14/04/2007
NEWS STORY
Excitement is building ahead of this weekend's A1GP Shanghai, China with A1 Team New Zealand, the only team that can stop Germany claiming the championship title this weekend, topping the timing sheets in this morning's final practice session while A1 Team Germany set only the ninth fastest lap time. With race winning Nico Hülkenberg back behind the wheel of the German car, the team put in a fastest lap of 1.36.874, nearly one second off pace setter Jonny Reid (1.35.878).
Last year's Feature race winners, A1 Team Malaysia benefited from yesterday's track time, taking the opportunity to learn the new section of the track, clocking the second fastest lap time, up from ninth yesterday afternoon. Switzerland rounded up the top three, again improving on their seventh place finish of yesterday.
For A1 Teams USA and India, consistency seemed to be the key as they remained in fourth and fifth respectively while for A1 Team Great Britain, yesterday's pace failed to materialise. Driver Robbie Kerr, who is looking to match the Feature race win scored by team mate, Oliver Jarvis at the last event in Mexico, set a fastest lap time of 1.36.622, over one second slower than yesterday's time (1.35.573).
The teams now have to decide on their set up before qualifying for the Sprint race begins at 14.15 this afternoon.