Countries should only be allowed into A1 if they have a proven track record (no pun) of quality drivers.  Teams that are there simply to make up the grid are no better than "ride buyers" in other series.

Countries with long histories of good drivers (e.g. England, Mexico, South Africa, Holland) should get an automatic exemption.  On the other hand, countries with unproven or short histories should be required to proven their track worthiness.  Some countries' drivers have shown consistent quality and should continue to race with exemption, such as Malaysia. (I'd love to see 15 year old Jazeman Jafaar drive a few races.)

But at times, other countries are no better than moving chicanes, such as China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, and now, South Korea.  Bottom end teams and drivers should have to pre-qualify, as F1 teams used to do.  Drivers which can't put in laps competitive with the leaders (the old 107% rule) shouldn't be allowed on the track.  Some of these teams' drivers are very good (e.g. Frankie Cheng of China) or passable (Ananda Mikola of Indonesia), but not all of them are.

These are the countries I would give automatic exemption to.  They have plenty of quality drivers: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, USA

These countries should also get exemptions.  They don't have long histories, but have proven themselves: Malaysia, Portugal, Switzerland

These countries should be forced to pre-qualify.  Some of their drivers are good, and if they have enough, they can be given exemptions like the second group: China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Lebanon, Monaco, Pakistan

I have to wonder if A1GP is on its last legs and is desperate for teams to make up the grid.  They're letting anybody in these days.

I agree with you Fishbone ... 

I am from Pakistan .. Team Pak isnt what a Pakistani would want it to be .... it is being run by merely Fake Pakistanis who take A1gp nomore then a business .. its shalmeful really. 

The two drivers Nur and Adam are from US and Uk ..  Nur is so slow, I have heard drivers saying "I dont want to be another Nur ali" !!  ... Adam ont he other hand showed us how to crash into another car on the straight! 

There is talent .. a couple of formula bmw guys ... they are definitely up for the job .. Team Pak is so generous .. they wont let them test!

Hello guys, 

I don't agree with you ,that what makes it special, seeing emerging countries play, 

Sincerly, today's race was exceptionnal, the Lebanese team along with the Aussie and the Netherlands made the whole show. The Lebanese team almost finished 4th and it's a great thing for a small country.

A1GP should be opened to every country who wants to compete, at least this is a good chance to make them get better. Let it not ressemble to F1 were the wealthiest and the most advanced are always seen on the starting grid, while new emerging teams cannot even finish a whole season.

Regards from Toulouse, France

ahage4X4

I completely agree with you 200% . I am from pakistan and I am not saying this becasue of my biased interest I am saying this becasue I see first hand what A1 GP has done to stimulate the gorwth, interest, awareness and development of motorsporst in Pakistan. Becasue of A1 GP we now for the first time in our history have  regular karting races and karting championships taking place. We have potential investors and entrepenuers taking a look at motorsports as a busienss and industry and looking to invest to build the circuits and infrastructure for a proper international standard facility and events. We have at least 5 drivers who have gone abroad, attended the racing schhols, racing courses and taken part in a few junior formula races internationally and  are professionally licesned by the FIA .  All this has happend only becasue of A1 GP, becasue they see a hope to maybe one day get a chance to drive for their country in A1 GP.

Without a doubt because of A1 GP there has been an enromous boost in the interest and awareness of motorsports in the emerging countries.  In actuality A1 GP is directly helping to create a desire and demand for motorsports in these countries and indirectly promoting the growth of motorsports and a motorsport culture in these emerging countries.

 

A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsports, along with the A1 Teams have given hope to millions of race fans and enthusiasts all around the world especially in emerging countries that do not have an estbalished national motorsport structure that they too can reach lofty heights in the world of international motorsports. It has provided them with a goal to aspire to and an avenue through which they can aim to represent their country at the highest level of international motorsport which is only one step below Formula 1.

New countries should be encouraged to compete but I would urge the A1GP organisers to introduce something similar to the 107% rule that we had in F1. In equal cars ,the field spread should not be 13-15 seconds in qualifying , this is ridiculous and dangerous, the back need to be a lot closer to the pace up front. Up to about 5 seconds I would say is relatively reasonable to allow for healthy grids, any more than that and you run the risk of having a lot of lapped cars in a short space of time which is a recipe for an accident to happen. Make no question, A1GP cars are quick.

We have to remember that they are high horsepower single seaters and an international racing series, not club Formula Ford.

Those teams with drivers so far off the pace should be allowed the freedom to stage their own test anywhere at a circuit A1GP do not race on  if they fail to qualify for an event to bring their drivers up to speed.

I think that is a fair solution, thoughts?

