The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Malaysia is an A1 Grand Prix race, to be held on November 25, 2007, at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia. This will be the third meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season and the 50th start in the A1 Grand Prix history.50th A1 meeting a1gp.com (November 24, 2007)
Pre-race Swiss driver Rahel Frey was the second ever woman to enter in A1GP weekend, on Friday, during rookies sessions.Sepang, Malaysia, Rookies combined results.a1gp.com (November 23, 2007) Her compatriot Natacha Gachnang drove the rookies sessions in Czech round also in 2007.
Qualifications Neel Jani clocked the best lap time of the weekend in the sprint race qualifications and improve this in the main race qualifications in 1'47.648. Swiss driver demonstrate his superiority in the Sepang circuit and take a double pole for Sunday races.
The Lebanese cars was found to be under the minimum weight limit during main race qualifying.Lebanon loses Feature grid slot a1gp.com (November 24, 2007) A1 Team Lebanon start from the back of the grid (22nd), instead of 18th, because of the Chris Alajajian car was found 3 kg under the 705 kg minimum weight limit.
Sprint race qualificationsPosTeamTimeGap1 Switzerland1'48.630 -2 France1'48.845 +0.2153 Great Britain1'48.864 +0.2344 Germany1'49.219 +0.5895 Canada1'49.252 +0.6226 New Zealand1'49.330 +0.7007 Brazil1'49.376 +0.7468 South Africa1'49.525 +0.8959 China1'49.535 +0.90510 Netherlands1'49.677 +1.04711 USA1'49.758 +1.12812 Australia1'49.898 +1.26813 Ireland1'49.915 +1.28514 India1'50.226 +1.59615 Portugal1'50.329 +1.69916 Mexico1'50.364 +1.73417 Czech Republic1'50.401 +1.77118 Italy1'50.546 +1.91619 Malaysia1'50.653 +2.02320 Lebanon1'50.775 +2.14521 Indonesia1'51.618 +2.98822 Pakistan1'51.819 +3.189Main race qualificationsPosTeamTimeGap1 Switzerland1'47.648 -2 Great Britain1'48.608 +0.9603 Germany1'48.736 +1.0884 France1'48.807 +1.1595 Netherlands1'49.021 +1.3736 Brazil1'49.110 +1.4627 Ireland1'49.248 +1.6008 China1'49.308 +1.6009 South Africa1'49.324 +1.67610 New Zealand1'49.353 +1.70511 India1'49.543 +1.89512 Canada1'49.642 +1.99413 USA1'49.818 +2.17014 Australia1'49.868 +2.22015 Malaysia1'49.997 +2.34916 Czech Republic1'50.020 +2.37217 Portugal1'50.109 +2.46118 Italy1'50.193 +2.54519 Indonesia1'50.651 +3.00320 Mexico1'50.869 +3.22121 Pakistan1'50.871 +3.22322 Lebanon1'51.161 +3.513
Sprint race At the start of the sprint race, conditions were warm and humid, with the temperature being 29 °C and the humidity level at 78%.Sepang Sprint: lap by lap a1gp.com (November 25, 2007) Canada's Robert Wickens lost one position at turn one, while Great Britain's Oliver Jarvis and France's Loïc Duval collided. The British driver was forced back to 6th with damage to the front wing of his car.Switzerland takes Sprint race a1gp.com (November 25, 2007) Still on the first lap, China's Cong Fu Cheng was hit by New Zealand's Jonny Reid, losing many positions as a result. Alex Yoong, driver for the Malaysian team, experienced the best opening lap, moving up from 19th to 11th.
On lap 3, Cong Fu Cheng (China) retired from the race, stopped at the side of the track. Jonny Reid (New Zealand) took over 6th from Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) after passing on the front straight on lap 5. On the next lap, Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) passed Adam Carroll (Ireland) for 8th.
On the final lap, Michael Ammermüller (Germany) collided with Wickens (Canada) at turn two, overtaking for the final spot on the podium. Switzerland took the checkered flag, winning the race and securing the fastest lap, followed by France and Germany. Neel Jani dominated from start to finish, achieving pole, the fastest lap (1'49.221) and victory.Sprint race results results.a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
Jeroen Bleekemolen was found to have jumped the rolling start, with stewards handing down a penalty of 25 seconds (the equivalent time loss to a drive-through penalty) after the end of the race. The result moved them from 8th to 18th position, taking away the three points they had originally scored.Netherlands given Sprint penalty a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
Germany's collision with Canada on the final lap was deemed avoidable, and the team was demoted from 3rd to 16th place as a consequence.Canada promoted to third in Sprint a1gp.com (November 25, 2007)
Both of these demotions promoted Yoong to 9th, giving Malaysia their first two points of the season. Ammermüller's penalty also allowed Wickens to finish on the podium in 3rd.
