2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Great Britain


The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Great Britain was an A1 Grand Prix race, held on May 4, 2008 at Brands Hatch, Kent, United Kingdom. It was the tenth and last meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season.
With their results in the Sprint race, Switzerland was crowned as the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix champion.

Pre-race

only needed to score 3 points more than New Zealand to become champions. Third position was also contested, as Great Britain had the possibility of taking the place away from France

Qualifying

At Great Britain's home track, Robbie Kerr qualified in pole position for the Sprint race, and on the front row for the Feature race. India earned their first pole position in A1GP, by qualifying on pole for the Feature race. New Zealand, the only team that mathematically could still beat Switzerland for the title, only qualified in 10th and 17th positions.

Sprint race

After the start Great Britain took the lead ahead of USA, Ireland, Switzerland, India, Portugal, South Africa and New Zealand. On Lap 4, Robbie Kerr set the fastest lap.
China attacked Australia for 14th, and India pressured Switzerland for 4th place, but the positions remained the same during the race. On Lap 12, Cong Fu Cheng slowed and fell from 15th to 21st. But some laps later, Cheng took fastest lap. Adam Carroll and Jonathan Summerton fought for 2nd position, whilst Great Britain won the Sprint race at their home track..
In finishing 3rd, Neel Jani and Switzerland took the 2007-08 title.
PosTeamDriverLapsTimePoints
1 Great BritainRobbie Kerr1519'19.14315
2 USAJonathan Summerton15+1.12612
3 IrelandAdam Carroll15+2.18610
4 SwitzerlandNeel Jani15+4.1258
5 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan15+4.4676
6 PortugalFilipe Albuquerque15+5.3975
7 South AfricaAdrian Zaugg15+6.1144
8 New ZealandJonny Reid15+8.3853
9 NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen15+9.8252
10 FranceFranck Montagny15+10.8781
11 GermanyMichael Ammermüller15+11.203
12 Czech RepublicFilip Salaquarda15+11.995
13 MalaysiaFairuz Fauzy15+14.354
14 AustraliaJohn Martin15+15.846
15 CanadaJames Hinchcliffe15+17.317
16 BrazilAlexandre Negrão15+18.107
17 ItalyEdoardo Piscopo15+18.601
18 PakistanAdam Langley-Khan15+23.887
19 IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto15+29.954
20 MexicoDavid Martínez15+30.322
21 ChinaCong Fu Cheng15+31.521+1
22 LebanonKhalil Beschir15+36.238

Feature race

It was 19 °C for the Feature race. Mandatory pit stops were to take place between laps 8 and 16, and the second window was between laps 32 and 40. Switzerland already took the title, but New Zealand, France and Great Britain were all in contention for the 2nd and 3rd places overall.
India grabbed the lead off the start, ahead of Great Britain and Ireland. On Lap 2, Pakistan and Australia collided and hit the barriers. The Safety car was deployed. Alexandre Negrão had to pit to change the car's nose, following an off-track excursion on the first lap. The Safety car pulled in on Lap 8. Next lap, Jeroen Bleekemolen passed Adrian Zaugg for eighth. India has a slow pit stop, and Great Britain exit the pits ahead of them. Adam Carroll was closing and pushing Narain Karthikeyan. Canada received a drive-through penalty on Lap 13 and another on Lap 17. After the first set of mandatory pit stops, Great Britain leads India, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, France, Switzerland, China, Netherlands and USA.
On Lap 17, Ireland pulled alongside India to pass into Westfield and both cars touch. Ireland's front wing was damaged by contact with the left-rear wheel of India's car. After the wing flew off a lap later, Ireland suffered a puncture. After pitting, Ireland fell out of the points. On Lap 21, Canada received a third drive-through penalty. On Lap 23, Ireland set the fastest lap. The window for the second set of mandatory pit stops opened on Lap 32 and India, Great Britain and Germany all pit. India takes the lead back after a slow stop from Great Britain. On Lap 38, Germany is out in the gravel and Malaysia retires to the pits with engine problems. On Lap 44, Filipe Albuquerque passes Jonny Reid for seventh.
India win its second Feature race of the season. Great Britain is second ahead of Switzerland, China, France, Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Italy and Indonesia who score their first point of the season. With their second place, Great Britain took third place in the overall standings from France.
PosTeamDriverLapsTimePoints
1 IndiaNarain Karthikeyan481:07'24.69115
2 Great BritainRobbie Kerr48+1.07812
3 SwitzerlandNeel Jani48+8.72510
4 ChinaCong Fu Cheng48+9.1328
5 FranceFranck Montagny48+12.9606
6 NetherlandsJeroen Bleekemolen48+15.5385
7 PortugalFilipe Albuquerque48+15.7144
8 New ZealandJonny Reid48+19.8623
9 ItalyEdoardo Piscopo48+26.3532
10 IndonesiaSatrio Hermanto48+49.2681
11 South AfricaAdrian Zaugg48+49.661
12 USAJonathan Summerton48+50.032
13 IrelandAdam Carroll48+50.247+1
14 BrazilAlexandre Negrão48+1'00.662
15 Czech RepublicFilip Salaquarda47+1 lap
16 MexicoJorge Goeters47+1 lap
17 CanadaJames Hinchcliffe47+1 lap
18 LebanonKhalil Beschir46+2 laps
19 GermanyMichael Ammermüller39+9 laps
20 MalaysiaFairuz Fauzy39+9 laps
21 PakistanAdam Langley-Khan2+46 laps
22 AustraliaJohn Martin2+46 laps

After race

On Monday 5 May, the A1GP's Gala Awards were celebrated at the Hilton Park Lane in London, at the end of its 2007-08 season. The awards presented at the event were: