Part failure delays A1GP group test

The ex-Formula One driver crashed heavily at Magny-Cours' high-speed Estoril curve when the right-rear top wishbone failed. His injury is believed to have been caused by a heavy landing, rather than the impact with the barrier.

Series organisers decided to cut short that four-day test and will redesign the component before the first group test, which was planned for August 18-20 at Silverstone.

That test will now be run for only the test cars, with the first group test now scheduled for September 9-11 at Donington Park - less than two weeks before the first race of the new season at Mugello.

A1GP's technical director John Wickham told Autosport: "The component that failed had been on the car since the beginning of the test programme and had already covered 5000km. That is part of the reason we go testing."