Prior to the next round at Taupo, New Zealand, on Jan 25 A1Team Malaysia chief executive officer Jack Cunningham is determined to get an assurance that the communications system glitch which ruined his team’s chances in the previous round at Sepang does not happen again.

Cunningham said a written confirmation of that is expected from A1GP within the next 48 hours, while the exact cause of the problem which resulted in Fairuz Fauzy pitting unannounced while running third in the feature race has been identified.

“We still don’t have a 100 per cent explanation, so I’m cautious about what I say until we get some documentation from A1GP which I expect within the next 48 hours,” said Cunningham.

Findings thus far indicate that the radio frequencies used at the Sepang Circuit on race day (Nov 23) were overcrowded, causing the crossover in radio signals that had Fairuz listening to order from Team Britain.

“The frequencies used by teams and all agencies on duty that Sunday were too close. The unexpected happened because none had been used in full until the Sunday,” said Cunningham.

“In Formula One, this doesn’t happen because they use a digital system. But since the A1GP is not a digital system, the procedures have to change.

“Bringing in extra people at big events like Sepang, such as police, the fire and rescue department, medical services and such, probably caused the overcrowding of frequencies.

“There has to be more control. I think the A1GP is looking at having every user of multi-frequency radio systems to be registered prior to the weekend. Not anybody can be allowed to use these radios at events.

“They need to control who is allowed to use such radios at the track.”

Cunningham indicated his confidence that no repeat of the situation will happen in Taupo, as the organisers were looking at all angles in an effort to minimise mishaps such as that at Sepang.

[source: nst.com.my]