London, September 2004:
The new A1 Grand Prix series, based in Dubai, has announced that it has deals with six franchise-holders for the winter series which will kick off in the autumn of next year.

The franchises sold are for United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Portugal, Pakistan and the Lebanon.

The A1 series has not revealed any more details except that the British franchise has been sold to a consortium which includes former F1 racer and team owner John Surtees and businessman Tony Clements.