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PitPass.com: A1GP - Time to end its pain?

2009-11-22T16:57:58-05:00

PitPass.com: A1GP - Time to end its pain?

This is a great yet grief stricken article by Editor Chris Balfe who draws a parallel with his personal experience to make a point concerning the health and viability of A1GP. New and highly disturbing developments noted within include:
- Many mid and lower level employees are owed 4+ months of salary.
- Several executives overtly wasted investor funds on opulent parties and in hiring attractive assistants.
- That the 2009 season finale was also in jeopardy but several teams contributed from their own funds to save the race.
- That the Ferrari contract was poorly negotiated and is a financial liability. In addition the older Lola chassis reportedly could have been updated for pennies on the dollar when compared to the new highly expensive unbranded chassis that were "powered by Ferrari".

A1GP web site gone!

2009-10-28T20:55:32-05:00

Been down all day long... might pop up later but the error message is such that you have to wonder if someone repoed their web server.
http://www.a1gp.com

A1GP formally cancels races in China and Malaysia… and trying to sell off their fleet of cars.

2009-11-08T03:49:40-05:00

A1GP has formally canceled their races in China (race #2) and Malaysia (race #3) after canceling the opening round in Australia...

To make matters worse A1GP governance is openly trying to sell off their fleet of cars.

Bleacher Report: A1GP cancels races

Poll: AGR’s next A1GP rookie driver

2009-10-05T00:14:16-05:00

With JR Hildebrand in the verge to take the
Race seat for the 2009-2010 season, who would
you think should be their practice driver?

Report - There will be no season 5

2009-10-16T15:03:30-05:00

There's a Report in the German media claims that A1GP is finished.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://www.motorsport-magazin.com/motorsport/news-86622-exklusiv-geruecht-a1gp-rennserie-macht-dicht-keine-fuenfte-saison.html

Nothing's official as yet, will be a real shame if A1GP does go under because it produced some great racing over the last 4 seasons & some racing during the winter months when F1, indycar Etc... wasn't running.

Australia race officially cancelled

2009-10-17T07:06:57-05:00

http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=44498

"A1GP may be down, but I do not accept we are out. We have had four exciting seasons that have proved we are a force in the sport and now we shall consolidate on what we have achieved to date. My efforts will be on finding a way forward with the support of some very loyal people.”

So they don't even claim the rest of the season will go forward at this point!

19 entrants in provisional A1GP season

2009-10-14T08:48:56-05:00

A1GP announces this upcoming season with 19
provisional entries. But it does not include
Lebanon, Malaysia, Spain, nor Canada.

Report:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79424

A1GP completes crucial funding deal

2009-09-25T13:55:54-05:00

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78881

Good News -- A1 Grand Prix plans to race at Surfer's Paradise next month.

2009-2010 Calender released & some other news

2009-09-21T09:49:09-05:00

Here is the 09/10 calender:

25 October 2009    Australia   
15 November 2009   China   
06 December 2009   Malaysia   
28 February 2010   South Africa   
14 March 2010      Brazil   
21 March 2010      Mexico   
11 April 2010      Portugal   
02 May 2010        Germany   
16 May 2010        The Netherlands

No race in the UK :(

Also been some rumors going around that Ferrari are about to withdraw its supply of engine's for undisclosed reasons. A1GP officials have denied these reports & insist the next season will go ahead as planned with Ferrari engine's.

Also hearing that Team New Zealand have withdrawn from this years series.

A1 Grand Prix Operations Ltd goes bankrupt

2009-06-30T08:25:56-05:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5664677/British-A1-Grand-Prix-arm-stalls.html

They were running the day to day operations of the series and servicing the cars.