A1 Team Lebanon meets the press at home in Beirut

A1 Team Lebanon drivers, Khalil Beschir and Chris Alajajian were joined by Joe Ghanem, a young driver supported by the team, for a press conference held at Le Royal Hotel in Beirut today. A large audience of over 80 media and eight television stations gathered to meet the team. I

t was an opportunity for the home media to hear about the progress A1 Team Lebanon and its goals for the future. Both drivers expressed their desire to bring Lebanon its first World Cup of Motorsport points in the A1GP Series.

Beschir said, "Of course I want to be the driver that brings my country its first A1GP World Cup of Motorsport points, but the competition is not just confined to the track, I also have to prove myself as the best driver for the team. It’s difficult for the team to make their decisions as we are very closely matched. But as a driver, all you want to do is race, so it’s tough if you are just on the pitwall."

This season Alajajian joined the team and has been testing and racing since the summer. As an Australian-Lebanese he was born in Sydney, only visiting the country of his heritage in his early years. The A1GP rules permit second generation nation drivers to represent a country which allows the young racer to compete with A1 Team Lebanon. Alajajian raced in Australia for two seasons, in single seaters and saloon cars, before joining the team.

He says of racing for Lebanon, "I know just how privileged I am to be part of A1 Team Lebanon and race for the nation in A1GP. I may not have been born here, but I have strong affinity with the country through my parents and wider family, most of whom still live here.

It’s the same for me as for Khalil, we both just want to race. With only one car one of us will always be disappointed, but we are united in our goal of doing the best for Lebanon."

17-year-old Ghanem is grateful to A1 Team Lebanon saying, "Having the support of GMH Motorsport and A1 Team Lebanon has given me a real chance to follow my dream of becoming a professional racing driver. Racing in Europe is the best preparation that a driver can have, it is where most of the world’s top drivers have developed their skills and gained racing experience.

The A1GP series with the rookie and developing nations session reserved exclusively for drivers like myself is my first goal. All the racing that I am doing at the moment is aimed at gaining enough experience to represent Lebanon in A1GP as part of the team. I know it’s a year or so in the future, but it’s an achievable goal if I work hard and make good progress."

Beschir also announced the forthcoming launch of a special design contest to give the Lebanon A1GP car a new livery for next season (2008/09). The team has competed in the Series since its inception in 2005 and has retained its launch livery since this time, adding the flags of the Arab nations for the second season. This design has been retained for the current season and plan to introduce a new livery scheme for the following one.

Engaging the support of the A1 Team Lebanon fans for this, the team hopes to present an eye-catching new identity for the future.

Further details will be available on www.A1TeamLebanon.com  early next year.

- Alison Hill - photo A1 Team Lebanon