05/11/2006
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Germany travels as championship leader to the third round of the A1 Grand Prix series, which is held between 10 and 11 November in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China. The Willi Weber managed team once again enters Nico Hülkenberg. The Emmerich based race driver had already contested the opening two races in the series. The team has been leading the championship standings since the new season started in September.
The circuit in Asia is new territory for the team after winning at Zandvoort, The Netherlands, and claiming fourth place following a spectacular comeback drive in Brno, Czech Republic. A temporary 3.08 km circuit, lined by concrete walls, has been created on the grounds of the Jingkai Convention and Exhibition Centre to the north east of the capital city. "Up until now the Norisring in Germany was the only street circuit on which I have driven", explains Nico Hülkenberg. "However, I know I get used to new circuits quickly, and Beijing is new territory for every A1 Grand Prix driver. The fact that I have now competed in more races, and am therefore unable to participate in Friday's 'Rookie' session for newcomers, means that we'll miss a little experience."
After two race weekends, the experience of the 19-year old from Germany's Rhineland region continues to grow in the "A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport", in which 23 nations compete with identical 520 hp single-seater cars. "In qualifying one fast lap simply isn't sufficient, you have to extract the maximum in each of the four single laps, from which the fastest two are then counted", he analyses. "At 70 minutes, the main race is very long. The pit stop and also activation of the PowerBoost function, which can only be used eight times, to increase engine power by 30 hp are important strategic elements. They make this series very exciting."
Willi Weber has given his A1 Team Germany an ambitious task to accompany them on the long trip: "We arrive in China leading the championship be a single point. I also hope that we start the long journey home at the top of the table. Nico and DS Motorsport have shown that they can establish themselves permanently as leaders."