The brainchild of a high ranking Dubai sheik, A1 Grand Prix it seems is intended to bring exciting motor racing to the masses through affordable meetings and a media friendly ambience.

Race meetings take place over a weekend with 3 days of, first of all, practice on Friday followed by practice and short qualifying bouts on Saturday to determine the grid positions for the first event of Sunday, which is a sprint taking up about 30 minutes. The main event, which lasts around an hour, takes place Sunday afternoon with the grid positions having been determined by the morning's event. Points are allocated to the first 10 across the line. During the racing season, national teams will build up points in line with their success and the ultimate winner of THE WORLD CUP OF MOTORSPORT will be the country which has accumulated the most points at the end of the A1 Grand Prix calendar Up to 3 drivers per team can participate in an A1 race, providing they adhere to the rules governing this, with each team being allowed a maximum of 10 mechanics in the pits.

A1 Grand Prix motor racing differs from Formula 1 races in so far as it pits nation against nation, with standard and technologically equal vehicles, rather than drivers and car manufacturers fighting it out and trying to outdo one another with more and more sophisticated and expensive equipment, as in Formula 1 motor racing.

A1 is an internationally recognised symbol for excellence in whatever field and A1 Grand Prix motor racing should live up to the idea without too much problem.

2005
COMPETING NATIONS

HOTELS

The inaugural first A1 Grand Prix motor race took place at Brand's Hatch, once the heart of British motor racing and the scene of many memorable races and world champions in the making.

The 2005 A1 Grand Prix calendar is scheduled to take place at some favourite motor racing circuits as well as a number of new, state of the art, venues.

For comprehensive information on the A1 Grand Prix circuits as well as local attractions and facilities, click on the appropriate link below:

BRAND'S HATCH
EURO SPEEDWAY, LAUSITZ, GERMANY
ESTORIL CIRCUIT, PORTUGAL
EASTER CREEK, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
SEPANG CIRCUIT, MALAYSIA
DUBAI AUTODROME, UAE
SENTUL, INDONESIA
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
CURITIBA AUTODROME, BRAZIL
MONTERREY, MEXICO
LAGUNA SECA, CALIFORNIA, USA
SHANGHAI, CHINA

Details of live television coverage is available on A1 Grand Prix official website