After a two-month winter break, the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will resume this weekend in Taupo, New Zealand, for round four of the championship. Felipe Guimarães will once again be in action for A1 Team Brazil, and will be looking to pick up where he left off before Christmas, when he collected his first A1GP points after finishing seventh in the Malaysia Feature race.

The 3.32km Taupo Motorsport Park racetrack is based on the edge of the stunning Lake Taupo and was modified specifically to host its first A1GP event in 2007. It is now set to welcome the A1GP fraternity for the third year running. The circuit features an 830-metre straight and a tight chicane at the end of the back straight. It has been the venue for some gripping racing and exciting overtaking and is renowned for its passionate fans, who turn out in their thousands.

The Brazilian squad did not have a good record at the track until the Feature event in 2008 when Sergio Jimenez crossed the line in sixth place, collecting valuable points. The team is looking to continue its upturn in fortunes at the circuit when Felipe hits the track this weekend. A1 Team Brazil currently has four points on the leaderboard and is looking to move up the standings as it visits Taupo.

Felipe Guimarães: “I’m really looking forward to racing again because it’s been a long break and a long time without driving. I did some karting over the Christmas break but that’s been it so I can’t wait to get back in the car. I am looking to continue where we left off in Malaysia where we scored the points – I hope to get some very good points this weekend.”

Emerson Fittipaldi, Team Principal: “In this new generation of A1GP Powered By Ferrari cars, the Taupo circuit will be a supreme challenge for the drivers. Its infield section should provide a spectacular opportunity for the New Zealand race fans to see these machines and their drivers on the limits. These are real thoroughbred racing machines capable of rivalling anything and they will be extremely quick on this circuit. The track has a long straight which will give the cars a great chance to stretch their legs, and some incredibly challenging corners. The fast right hander onto the old circuit is one of the most challenging on the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport calendar. Nobody wants to get that wrong. And the hairpin before the main straight offers a superb passing opportunity, but is very difficult to get right with consistency, whoever you are.”

A1GP Taupo Schedule (local times)
Friday 23 January:
10.45-12.05: Practice Session 1 (Rookies and developing nations only)
14.00-15.00: Practice Session 2

Saturday 24 January:
11.00-12.00: Practice Session 3
14.15-15.10: Qualifying

Sunday 25 January:
11.00-11.25: Sprint Race
15.00-16.10: Feature Race