29/08/2007
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Pakistan continued to make progress today, on the final day of testing at the Silverstone circuit in the UK. Season one driver Adam Khan was once again behind the wheel of the green and white car, and impressed the team to set the seventh fastest time in morning practice and the eleventh fastest time in the afternoon.
22 year-old Khan completed 38 laps around the famous Silverstone circuit as the team gathered data and tested various set up changes. The Pakistan car was one of the first out on track this morning and set the early pace. Having completed 10 laps, A1 Team Pakistan were seventh quickest in practice session three, just behind A1 Team Brazil and ahead of A1 Team USA.
Conditions remained bright and sunny for the final practice session, in which Khan set the eleventh quickest lap, just behind A1 Team Malaysia and former Formula One driver Alex Yoong.
Reflecting on a successful test, Khan said "It was a very good job from the team at this test. The engineering team worked well and the set-up was good leading into the second day, when we were able to build on the initial work yesterday. I was shaking off a few cobwebs having been away from the racetrack for a while, but it didn't take long to get back into it.
It's difficult to assess our performance potential at this early stage, but I know that there's definitely more to come from us. It can only get better from here; I've not been in a car for over a year, you have to bear in mind the other drivers have been in other championships, so the more time I get, the better. I'm confident we can catch up with them and be challenging hard in the championship."
A1 Team Manager Bobby Issazadhe commented, "I'm very happy with how the test has gone. We achieved everything we hoped and completed our full test programme. Adam adjusted to the car very well and improved on his performance yesterday. The morning was interrupted with a number of red flags so it was difficult to build the rhythm, but despite this, he posted a solid lap time. With no significant problems we are looking forward to next month's test and our move to the new biofuel."
A1 Team Pakistan seatholder Arif Husain added, "I think we can be very pleased with the progress made over this two day test. This session was invaluable in building a team which can make Pakistan proud in the 2007/08 season. As a nation without a strong motorsport tradition, it is very encouraging that that the team finished the first test of the season so competitively."
A1 Team Pakistan will next be on track at the second official A1GP pre-season test session on 18-19 September. At the two day test, the A1 Team Pakistan car will run on biofuel for the first time, as part of a series wide move by A1GP organisers to minimise the impact of the A1GP cars on the environment.