The 2007–08 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Malaysia is an A1 Grand Prix race, to be held on November 25, 2007, at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia. This will be the third meeting in the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season and the 50th start in the A1 Grand Prix history.

Pre-race

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

driver Rahel Frey was the second ever woman to enter in A1GP weekend, on Friday, during rookies sessions. Her compatriot

Natacha Gachnang Natacha Gachnang (born 27 October 1987 in Vevey, Switzerland) is a Switzerland, Swiss race driver and the cousin of former Formula One driver Sébastien Buemi. In 2010 she was a member of the first all-female crew to race at Le Mans 24 hours since ...

drove the rookies sessions in Czech round also in 2007.

Qualifications

Neel Jani clocked the best lap time of the weekend in the sprint race qualifications and improve this in the main race qualifications in 1'47.648.

driver demonstrate his superiority in the Sepang circuit and take a double pole for Sunday races. The Lebanese cars was found to be under the minimum weight limit during main race qualifying. A1 Team Lebanon start from the back of the grid (22nd), instead of 18th, because of the Chris Alajajian car was found 3 kg under the 705 kg minimum weight limit.

Sprint race

At the start of the sprint race, conditions were warm and humid, with the temperature being 29 °C and the humidity level at 78%.Sepang Sprint: lap by lap
''a1gp.com'' (November 25, 2007)

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

's Robert Wickens lost one position at turn one, while

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

's Oliver Jarvis and

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

's Loïc Duval collided. The British driver was forced back to 6th with damage to the front wing of his car.Switzerland takes Sprint race
''a1gp.com'' (November 25, 2007) Still on the first lap,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

's Cong Fu Cheng was hit by

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

's Jonny Reid, losing many positions as a result. Alex Yoong, driver for the Malaysian team, experienced the best opening lap, moving up from 19th to 11th. On lap 3, Cong Fu Cheng (China) retired from the race, stopped at the side of the track. Jonny Reid (New Zealand) took over 6th from Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) after passing on the front straight on lap 5. On the next lap, Jeroen Bleekemolen (

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

) passed Adam Carroll (

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

) for 8th. On the final lap,

Michael Ammermüller Michael Ammermüller (born 14 February 1986) is a racing driver from Germany. After competing in various junior formulae, he became a test and reserve driver for the Red Bull Racing Formula One team in the 2007 Formula One World Championship, ...

(

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

) collided with Wickens (Canada) at turn two, overtaking for the final spot on the podium.

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

took the checkered flag, winning the race and securing the fastest lap, followed by France and Germany. Neel Jani dominated from start to finish, achieving pole, the fastest lap (1'49.221) and victory. Jeroen Bleekemolen was found to have jumped the rolling start, with stewards handing down a penalty of 25 seconds (the equivalent time loss to a drive-through penalty) after the end of the race. The result moved them from 8th to 18th position, taking away the three points they had originally scored. Germany's collision with Canada on the final lap was deemed avoidable, and the team was demoted from 3rd to 16th place as a consequence. Both of these demotions promoted Yoong to 9th, giving Malaysia their first two points of the season. Ammermüller's penalty also allowed Wickens to finish on the podium in 3rd.

Main race

There is 32 °C and 66% of humidity for the second start of the Malaysian round. The two mandatories pit stop should occur between 8th and 14th laps and between 22nd and 30th laps.Sepang Feature: lap by lap
''a1gp.com'' (November 25, 2007)
At the first corner, a collision get involve

, USA,

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

and

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. The Portuguese car stuck in the gravel. After a great start jumping ninth,

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

and

collide in the second lap. Then both team must pass by stand. Robert Wickens (Canada) hits Adrian Zaugg (

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

) while he tried to get his car back on track after spins out on lap 8, turn seven. Then both driver retire and the

safety car In motorsport, a safety car, or a pace car, is a car that limits the speed of competing cars or motorcycles on a racetrack in the case of a ''caution period,'' such as an obstruction on the track or bad weather. The safety car aims to enable the ...

is out.
Meanwhile, Malaysia and New Zealand can catch up the end of the file after their collide on lap 2. The pit stop window is open and cars were stationary at the end of the pit lane with red light. On green light, Brazil got the better start behind

and

. The safety car go back and the race restart on lap 12. Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) passes Neel Jani (Switzerland) into the second corner but the Swiss driver go by Jarvis and Loïc Duval sneaks by too. In lap 14, Brazil set the fastest lap. Switzerland catch up Brazil, New Zealand attempt to passes

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

but is well defending,

make mistake and drops from seventh to 10th.
In lap 18, Enrico Toccacelo (

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

) is in the pit and renounce. In turn 2, lap 20, German rookie driver,

hit unfairly Great Britain and drops to 5th, Jarvis is now 6th. Germany receive a drive-through penalty. For lap 23, the pit lane is open for the second stops. Jeroen Bleekemolen (Netherlands) passes Loïc Duval (France) for 2nd place. In lap 25, Great Britain take the fast lap just before is pit stop where is too fast in the pit lane and receive a drive-through penalty. Switzerland set the fast lap at its turn. Again, at turn 2, lap 29,

collide unfairly Erik Janis (Czech Republic) and passes.
After second mandatory pit stop closed, Switzerland is behind Brazil and France. Mexico, Great Britain, USA and Australia are still battling for position. Great Britain gets by Mexico in lap 34 and Ian Dyk (Australia) passes Jonathan Summerton (USA) in final lap. Oliver Jarvis drops USA too.
The final top ten was: Switzerland, Brazil, France, Netherlands, China, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain. After the race, A1 teams Brazil and Great Britain were penalised to stay stationary at a red light during safety-car period on at the pit exit after their first mandatory pit stops.Great Britain and Brazil penalised
''a1gp.com'' (November 25, 2007) Both teams have been retrogressed of 2 seconds to their total race time. Brazilian team lose one position (2nd to 3rd) and Great Britain lose 2 positions (10th to 12th) in their final feature race results. Germany, with its driver Michael Ammermüller, was excluded from the final main race results. In lap 19, the German team cause an avoidable collision with Great Britain and was sanctioned with a drive-through penalty but in lap 28, Germany reiterate an avoidable collision with Czech Republic. The final results before exclusion of Germany was 13th. Neel Jani accomplish the perfect weekend with 2 pole positions, 2 wins and 2 fast laps.

Notes

* Main race was the 50th start and 25th race weekend. * It was the first race for

Ammermuller called up for Germany
''a1gp.com'' (November 12, 2007) and Robert Wickens in A1 Grand Prix. * It was the first race weekend for

Earl Bamber Earl Anderson Bamber (born 9 July 1990) is a New Zealand professional racing driver and racing team owner who currently competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship for Cadillac Hertz Team Jota and Ca ...

, Rahel Frey and Edoardo Piscopo.Toccacelo and Piscopo for Italy
''a1gp.com'' (November 8, 2007) * It was the 3rd venue in the Sepang International Circuit and the 3rd Malaysian Grand Prix. * Records : ** A1 Team Lebanon participate on 25 races (50 starts) without won points since their first Grand Prix. ** 26th podium for A1 Team France. ** Alex Yoong participate on 24 races (46 starts). ** Neel Jani won 201 points.

References

External links

Switzerland takes Sprint raceSepang Sprint: lap by lap Sprint race resultsSwitzerland wins thrilling FeatureSepang Feature: lap by lapFeature race results
{{DEFAULTSORT:2007-08 A1 Grand Prix Of Nations, Malaysia A1 Grand Prix Of Nations, Malaysia, 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix