21/04/2009
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Monaco is ready to get back to business at Brands Hatch Circuit next week for the penultimate round of the 2008/9 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport (1-3 May 2009). With a top five finish in the Sprint race in Portugal and a potential podium denied to driver Clivio Piccione in the Feature event, Team Monaco has its sights set firmly on improving its current ninth place in the Championship table.
One of the most iconic sporting venues in the world, Brands Hatch has laid claim to being 'the busiest race circuit in Europe'. Having undergone a series of major improvements in recent years, the Kent circuit now attracts some of the biggest international events on the motorsport calendar and has hosted three A1GP races to date.
The inaugural A1GP World Cup of Motorsport meeting took place at the circuit in September 2005 in front of 72,000 expectant motor racing fans. The second meeting was the 2006/07 season's championship finale and it was the first time a home nation won its home event in the series. Last season the venue held the first A1GP championship race to go to the wire in the final event on the calendar.
Starting out as a dirt track motorcycle circuit in 1926, Brands Hatch has been characterised by its natural amphitheatre which affords excellent views of the racing action from the spectator banking and grandstands. The circuit has witnessed a number of significant moments in motorsport history including Ayrton Senna's first car win, Nigel Mansell's debut F1 victory and James Toseland's only double win in World Superbikes.
The 2.301 miles (3.703 km) Grand Prix circuit was constructed in 1959 when it hosted its first Formula 2 race. With its fierce undulating track and fast sweeping corners, not to mention the infamous Paddock Hill Bend, Brands Hatch remains one of the most challenging Grand Prix circuits in the world.
The A1GP lap record at Brands Hatch is 1:14.923 recorded by Robbie Kerr, A1 Team Great Britain, in April 2007.
Clivio Piccione, Driver and Seat-Holder, A1 Team Monaco: "I am excited to go racing again, this time only after a short break. I am really looking forward to returning to Brands Hatch where I started racing in single-seaters five years ago. I like the track and it will be exciting to drive the A1GP car around it as I believe it suits my driving style. You need to be committed at Brands. It has some high speed corners and the track itself is quite tight, so Qualifying will be key as there is no room for error and very few overtaking opportunities."
Graham Taylor, Team Principal, A1 Team Monaco: "The results may not have shown it, but the Monaco team took a good step forward in Portugal. Clivio was unfortunate to become victim of another driver's optimism which translated into a lot of unnecessary damage. However, we know the car has genuine pace, the team can perform well, our drivers just keep getting better and collectively we cannot wait to get stuck in at Brands."