21 replies to this topic

[cavallino]

Quote

The Indian A1 GP team is in the process of being disbanded as South African-based franchise holder Atul Gupta has run out of patience with the team's lack of performance. The major problem seems to be one of funding as the Indian business community has not jumped to support the team as Gupta had been hoping. The team started out being promoted by Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, who was named as one of the franchise-holders, but even that has not helped. Results have been poor as the driver Armaan Ebrahim, son of team principal Akbar Ebrahim, has not scored any good result. It seems that for the moment the only driver in India who is capable of raising big money is Narain Karthikeyan, who has used his connections and experience to get backing to become the fourth driver at Williams this year. The concept of A1 Grand Prix was to trade off national pride and if India cannot raise the kind of money needed there must be fears for other teams.

It is also not very good for the dream of an Indian Grand Prix as such an enterprise is going to cost tens of millions of dollars and the A1 team was not even able to raise $8m.

I don't see why they need as much as 8 million though, if Minardi could run an F1 team for 20-30. I would have thought 5 million would be about what the top teams would be paying.

[jjoseph]

So far the Indian A1 team is a total disaster. They ahven't got a single point yet (India is one of the 3 teams without a point). I was waiting eagarly for the start of the season but, now I lost the interest of watching it, because of the continuous domination of A1 team France and very poor performance of India. The very concept of A1GP (identical cars and testing of driver skills) is not there anymore.

[cavallino]

Quote

A1 Team India will race at Indonesia: A1 GP chief

February 09, 2006 01:27 IST

A1 Grand Prix on Wednesday confirmed that Team India would be participating in the Indonesian race coming weekend.

"A1 Team India will be competing in Indonesia," A1 GP General Manager Stephen Watson told PTI from Johannesburg.

Recent media reports had speculated that all was not well with Team India and its further participation in the season was in doubt.

Meanwhile, echelons of Team India today said they were looking at the possibility of fielding a "fresh team" at the Indonesia.

"The team will definitely be there. There is a possibility that there might be a fresh team but the team will be there," Anil Kapoor, Executive Director of A1 Team India told PTI over phone.

"We are looking at options for drivers, the terms and conditions and certain other issues with the parent A1 team. We want Karun (Chandhok)," the Bollywood actor added.
It is learnt that the promoters approached Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan to come on board but the Indian ace rejected the offer.

A1 Grand Prix is in its inaugural year where nations, instead of car manufacturing teams as in Formula One, compete against each other.

Asked if the A1 GP was happy with the performance of Team India on and off the circuit, Watson said, "The Indian team's results are there for everyone to see. We have no reason to be disillusioned with the team."

Meanwhile, A1 India team manager Akbar Ebrahim lashed out at suggestions that he had made it a "father-son show" with his ward Armaan Ebrahim occupying the driver's seat in most of the races.

"The decision as to who should race is made by the promoters, they are paying both the drivers. Atul Gupta (based in South Africa) decided in Germany that Armaan should race in the following race at Portugal," Ebrahim told PTI.

"And seeing his performance at Portugal where he finished 13th, he was asked to continue. And then he did well in Australia and then Malaysia also, where he was 11th.
"No corporate is a fool to let a father have fun with his son when it comes to business.

the only obvious thing from that is Karthikeyan needs a new manager. or some common sense. And they were 13th in practice , and yes still armaan.

[narain fan]

cavallino, on Feb 10 2006, 11:13 PM, said:

the only obvious thing from that is Karthikeyan needs a new manager. or some common sense. And they were 13th in practice , and yes still armaan.

obviously he  is not allowed to race in a rival series,using the same sponsor logos,as he has  made an aggrement with williams that only those of his sponsors who have signed with the team can be  endorsed by "him"(that is the case with all the  williams drivers,i think(based on  an article in the media here)

[cavallino]

bloody stupid agreement he signed them, they're not allowing him near the Williams car anyway. That Oliviera chap has driven, NK hasn't

[jjoseph]

