2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Malaysia

The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Malaysia is an A1 Grand Prix race, to be held on November 25, 2007, at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia. This will be the third meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season and the 50th start in the A1 Grand Prix history.[1]

2007-08 A1GP of Malaysia
Race Details
Race 3 of 10 in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season
DateNovember 25, 2007
LocationSepang International Circuit
Sepang, Malaysia
WeatherFine
Sprint race
Qualifying
Pole Switzerland (Neel Jani)
Time1'48.630
Podium
1st Switzerland (Neel Jani)
2nd France (Loïc Duval)
3rd Canada (Robert Wickens)
Fastest Lap
FL Switzerland (Neel Jani)
Time1'49.221, (Lap 10)
Feature race
Qualifying
Pole Switzerland (Neel Jani)
Time1'47.648
Podium
1st Switzerland (Neel Jani)
2nd France (Loïc Duval)
3rd Brazil (Sérgio Jimenez)
Fastest Lap
FL Switzerland (Neel Jani)
Time1'49.260, (Lap 25)
Official Classifications
PDF Booklet

Pre-race

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Swiss driver Rahel Frey was the second ever woman to enter in A1GP weekend, on Friday, during rookies sessions.[2] Her compatriot Natacha Gachnang drove the rookies sessions in Czech round also in 2007.

Qualifications

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Neel Jani clocked the best lap time of the weekend in the sprint race qualifications and improve this in the main race qualifications in 1'47.648. Swiss driver demonstrate his superiority in the Sepang circuit and take a double pole for Sunday races.

The Lebanese cars was found to be under the minimum weight limit during main race qualifying.[3] A1 Team Lebanon start from the back of the grid (22nd), instead of 18th, because of the Chris Alajajian car was found 3 kg under the 705 kg minimum weight limit.

Sprint race qualifications
Pos Team Time Gap
1   Switzerland 1'48.630 -
2   France 1'48.845 +0.215
3   Great Britain 1'48.864 +0.234
4   Germany 1'49.219 +0.589
5   Canada 1'49.252 +0.622
6   New Zealand 1'49.330 +0.700
7   Brazil 1'49.376 +0.746
8   South Africa 1'49.525 +0.895
9   China 1'49.535 +0.905
10   Netherlands 1'49.677 +1.047
11   USA 1'49.758 +1.128
12   Australia 1'49.898 +1.268
13   Ireland 1'49.915 +1.285
14   India 1'50.226 +1.596
15   Portugal 1'50.329 +1.699
16   Mexico 1'50.364 +1.734
17   Czech Republic 1'50.401 +1.771
18   Italy 1'50.546 +1.916
19   Malaysia 1'50.653 +2.023
20   Lebanon 1'50.775 +2.145
21   Indonesia 1'51.618 +2.988
22   Pakistan 1'51.819 +3.189
Main race qualifications
Pos Team Time Gap
1   Switzerland 1'47.648 -
2   Great Britain 1'48.608 +0.960
3   Germany 1'48.736 +1.088
4   France 1'48.807 +1.159
5   Netherlands 1'49.021 +1.373
6   Brazil 1'49.110 +1.462
7   Ireland 1'49.248 +1.600
8   China 1'49.308 +1.600
9   South Africa 1'49.324 +1.676
10   New Zealand 1'49.353 +1.705
11   India 1'49.543 +1.895
12   Canada 1'49.642 +1.994
13   USA 1'49.818 +2.170
14   Australia 1'49.868 +2.220
15   Malaysia 1'49.997 +2.349
16   Czech Republic 1'50.020 +2.372
17   Portugal 1'50.109 +2.461
18   Italy 1'50.193 +2.545
19   Indonesia 1'50.651 +3.003
20   Mexico 1'50.869 +3.221
21   Pakistan 1'50.871 +3.223
22   Lebanon 1'51.161 +3.513

Sprint race

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At the start of the sprint race, conditions were warm and humid, with the temperature being 29 °C and the humidity level at 78%.[4] Canada's Robert Wickens lost one position at turn one, while Great Britain's Oliver Jarvis and France's Loïc Duval collided. The British driver was forced back to 6th with damage to the front wing of his car.[5] Still on the first lap, China's Cong Fu Cheng was hit by New Zealand's Jonny Reid, losing many positions as a result. Alex Yoong, driver for the Malaysian team, experienced the best opening lap, moving up from 19th to 11th.

On lap 3, Cong Fu Cheng (China) retired from the race, stopped at the side of the track. Jonny Reid (New Zealand) took over 6th from Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) after passing on the front straight on lap 5. On the next lap, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) passed Adam Carroll (Ireland) for 8th.[4]

On the final lap, Michael Ammermüller (Germany) collided with Wickens (Canada) at turn two, overtaking for the final spot on the podium. Switzerland took the checkered flag, winning the race and securing the fastest lap, followed by France and Germany. Neel Jani dominated from start to finish, achieving pole, the fastest lap (1'49.221) and victory.[6]

Jeroen Bleekemolen was found to have jumped the rolling start, with stewards handing down a penalty of 25 seconds (the equivalent time loss to a drive-through penalty) after the end of the race. The result moved them from 8th to 18th position, taking away the three points they had originally scored.[7]

Germany's collision with Canada on the final lap was deemed avoidable, and the team was demoted from 3rd to 16th place as a consequence.[8]

Both of these demotions promoted Yoong to 9th, giving Malaysia their first two points of the season. Ammermüller's penalty also allowed Wickens to finish on the podium in 3rd.

Pos Team Driver Laps Time Grid Points
1   Switzerland Neel Jani 10 18'20.910 1 15+1
2   France Loïc Duval 10 +3.792 2 12
3   Canada Robert Wickens 10 +13.127 5 10
4   Brazil Sérgio Jimenez 10 +13.737 7 8
5   New Zealand Jonny Reid 10 +14.476 6 6
6   Great Britain Oliver Jarvis 10 +14.937 3 5
7   Ireland Adam Carroll 10 +19.679 13 4
8   Italy Enrico Toccacelo 10 +23.221 18 3
9   Malaysia Alex Yoong 10 +23.587 19 2
10   South Africa Adrian Zaugg 10 +25.105 8 1
11   India Narain Karthikeyan 10 +25.204 14
12   USA Jonathan Summerton 10 +26.527 11
13   Portugal João Urbano 10 +27.772 15
14   Lebanon Chris Alajajian 10 +34.121 20
15   Czech Republic Erik Janis 10 +36.328 17
16   Germany Michael Ammermüller 10 +36.935 4
17   Pakistan Adam Langley-Khan 10 +37.546 22
18   Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 10 +40.327 10
19   Indonesia Satrio Hermanto 10 +44.820 21
20   Mexico Michel Jourdain Jr. 10 +47.416 16
Ret   China Cong Fu Cheng 1 Mechanical 9
Ret   Australia Ian Dyk 0 Collision 12

Main race

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There is 32 °C and 66% of humidity for the second start of the Malaysian round. The two mandatories pit stop should occur between 8th and 14th laps and between 22nd and 30th laps.[9]
At the first corner, a collision get involve Canada, USA, Portugal, China, Australia and Czech Republic.[9] The Portuguese car stuck in the gravel. After a great start jumping ninth, Malaysia and New Zealand collide in the second lap. Then both team must pass by stand. Robert Wickens (Canada) hits Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) while he tried to get his car back on track after spins out on lap 8, turn seven. Then both driver retire and the safety car is out.
Meanwhile, Malaysia and New Zealand can catch up the end of the file after their collide on lap 2. The pit stop window is open and cars were stationary at the end of the pit lane with red light. On green light, Brazil got the better start behind Switzerland, Great Britain, France, Germany and Netherlands. The safety car go back and the race restart on lap 12. Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) passes Neel Jani (Switzerland) into the second corner but the Swiss driver go by Jarvis and Loïc Duval sneaks by too. In lap 14, Brazil set the fastest lap. Switzerland catch up Brazil, New Zealand attempt to passes Pakistan but is well defending, Ireland make mistake and drops from seventh to 10th.
In lap 18, Enrico Toccacelo (Italy) is in the pit and renounce. In turn 2, lap 20, German rookie driver, Michael Ammermüller hit unfairly Great Britain and drops to 5th, Jarvis is now 6th. Germany receive a drive-through penalty. For lap 23, the pit lane is open for the second stops. Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) passes Loïc Duval (France) for 2nd place. In lap 25, Great Britain take the fast lap just before is pit stop where is too fast in the pit lane and receive a drive-through penalty. Switzerland set the fast lap at its turn. Again, at turn 2, lap 29, Michael Ammermüller collide unfairly Erik Janis (Czech Republic) and passes.
After second mandatory pit stop closed, Switzerland is behind Brazil and France. Mexico, Great Britain, USA and Australia are still battling for position. Great Britain gets by Mexico in lap 34 and Ian Dyk (Australia) passes Jonathan Summerton (USA) in final lap. Oliver Jarvis drops USA too.
The final top ten was: Switzerland, Brazil, France, Netherlands, China, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain.

After the race, A1 teams Brazil and Great Britain were penalised to stay stationary at a red light during safety-car period on at the pit exit after their first mandatory pit stops.[10] Both teams have been retrogressed of 2 seconds to their total race time. Brazilian team lose one position (2nd to 3rd) and Great Britain lose 2 positions (10th to 12th) in their final feature race results.

Germany, with its driver Michael Ammermüller, was excluded from the final main race results.[10] In lap 19, the German team cause an avoidable collision with Great Britain and was sanctioned with a drive-through penalty but in lap 28, Germany reiterate an avoidable collision with Czech Republic. The final results before exclusion of Germany was 13th.

Neel Jani accomplish the perfect weekend with 2 pole positions, 2 wins and 2 fast laps.

Pos Team Driver Laps Time Grid Points
1   Switzerland Neel Jani 35 1:08'13.459 1 15+1
2   France Loïc Duval 35 +8.928 4 12
3   Brazil Sérgio Jimenez 35 +10.414 6 10
4   Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 35 +11.222 5 8
5   China Cong Fu Cheng 35 +17.354 8 6
6   India Narain Karthikeyan 35 +17.594 11 5
7   Ireland Adam Carroll 35 +19.372 7 4
8   New Zealand Jonny Reid 35 +20.397 10 3
9   Australia Ian Dyk 35 +44.294 14 2
10   USA Jonathan Summerton 35 +44.549 13 1
11   Mexico Michel Jourdain Jr. 35 +44.715 20
12   Great Britain Oliver Jarvis 35 +46.359 2
13   Malaysia Alex Yoong 35 +48.795 15
14   Pakistan Adam Langley-Khan 35 +56.877 21
15   Czech Republic Erik Janis 35 +58.319 16
16   Indonesia Satrio Hermanto 35 +1'20.906 19
Ret   Lebanon Chris Alajajian 26 Mechanical 22
Ret   Italy Enrico Toccacelo 17 Mechanical 18
Ret   South Africa Adrian Zaugg 7 Collision 9
Ret   Canada Robert Wickens 7 Collision 12
Ret   Portugal João Urbano 0 Collision 17
DSQ   Germany Michael Ammermüller 35 +46.409 3

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ 50th A1 meeting a1gp.com (November 24, 2007)
  2. ^ Sepang, Malaysia, Rookies combined Archived 2007-11-26 at the Wayback Machine results.a1gp.com (November 23, 2007)
  3. ^ Lebanon loses Feature grid slot a1gp.com (November 24, 2007)
  4. ^ a b Sepang Sprint: lap by lap a1gp.com (November 25, 2007) Archived 2007-11-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Switzerland takes Sprint race a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
  6. ^ Sprint race results Archived 2007-11-27 at the Wayback Machine results.a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
  7. ^ Netherlands given Sprint penalty Archived 2007-11-28 at the Wayback Machine a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
  8. ^ Canada promoted to third in Sprint a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
  9. ^ a b Sepang Feature: lap by lap a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
  10. ^ a b Great Britain and Brazil penalised a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
  11. ^ a b Ammermuller called up for Germany a1gp.com (November 12, 2007)
  12. ^ Wickens earns Canada race call a1gp.com (November 15, 2007)
  13. ^ New Zealand's new rookie a1gp.com (November 19, 2007)
  14. ^ Jani and Frey in for Switzerland a1gp.com (November 15, 2007)
  15. ^ Toccacelo and Piscopo for Italy a1gp.com (November 8, 2007)
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2007-08 A1GP, Czech Republic
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