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One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it

what a load of bullshit

 

its the teams that shold get the  above average drivers who can drive

none of this auto pass to drive crap, so you are all saying if all the countrys with auto pass came with drivers who crashed/to slow is fine you guys would be the first to jump up and down to replace them

 

as for lap times alot has to do with setup of the car,thats not drivers job, if the car isnt right they will never be up there at front of field

Look at earl bamber sitting about 10 secs off the pace at qaul, goes to pits the team tweaks something then pumps out a .3 sec from pole(goes to 2nd place)

 

every country has a right to race, none this crap about some countrys shold be aload in auto coz they have produced good drivers  b4

every driver can and does make mistakes,and every car is the same, but if it isnt set up right it will never win,with the cars always at the rear of grid even when they have changed drivers does that always mean that it is the drivers fault? maybe not, maybe it is the set up,

this year might be better as there is full swapping of set ups etc from all the teams

Totally agree with you Fubar, a lot is to do with the setup and theres only so much a driver can do when the car is a dogs dinner but you must agree that in terms of actually controlling all that power, some of the teams should have their drivers testing the A1GP car away from the A1GP events to really get their drivers tuned in to the car and for the teams to understand the setup and complexities of it.

A rainy day at Donny and Snett is nothing lol. I hope to see a lot of mid season tests in the giant break between the last 08 GP and Taupo in the new year. A restriction on testing would be a dappy move.

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One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it

and They do a good job too.

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well done on Team Switzland on winning the Championship go Neil Jani.

Rand:

ahage4X4

I completely agree with you 200% . I am from pakistan and I am not saying this becasue of my biased interest I am saying this becasue I see first hand what A1 GP has done to stimulate the gorwth, interest, awareness and development of motorsporst in Pakistan. Becasue of A1 GP we now for the first time in our history have  regular karting races and karting championships taking place. We have potential investors and entrepenuers taking a look at motorsports as a busienss and industry and looking to invest to build the circuits and infrastructure for a proper international standard facility and events. We have at least 5 drivers who have gone abroad, attended the racing schhols, racing courses and taken part in a few junior formula races internationally and  are professionally licesned by the FIA .  All this has happend only becasue of A1 GP, becasue they see a hope to maybe one day get a chance to drive for their country in A1 GP.

Without a doubt because of A1 GP there has been an enromous boost in the interest and awareness of motorsports in the emerging countries.  In actuality A1 GP is directly helping to create a desire and demand for motorsports in these countries and indirectly promoting the growth of motorsports and a motorsport culture in these emerging countries.

 

A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsports, along with the A1 Teams have given hope to millions of race fans and enthusiasts all around the world especially in emerging countries that do not have an estbalished national motorsport structure that they too can reach lofty heights in the world of international motorsports. It has provided them with a goal to aspire to and an avenue through which they can aim to represent their country at the highest level of international motorsport which is only one step below Formula 1.

Absolutely class post! This was one of the objectives of A1GP and one of the reasons why it should succeed in the long term, that people in developing countries will look to A1GP for their racing enjoyment.

The only other thing I would add is that 107% rules or whatever are totally unrealistic in the commercial age. You cannot have sponsors turning up in hospitality boxes only to have to explain to them that the team won't be running.

The only reason there was a big gap in qualifying times at Zandvoort was because it was a brand new car in treacherous conditions! Come Brands Hatch in May, there will be only a few seconds at most between them, as all teams have worked out set-ups and their drivers have got up to speed. Don't judge these guys on one weekend!

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Life as a1gp junkies… through the eyes of a few enthuthiasts.

Yes, and look: there is not a team currently active that didn't score points.

Motorsports is emerging in some countries. It may take them years to be at the completely same level as, say, Germany, Great Britain, USA, France or Netherlands, but look at what is allready accomplished in, say, Malaysia in just a short time.

In basically 20 years, Malaysia has gone from nothing to having an F1 driver, they have an F1 grade track and enough youthfull talents to go on for a while.

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Orange: the most beautifull color in the world
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I don't agree I thought the whole idea of the A1GP was to give a more entertaining and even class of racing on a world scale similar to F1 without 1 man controlling the series.

Formula 1 is a farce and this is the best international open wheeler racing series around.

Why would you want to exclude a country who has some emerging young drivers from gaining experiance at this level?

It is not only the drivers that develop from each season but the support teams as well.

As a part time racer I wouldn't want to be told that I could'nt race with faster drivers just because I couldn't keep the pace up.

 And as was shown on the weekend it is not only the so called st grade teams that can get results.

 

 

 

well A1 as it is now is good but i agree drivers like the  korean or like Nour Ali before are so much not on the level they should find a solution to korea soon really

With regrads to the first post, i do not agree at all. A1 is the world cup for the nations, whether a long history or not! I'm south african, and the only great driver we ever produced was jody...yeah there are probably a few but never got anywhere. let the "developing countries" in terms of motorsport participate. you never know what you might find. look at kubica in Formula for example...

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Hei jy! Ja jy, Vulindlela man! Soos in klim uit die pad uit! Hier kom ons!

Marty:

There is talent .. a couple of formula bmw guys ... they are definitely up for the job ..

Can you tell us their names, please?