I'm sure everyone here remembers the A1GP. Regarded by many as the World Cup of Motorsport, it was a series where our own A1 Team Malaysia was doing pretty well at and slowly picking up pace. Current Lotus F1 test driver Fairuz Fauzy used to drive for the team and so did the likes of Alex Yoong and Aaron Lim. Though the idea behind the series was pretty good, it unfortunately had to fold due to massive financial stress.
The idea for the original formula was to pit teams representing their home countries against other countries in identical single-seater racers on famous tracks around the world. The problem with the series was it was financially supporting each team, and the whole thing collapsed last year with its creditors seizing the series assets, and that includes Ferrari who had designed, built and supplied the 2009 spec race cars.
Though the series seemed to be doomed to go down the history books as a failure, there just might be some silver lining. It seems that a group of investors have emerged to take over the series and are reportedly working out a plan to get the cars and other assets out to get back to racing once again. But unlike the original formula, the new plan would have teams supporting themselves financially while the series organizers would coordinate the races and provide spare parts trackside.
Nothing has been cast in stone as yet, but if the idea and the investors get the go-ahead, the new A1GP calender could return with a 10 race calendar for the 2011-2012 season. For us Malaysians, it would be a great place to develop up and coming talent to one day take over one of the pilot roles at Lotus F1. We're definitely keeping our fingers crossed.
Source: AutoSport
