06/11/2006
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Malaysia, riding high with a double victory at the last round of the international motor racing series, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, head to China for the next round aiming to maintain their winning form.
Regular A1 Team Malaysia driver, Alex Yoong, will be joined by team-mate Fairuz Fauzy, who will take part in the Friday morning practice session giving the team early technical feedback for the team's race preparations.
The event takes place in Beijing, the venue for the 2008 Olympics on a specially constructed temporary street circuit in the Yizhang area. This location is part of the Beijing Economic and Technical Development zone, the city's biggest area for high-tech research centres and large companies.
The course is just over 3km in length, featuring long straights, several 90-degree corners and tight hairpin bends through Jingkai Convention and Exhibition centre land and public roads in the urban setting of south-east Beijing. The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, Beijing, will be the first major international motorsport event to be held in the Chinese capital.
Alex Yoong looks ahead to the new event on the A1GP calendar saying, "I think this race weekend will give the capitol an exciting sporting treat. Street races always produce some spectacular racing, and I'm sure this one will deliver wheel to wheel action, something we are coming to expect from A1GP.
We've had early success this season which has really given us a boost. It won't be easy, as this is a new track for everyone and it's an unknown quantity – all I have seen so far is a rough diagram of the track layout!"
Fairuz Fauzy adds, "I'm really looking forward to getting back in the Malaysian car in Beijing. It's a great car to drive and I love working with the team; they're a great bunch of guys and we all work really well together. The street course for this event looks quite challenging, so it'll be good experience for me."
A1 Team Malaysia Chief Executive, Jack Cunningham comments, "Our focus for Beijing is to continue with the momentum of finishing well in the points. We're lying third in the overall standings, just three points off the lead, so if we can have two strong races in the China capital, we will be well-placed. It's only the third of twelve events so we've plenty to look forward to in the coming months."
The Malaysian round of the Series follows the Beijing event, taking place at the popular Sepang circuit, from 24 – 26 November. The home of the Malaysia FIA Formula One World Championship race is preparing to greet thousands of fans and with A1 Team Malaysia performing well, strong crowds and plenty of Malaysia supporters are expected to be trackside to cheer on the local heroes.