit stops were to take place between laps 8 and 16, and the second window was between laps 32 and 40. Switzerland already took the title, but New Zealand, France and Great Britain were all in contention for the 2nd and 3rd places overall.

India grabbed the lead off the start, ahead of Great Britain and Ireland. On Lap 2, Pakistan and Australia collided and hit the barriers. The Safety car was deployed. Alexandre Negrão (Brazil) had to pit to change the car's nose, following an off-track excursion on the first lap. The Safety car pulled in on Lap 8. Next lap, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) passed Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) for eighth. India has a slow pit stop, and Great Britain exit the pits ahead of them. Adam Carroll (Ireland) was closing and pushing Narain Karthikeyan (India). Canada received a drive-through penalty on Lap 13 and another on Lap 17. After the first set of mandatory pit stops, Great Britain leads India, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, France, Switzerland, China, Netherlands and USA.

On Lap 17, Ireland pulled alongside India to pass into Westfield and both cars touch. Ireland's front wing was damaged by contact with the left-rear wheel of India's car. After the wing flew off a lap later, Ireland suffered a puncture. After pitting, Ireland fell out of the points. On Lap 21, Canada received a third drive-through penalty. On Lap 23, Ireland set the fastest lap. The window for the second set of mandatory pit stops opened on Lap 32 and India, Great Britain and Germany all pit. India takes the lead back after a slow stop from Great Britain. On Lap 38, Germany is out in the gravel and Malaysia retires to the pits with engine problems. On Lap 44, Filipe Albuquerque (Portugal) passes Jonny Reid (New Zealand) for seventh.

India wins its second Feature race of the season. Great Britain is second ahead of Switzerland, China, France, Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Italy and Indonesia who score their first points of the season. With their second place, Great Britain took third place in the overall standings from France.

Pos Team Driver Laps Time Points
1   India Narain Karthikeyan 48 1:07'24.691 15
2   Great Britain Robbie Kerr 48 +1.078 12
3   Switzerland Neel Jani 48 +8.725 10
4   China Cong Fu Cheng 48 +9.132 8
5   France Franck Montagny 48 +12.960 6
6   Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 48 +15.538 5
7   Portugal Filipe Albuquerque 48 +15.714 4
8   New Zealand Jonny Reid 48 +19.862 3
9   Italy Edoardo Piscopo 48 +26.353 2
10   Indonesia Satrio Hermanto 48 +49.268 1
11   South Africa Adrian Zaugg 48 +49.661
12   USA Jonathan Summerton 48 +50.032
13   Ireland Adam Carroll 48 +50.247 +1
14   Brazil Alexandre Negrão 48 +1'00.662
15   Czech Republic Filip Salaquarda 47 +1 lap
16   Mexico Jorge Goeters 47 +1 lap
17   Canada James Hinchcliffe 47 +1 lap
18   Lebanon Khalil Beschir 46 +2 laps
DNF   Germany Michael Ammermüller 39 Spun off
DNF   Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 39 Engine
DNF   Pakistan Adam Langley-Khan 2 Colision
DNF   Australia John Martin 2 Colision

After race

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On Monday 5 May, the A1GP's Gala Awards were celebrated at the Hilton Park Lane in London, at the end of its 2007-08 season.[5] The awards presented at the event were:

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ India grabs first ever pole a1gp.com (May 03, 2008)
  2. ^ Sprint race: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (May 04, 2008)
  3. ^ Switzerland takes 2007/08 title a1gp.com (May 04, 2008)
  4. ^ Feature race: lap-by-lap a1gp.com (May 04, 2008)
  5. ^ A1GP's Gala Awards[permanent dead link] a1gp.com (May 05, 2008)
  6. ^ New Zealand starts strongly a1gp.com (May 02, 2008)
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2007-08 season
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