During the South African race week end of the A1GP, Formula1 has been the special guest. This morning the Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, returning from the tests in Bahrain has visited the driver from the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport committed on the Kyalami circuit for the A1GP Gauteng.

“A1GP is a very intelligent idea that permits all countries to race against each other on a level playing field – comments the first driver of the Maranello stables – the nationalistic aspect is very important in motorsport. The car is beautiful with a powerful engine, a perfect means for a championship of this level. For the development of the series the partnership with Ferrari is very important”.

The Sprint and the Feature Race have seen the return of the world champion Neel Jani, that thanks to the third and first position has brought his team to lead the general ranking.

The 14 laps of the Spint Race have been dominated by the Dutch Jeroen Bleekemolen that has celebrate his first victory in a A1GP race after 45 presences. The Portuguese Felipe Albuquerque (author of the fastest lap) and Neel Jani have arrived respectively second and third. Fourth position for the Irish Adam Carrol that hasn’t reached the podium.

The Feature Race has changed the general ranking where A1 Team Ireland, leader after six races has been bypassed by Neel Jani. Carrol went off track in the first lap, and left the place to Neel Jani, that thanks to a perfect race, has arrived first before the Brazilian Felipe Guimaraes and the driver from Monaco Clivio Piccione, who was in pole position. With this victory Switzerland has become leader of the general ranking with 73 points, 3 more than Team Ireland.

The South African race hasn’t been lucky for Edoardo Piscopo and A1 Team Italy that has ended 11th the Sprint Race and 10th the Feature Race, conquered after a remount from the last position.

“It has been a deceiving week end – comments the 21 year old Roman driver – I wanted to bring some points home but unfortunately the red flag in the Qualifying session has avoid the start from the first 5 rows in the Feature Race. The race pace was good, compared to the cars in the first positions: we have to improve the qualifying. I am happy for the remount in the long race, where I have taken advantage of the other drivers’ mistakes”

“In the Sprint Race Edoardo has started very fast but in the pit stop an inconvenient to the right rear tyre has delayed the procedure and has made him loose a position – declared Piercarlo Ghinzani seatholder of A1 Team Italy – In the Feature race we have been involved in a spin at the beginning of the race that has relegate us in the last position, where we have remount till the tenth position”.