Another sad qualifying session from A1team India today. Qualified 22nd out of 23 cars.
A1 Team  Driver  Aggregate Time  
1  Great Britain  Robbie Kerr  2.34.257  
2  France  Nicolas Lapierre  2.34.477  
3  Mexico  Salvador Duran  2.34.554  
4  Switzerland  Neel Jani  2.35.055  
5  Japan  Hayanari Shimoda  2.35.190  
6  Malaysia  Alex Yoong  2.35.447  
7  Ireland  Ralph Firman  2.35.670  
8  Canada  Sean McIntosh  2.35.685  
9  South Africa  Stephen Simpson  2.35.750  
10  New Zealand  Matt Halliday  2.35.797  
11  Portugal  Alvaro Parente  2.35.808  
12  Czech Republic  Tomas Enge  2.35.950  
13  Netherlands  Jos Verstappen  2.36.000  
14  USA  Philip Geibler  2.36.113  
15  Germany  Timo Scheider  2.36.319  
16  Italy  Max Busnelli  2.36.631  
17  Indonesia  Ananda Mikola  2.36.805  
18  China  Tengyi Jiang  2.37.313  
19  Australia  Marcus Marshall  2.37.950  
20  Lebanon  Basil Shaaban  2.38.275  
21  Brazil  Christian Fittipaldi  2.38.290  
22  India  Armaan Ebrahim  2.38.603  
23  Austria  Mathias Lauda  2.39.229

[Sato]

Marcus Marshall is hopeless why the hell is he driving for Australia??!!?!? I could do a better job then him....

[silvermachine]

Sato, on Feb 12 2006, 09:06 AM, said:

Marcus Marshall is hopeless why the hell is he driving for Australia??!!?!? I could do a better job then him....

Marcus Marshall was 3rd in today's Feature Race

[jjoseph]

What happend to A1GP India team. Is it already dead. I can't find them in Mexico and there is no update on the website also. Anybody have an idea ?

[cavallino]

Yup, not taking part here, rumoured to have millions in unpaid bills etc etc, bunch of lousy jokers

[Max Mosley]

cavallino, on Feb 27 2006, 10:36 AM, said:

Yup, not taking part here, rumoured to have millions in unpaid bills etc etc, bunch of lousy jokers

Yup, and thats without Karty!  Mind you at least with him they'd have been able to pay the bills.

[ecapdeville]

cavallino, on Feb 27 2006, 04:36 AM, said:

Yup, not taking part here, rumoured to have millions in unpaid bills etc etc, bunch of lousy jokers

All the money went to pay NK 4th seat with Williams I think...

[Senna]

ecapdeville, on Feb 27 2006, 03:30 PM, said:

All the money went to pay NK 4th seat with Williams I think...

He doesn’t seem to drive much though, does he?

[Max Mosley]

Are you suggesting Sir Frank was more interested in the Indian's cash than his driving ability?

[monza gorilla]

Heaven forfend! Oops, I can't say that since I outed myself as an atheist, can I?

[pumpdoc]

monza gorilla, on Feb 27 2006, 04:23 PM, said:

Heaven forfend! Oops, I can't say that since I outed myself as an atheist, can I?

Don't fret. it's allowed

[ecapdeville]

  

[mock]

jjoseph, on Feb 9 2006, 09:40 PM, said:

So far the Indian A1 team is a total disaster. They ahven't got a single point yet (India is one of the 3 teams without a point). I was waiting eagarly for the start of the season but, now I lost the interest of watching it, because of the continuous domination of A1 team France and very poor performance of India. The very concept of A1GP (identical cars and testing of driver skills) is not there anymore.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHAH

Hope all of you on this thread watched the last A1 Race

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAA

[DarkLord]

yup its was nice to see narain in points atlast in a race

[Autumnpuma]

monza gorilla, on Feb 27 2006, 05:23 PM, said:

Heaven forfend! Oops, I can't say that since I outed myself as an atheist, can I?

Don't worry about it, we irrational religious-folk give you permission

So, A1 India Dies.

How can this be when India is trying to secure a GP? I got the impression that both India and China were trying to build up thier motorsports reputation, much like the Middle-East has. I would think keeping a presence in A1 would be a good thing.

[goferrarigo]

Autumnpuma, on May 4 2007, 04:43 PM, said:

Don't worry about it, we irrational religious-folk give you permission

So, A1 India Dies.

How can this be when India is trying to secure a GP? I got the impression that both India and China were trying to build up thier motorsports reputation, much like the Middle-East has. I would think keeping a presence in A1 would be a good thing.

Mike, its a year old.... and India has scored a few points thanks to narian....

[mock]

Harbingers of doom ! Ye have been proved unworthy of being fans of A1 Team India.....

All hail NK, Death to Williams !