New generation A1GP Powered By Ferrari car promises New Zealand's fastest ever motor race
Friday 7 November 2008, 4:07PM
By A1GP Taupo
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When the lights turn green at Taupo in January next year, New Zealand will be able to enjoy its first view of the new generation of A1GP Powered by Ferrari cars unleashed in a race environment, and it promises to be the country’s fastest ever motor race.
The new generation A1GP Powered By Ferrari car is already significantly quicker than the first generation of A1GP cars that raced at Taupo in 2007 and 2008.
The car, which will be used by all A1GP teams during the fourth season, completed an impressive 7,000 kilometres of testing in Europe in the hands of several very experienced racers, including Marc Gene and Andrea Bertolini. Gene was convinced the car will enhance A1GP’s worldwide reputation as the formula for action and overtaking, commenting: “It will produce exciting racing, it allows overtaking, and is an extreme drive.”
There’s no doubting its speed. It tested at Donington and broke the outright lap record, and did the same during the racing at A1GP Zandvoort, where Earl Bamber shone in the A1GP Team NZL car.
The car utilises a heavily modified V8 engine from Ferrari’s superb F430 and is expected to produce in the region of 550bhp – more than 400kw. In an ultra-light state-of-the-art chassis, that means mouth-watering performance and pace around the Taupo circuit.
“New Zealand’s motorsport fans are going to be in for a real treat at the next A1GP Taupo,” commented event CEO, Gary Dawson. “This new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car is a major step forward from the last one. It looks and sounds superb and will continue A1GP’s tradition of close racing where the best driver and country come out on top.
Early tests prove it’s going to be significantly quicker around all circuits, including Taupo, and there is no question the event will be New Zealand’s fastest ever motor race. Who’d want to miss that?”
2008-2009 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport – Schedule
1) 05 October 2008 A1GP Zandvoort, Netherlands
2) 09 November 2008 A1GP Chengdu, China
3) 23 November 2008 A1GP Sepang, Malaysia
4) 25 January 2009 A1GP Taupo, New Zealand
5) 08 February 2009 A1GP Lippo Village, Indonesia
6) 22 February 2009 A1GP Gauteng, South Africa
7) 15 March 2009 A1GP Mexico City, Mexico
8) 29 March 2009 TBA
9) 12 April 2009 A1GP Algarve, Portugal
10) 03 May 2009 A1GP Brands Hatch, Great Britain
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