A1GP News Round Up 23.03.2009: With A1GP World Cup of Motorsport now back in Europe teams are looking forward to the next event, A1GP Algarve, Portugal, 10 – 12 April 2009.A1GP is heading to Portugal for only the second time

With A1GP World Cup of Motorsport now back in Europe teams are looking forward to the next event, A1GP Algarve, Portugal, 10 – 12 April 2009.A1GP is heading to Portugal for only the second time in its history and for the first time to the brand new Autódromo Internacional do Algarvecircuit. With several teams, including A1 Teams Switzerland, Ireland, Netherlands and the home team A1 Team Portugal, all battling for the championship and to win the prized World Cup of Motorsport trophy, the event promises to be one of the most memorable of the season.

Ahead of A1GP Brands Hatch, Great Britain, 1 – 3 May, fans can now keep up to date with the latest information through a dedicated A1GP Brands Hatch mini-site, www.a1gpbrandshatch.com, which was launched last week. The new website features the latest news, images and videos on the 2008/09 A1GP season, as well as information on the upcoming Brands Hatch event.

Through the site, fans can book tickets and find out more about the entertainment on offer both on and off the track during race weekend as well as directions to Brands Hatch and local accommodation details.

The website also includes details of raceday hospitality packages - including the brand new Trackside Lounge pass, which gives access to one of Brands Hatch’s stylish trackside suites at Brands Hatch, with superb views of the race circuit along the start/finish straight, available for £115 per person.

General admission tickets cost from £29 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under.

A1 Team Malaysia joined one of its partners, The Otomotif College (TOC), last weekend at the Facon Education Fair held at the KL Convention Centre. The Otomotif College is an established training institution specialised in automotive education and skills training for the retail automotive sector. The fair is aimed at encouraging post secondary students to consider the college options available to them and A1 Team Malaysia were keen to be involved to help attract a new generation of talent to the automotive industry.

The A1 Team Malaysia simulator was one of the main attractions on the TOC stand, drawing in prospective students to learn more about the offering of the college and having nearly 200 people put their skills to the test in the virtual A1GP race car. A1 Team Malaysia driver, Aaron Lim, also visited the stand, spending time meeting fans and signing autographs.

Higher Education Ministry Director general Datuk Professor Radin Umar Radin Sohadi did not miss a chance to try the simulator and commented about the fair, “Although our country is facing an economic slowdown and there are many unemployed graduates, students should still take tertiary education seriously and acquire the right attributes in order to be marketable later on.”

A1 Team Malaysia driver Aaron Lim was on hand to guide and tutor the budding race drivers on the simulator and he commented after the event, “The Facon Education fair is a great environment for students to be able to look at the options for the next step in their career ladders. The A1 Team Malaysia simulator was a real crowd puller to the TOC stand and it was great to be able to chat with students who are interested in the automotive sector and motorsport.

“As a long term partner to the Malaysian A1GP team, we know first hand how the TOC can assist young students with their career goals. The students who study at the TOC could potentially make the transition into Malaysian motorsports in the future and grow into race series such as A1GP.”

Looking ahead to Season Five, the SuperGP on Australia’s Gold Coast has been strengthened by the announcement of a new three-year naming rights partnership with the Nitro energy drink brand.

Nitro Energy Drink is an Australian-owned product with its national headquarters on the Gold Coast. Nitro Energy Drink Joint MD Matt Nielsen and Nitro SuperGP chairman Terry Mackenroth officially confirmed the partnership last week. 

“I think, like the Nitro SuperGP, our products are for everyone - and being a proud Queensland and Australian-based company, we have had our eye on a major event to be associated with for a long time,” Nielsen said, “For this opportunity to present itself at this stage of our company's growth is fantastic for everyone involved and we look forward to accelerating our brand's position and our sales through a positive and rewarding relationship.

“The slogan we have associated with Nitro Energy Drinks is 'Go hard or go home' and, in a lot of respects, that is a perfect fit for one of the world's most exciting and entertainment-packed events which really does test a fan's stamina. That will be made a little easier with a can of Nitro Energy Drink or two!”

''I am very pleased to welcome Nitro Energy Drink onboard as the naming rights partner in what is the start of a new era for the event,” said SuperGP chairman Terry Mackenroth.

“The SuperGP is considered one of the world's best street races and to secure Nitro Energy Drink as the new naming rights partner for a three-year period further reinforces its strength and appeal. I believe the addition of a dynamic and proactive naming rights partner in Nitro Energy Drink and their ability to leverage the event on a national stage, will provide enormous opportunities for both parties.”

The Nitro SuperGP will feature A1GP and V8 Supercars with the two series to co-headline the event in Queensland on the 23-25 October 2009. The eve nt is produced through a partnership between the Queensland Government and IMG. Tickets for the event officially go on sale on 23 March 2009 through Ticketek (www.Ticketek.com ) and the event’s new website www.SuperGP.com.


- Ann Bradshaw, Jo Crosby, Sophie Ogg-