Former world champion and A1GP Team Australia boss Alan Jones is confident his team has the man to get them across the line at the inaugural Nitro SuperGP event on the Gold Coast in October.

On the day that marked 150 days until race day, Jones joined reigning V8 Supercar champion and current points leader Jamie Whincup on the Gold Coast track site, with both confident of winning performances at the Surfers Paradise event.

Jones was yesterday talking up Team Australia’s chances, with John Martin, from Brisbane, hotly tipped to get behind the wheel.

“He knows this circuit, he was on pole position last year, he won two of the three races and he set a new lap record so he doesn’t have to find his way around the circuit,” said Jones of Martin, who raced at last year’s Gold Coast Indy in the Formula 3 category.

“He’s actually maturing as he goes on and by the time he gets here I think he will be a good chance.”

The race will be the first time the Ferrari-powered A1GP teams roar through Surfers and Jones reckons the new event will offer the Coast more global recognition.

“A lot of people didn’t realise the Indy Cars were not telecast to the US live but we will have 25 cars and that means we will be broadcasting live to all those countries.”

Whincup, who raced to success on his home track last year, will be looking for a repeat in October.

“The Gold Coast is such a great event, the crowds get right behind it. It’s a tough track but everyone loves racing here.”

The Nitro SuperGP is from October 22-25

[source: goldcoast.com.au]