It’s a country with more sheep than people, one of the best rugby teams in the world and a top tourist destination, heightened by its beautiful scenery featured in classic films such as the Lord of the Rings.

New Zealand is also the next venue for the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. A1 Team Lebanon and 19 other nations will arrive in the country this week, shattering the tranquillity with the roar of 600 bhp Ferrari powered A1GP cars racing at the Taupo circuit.

Daniel Morad will lead his nation once again, keen to make the headlines in this Southern Hemisphere outpost and outshine the opposition. This weekend the Lebanese team will be back hunting for points after encouraging form in the first three races of the season. The team returns refreshed and raring to go for the new year of racing in A1GP.

Morad hasn’t been idle in the last few weeks and has started the year as he means to go on, collecting silverware in racing. He blitzed his way to victory at the annual Florida Winter Tour International Rotax Max Challenge in the USA, where he dominated his class to take overall honours at the karting event. Morad was using the opportunity to keep himself fit and sharp for the next round of the A1GP Series and his strategy proved highly successful.

Morad said ahead of the weekend at Taupo, “After a great time in the karting I need to get back to the big cars and the one I love most, the A1 Team Lebanon A1GP car. This weekend will be my first visit to the Taupo Circuit, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. The track is tight and demanding and I’ve been studying and training hard ahead of the race weekend to be as prepared as I can. I hope we can achieve a finish in the points and two full race distances at Taupo, I would be really pleased to leave New Zealand with that type of result.”

Billy Karam, Ambassador for A1 Team Lebanon added, “The team has been enjoying its most successful season so far in A1GP and we hope it can continue in the New Year. Daniel is a great driver, so his lack of experience at Taupo shouldn’t hinder him too much, he will have the two practice sessions on Friday to acquaint himself with the layout before qualifying and racing. Our aim is to register more points at Taupo, however we are aware how tough and unpredictable A1GP can be, so we’ll just push as much as we can to be running near the front.”

The A1GP Taupo, New Zealand event runs from 23 – 25 January and can be seen on LBCi this weekend.