PosTeamDriverLapsTimeGridPoints1 SwitzerlandNeel Jani1018'20.910115+12 FranceLoïc Duval10 +3.7922123 CanadaRobert Wickens10 +13.1275104 BrazilSérgio Jimenez10 +13.737785 New ZealandJonny Reid10 +14.476666 Great BritainOliver Jarvis10 +14.937357 IrelandAdam Carroll10 +19.6791348 ItalyEnrico Toccacelo10 +23.2211839 MalaysiaAlex Yoong10 +23.58719210 South AfricaAdrian Zaugg10 +25.1058111 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan10 +25.2041412 USAJonathan Summerton10 +26.5271113 PortugalJoão Urbano10 +27.7721514 LebanonChris Alajajian10 +34.1212015 Czech RepublicErik Janis10 +36.3281716 GermanyMichael Ammermüller10 +36.935417 PakistanAdam Langley-Khan10 +37.5462218 NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen10 +40.3271019 IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto10 +44.8202120 MexicoMichel Jourdain Jr.10 +47.41616Ret ChinaCong Fu Cheng1 Mechanical9Ret AustraliaIan Dyk0 Collision12
Main race There is 32 °C and 66% of humidity for the second start of the Malaysian round. The two mandatories pit stop should occur between 8th and 14th laps and between 22nd and 30th laps.Sepang Feature: lap by lap a1gp.com (November 25, 2007) At the first corner, a collision get involve Canada, USA, Portugal, China, Australia and Czech Republic. The Portuguese car stuck in the gravel. After a great start jumping ninth, Malaysia and New Zealand collide in the second lap. Then both team must pass by stand. Robert Wickens (Canada) hits Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) while he tried to get his car back on track after spins out on lap 8, turn seven. Then both driver retire and the safety car is out. Meanwhile, Malaysia and New Zealand can catch up the end of the file after their collide on lap 2. The pit stop window is open and cars were stationary at the end of the pit lane with red light. On green light, Brazil got the better start behind Switzerland, Great Britain, France, Germany and Netherlands. The safety car go back and the race restart on lap 12. Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) passes Neel Jani (Switzerland) into the second corner but the Swiss driver go by Jarvis and Loïc Duval sneaks by too. In lap 14, Brazil set the fastest lap. Switzerland catch up Brazil, New Zealand attempt to passes Pakistan but is well defending, Ireland make mistake and drops from seventh to 10th. In lap 18, Enrico Toccacelo (Italy) is in the pit and renounce. In turn 2, lap 20, German rookie driver, Michael Ammermüller hit unfairly Great Britain and drops to 5th, Jarvis is now 6th. Germany receive a drive-through penalty. For lap 23, the pit lane is open for the second stops. Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) passes Loïc Duval (France) for 2nd place. In lap 25, Great Britain take the fast lap just before is pit stop where is too fast in the pit lane and receive a drive-through penalty. Switzerland set the fast lap at its turn. Again, at turn 2, lap 29, Michael Ammermüller collide unfairly Erik Janis (Czech Republic) and passes. After second mandatory pit stop closed, Switzerland is behind Brazil and France. Mexico, Great Britain, USA and Australia are still battling for position. Great Britain gets by Mexico in lap 34 and Ian Dyk (Australia) passes Jonathan Summerton (USA) in final lap. Oliver Jarvis drops USA too. The final top ten was: Switzerland, Brazil, France, Netherlands, China, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain.
After the race, A1 teams Brazil and Great Britain were penalised to stay stationary at a red light during safety-car period on at the pit exit after their first mandatory pit stops.Great Britain and Brazil penalised a1gp.com (November 25, 2007) Both teams have been retrogressed of 2 seconds to their total race time. Brazilian team lose one position (2nd to 3rd) and Great Britain lose 2 positions (10th to 12th) in their final feature race results.
Germany, with its driver Michael Ammermüller, was excluded from the final main race results. In lap 19, the German team cause an avoidable collision with Great Britain and was sanctioned with a drive-through penalty but in lap 28, Germany reiterate an avoidable collision with Czech Republic. The final results before exclusion of Germany was 13th.
Neel Jani accomplish the perfect weekend with 2 pole positions, 2 wins and 2 fast laps.
PosTeamDriverLapsTimeGridPoints1 SwitzerlandNeel Jani351:08'13.459115+12 FranceLoïc Duval35 +8.9284123 BrazilSérgio Jimenez35 +10.4146104 NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen35 +11.222585 ChinaCong Fu Cheng35 +17.354866 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan35 +17.5941157 IrelandAdam Carroll35 +19.372748 New ZealandJonny Reid35 +20.3971039 AustraliaIan Dyk35 +44.29414210 USAJonathan Summerton35 +44.54913111 MexicoMichel Jourdain Jr.35 +44.7152012 Great BritainOliver Jarvis35 +46.359213 MalaysiaAlex Yoong35 +48.7951514 PakistanAdam Langley-Khan35 +56.8772115 Czech RepublicErik Janis35 +58.3191616 IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto35 +1'20.90619Ret LebanonChris Alajajian26 Mechanical22Ret ItalyEnrico Toccacelo17 Mechanical18Ret South AfricaAdrian Zaugg7 Collision9Ret CanadaRobert Wickens7 Collision12Ret PortugalJoão Urbano0 Collision17DSQ GermanyMichael Ammermüller35 +46.4093
Notes Main race was the 50th start and 25th race weekend. It was the first race for Michael AmmermüllerAmmermuller called up for Germany a1gp.com (November 12, 2007) and Robert WickensWickens earns Canada race call a1gp.com (November 15, 2007) in A1 Grand Prix. It was the first race weekend for Michael Ammermüller, Earl Bamber,New Zealand's new rookie a1gp.com (November 19, 2007) Rahel FreyJani and Frey in for Switzerland a1gp.com (November 15, 2007) and Edoardo Piscopo.Toccacelo and Piscopo for Italy a1gp.com (November 8, 2007) It was the 3rd venue in the Sepang International Circuit and the 3rd Malaysian Grand Prix. Records : A1 Team Lebanon participate on 25 races (50 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix. 26th podium for A1 Team France. Alex Yoong participate on 24 races (46 starts). Neel Jani won 201 points.
References
External links Switzerland takes Sprint race Sepang Sprint: lap by lap Sprint race results Switzerland wins thrilling Feature Sepang Feature: lap by lap Feature race results