A1 Team Mexico will try to move up the field 22.02.2009: The Mexican team has had a difficult weekend during the fifth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport series that is taking place at the 4.26km long Grand Prix Circuit of Kyalami, South Africa.

The Mexican team has had a difficult weekend during the fifth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport series that is taking place at the 4.26km long Grand Prix Circuit of Kyalami, South Africa.

On Friday, the team was not able to get the car on the track as some parts necessary to correct a fuel supply problem caused by the altitude were not provided on time by the series. It was until this morning (Saturday) when drivers Juan Pablo Garcia and Salvador Duran were able to drive down the track.

“On Friday, only the cars that were ready had their practice sessions, but I was only able to take the track until this morning, during the rookie practice that took place a 7:40 am. During the session, the left fuel pump failed and it had to be fixed. Later on, with only eight laps to go in the session, I went off the track and couldn't finish
the practice”, remarked rookie driver Juan Pablo Garcia.

Chava Duran took the snake eyed car for the first time during the free practice session that was held before the official session.

About qualifying, Duran said: “We went out on old tires but that didn’t work for us because there is a big difference between old and new tires on this t rack. For the second session, we had a new set but it was hard to know what adherence we'd have as we never tested on new tires before using the fuel load that we had on the car. We were too slow on that session".

And he added: “We had again new tires for the third session but wanted to save the "powerboost" button and use new tires in the last session, as it was the most important for us. We were ready to charge hard in the last session but when I was leaving the box a red flag came out and that was it. We didn't do a single lap and our
qualifying was doomed".

“We will start the Sprint race from 16th and had qualified 13th for the Feature, but our best lap of the third session was taken away because a marshal claims having called us to get weighted but we did not attend immediately. That is why we will start from 20th". Duran ended.

The team will work on a recovery strategy that will use the mandatory pit stops to try to climb up the field and earn its first points of the season.


- A1 Team Mexico - also photo