Oliver Jarvis gained further valuable points for A1 Team GBR in both races at the first ever A1GP World Cup of Motorsport event to be held in Zhuhai International Circuit, keeping the team in the Championship hunt in China. Off the rolling start in the Sprint Race, Olly found himself boxed in behind the leaders and had to brake early causing him to lose a place to the Czech Republic.
Proceedings were then temporarily halted by an incident further down the field at Turn 4 which brought out the Safety Car. With 11 laps to go the race resumed but with the British team trapped between attacking and defending they couldn’t make any further impression in such a short race so remained in sixth taking some good championship points. Olly made a fantastic start from second on the grid in the Feature Race to take the lead from Switzerland and control the pack until the first round of stops.
Problems struck in the pit stop as the rear wheels were spinning before the next set of tyres were on and the team lost time which as a result dropped them down three places. After South Africa found a way past the young Brit, he was P6 but gained a position when France was called in for a drive through penalty. Olly pushed hard but on the second stop was also slowed following damage caused during the first pit-stop.
However, on new tyres in the final stint he was the quickest car on track and claimed fastest lap, and with it another valuable point, showing the clear pace the car had. After two solid points finishes at Zhuhai the team move up the points table to fourth as they head into the Christmas break and will be looking to continue making their way up the championship ladder in the New Year.
Oliver Jarvis: "We lost a place at the start of the Sprint Race as I had to brake early because of the cars in front and Tomas Enge (CZE) just managed to carry a little bit more speed around the outside. It was quite a difficult race to get close – every time I tried to make a move on Czech Republic I then had to defend from India behind. Its not exactly were we want to be but it was good to get some points on the board ahead of the Feature race.
The Feature was an extremely disappointing result though. We had the pace and led the first stint, but the two pit stops didn’t quite go our way. Its unfortunate but once again we showed that we were very quick and when the luck goes our way again we’ll start winning some races."
Katie Clements, Team Principal: "Today’s results didn’t do justice to our performance – Great Britain was the quickest car out there but unfortunately problems in the pit-stops denied us of a certain podium. However we have moved up the Championship table and will come back in 2008 to challenge the current top three."
Channel Five will broadcast all the highlights from China at 0510 on Wednesday 19 December
Round 5 of the 2007-08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport returns to Taupo, New Zealand, on Friday 18 January to Sunday 20 January 2008
A1GP Round 4 Sprint Race 1. Germany, Michael Ammermuller, 20:31.432 2. Switzerland, Neel Jani, 20:32.033 3. China, Cheng Cong Fu, 20:36.064 6. Great Britain, Oliver Jarvis, 20:39.297
A1GP Round 4 Feature Race 1. India, Narain Karthikeyan, 1:08:30.759 2. New Zealand, Jonny Reid, 1:08.31.261 3. South Africa, Adrian Zaugg, 1:08.34.887 5. Great Britain, Oliver Jarvis, 1:08:36.026 A1GP Championship 1. Switzerland, 79 2. France, 60 3. New Zealand, 59 4. Great Britain, 48
A1 Team Great Britain is partnered by AquaSP, Playseats and Visit Britain.
www.a1teamgbr.com
- Victoria Henley -
Photos are on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - A1GP SERIES
