The A1 Teams Italy, Russia and USA have introduced new drivers for the fourth round of the series at Eastern Creek, Sydney.
Former Formula 1 turned sportscar racer Andrea Montermini shared the driving for A1 Team Italy on the first day of practice with regular driver Enrico Toccacelo and is hopeful that he will be given the nod to take part in qualifying on Saturday, although his lack of experience in the car will probably dictate against that.
Roman Rusinov is the latest face in the A1 Team Russia car, the fifth to have tried it this year. He arrives from racing a Maserati MC12 in the FIA GT Championship and is enjoying his first run in a single-seater since he contested the Euro 3000 series in 2003.
Bryan Herta is the third of the new trio, taking over from Scott Speed for this round in Australia and the following one at Sepang, Malaysia. Team owner Rick Weidinger is excited with the change: “I’ve known of Bryan since my days as an owner in the Indy Racing League and I know that he has the ability and experience to help us become a very successful team.”
A1 Team Australia is being helped out in the pits this weekend at Eastern Creek by the inaugural winner of the Women in Motorsport scholarship: Kirsty Last. The 20-year-old mechanical engineering student, who also races in Formula Vee, is hoping that this opportunity may open doors for her to secure a future working in the sport, and will be given a second opportunity to display her skills in next month’s A1GP event in Dubai.
Press release
A1GP
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