14/03/2008
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Italy led the way in the opening free practice session in Mexico City – with its new driver Davide Rigon making an instant impression.
Rigon was getting his first taste of an A1GP car in today’s rookie session and made a strong impression, lapping the 4.08 kilometre circuit nearly three tenths quicker than anyone else.
Rigon, in fact, completed two laps that would have been good enough for the quickest time. It is the first time Italy, presently 19th in the standings, has been fastest in an A1GP practice session all season. Rigon will now hand over to Edoardo Piscopo for the rest of the weekend.
Niall Quinn was second quickest for Ireland, which was his best showing in the three rookie sessions he has competed in this season. Wesleigh Orr was third quickest for South Africa ahead of France’s Nicolas Prost.
It was the first time the A1GP drivers had experienced the revised layout of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with the shorter version proving about three seconds quicker than last season’s layout.