A1 GP Ready for First Group Test
A1 Grand Prix's global operations manager John Wickham does not expect the same kind of teething problems GP2 experienced when they carry out the series first group test at Silverstone tomorrow

Fifteen countries will have cars present at tomorrow's test at Silverstone National circuit, which will be the first time many of the 550bhp Lola Zytek cars will run in anger.
While GP2 suffered problems with braking, gear-shift, and rear wing mountings when they debuted their Dallara back in Paul Ricard last February, Wickham reckons their A1 Grand Prix cars will be fully reliable tomorrow.
Wicombe told Autosport-Atlas: "We have run the development car for 4,500kms without any problems. We've completed race distance in Dubai and several more days in Jerez and the production cars are the same technical specifications as the test car.
"There is an issue with getting used to the gearbox settings, but that will not destroy the gearbox. It is just something for the team to get used to."
A1 Grand Prix has promised to publish times from the tests, giving an early form guide for pace for the inaugural World Cup of Motorsport, which begins at Brands Hatch on September 25.
The teams present at the test include: Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, France, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States.
About this article
Series | General |
Author | Tim Redmayne |
A1 GP Ready for First Group Test
The F1 and Indy 'nearly man' that found contentment in Japan
Having had the door to F1 slammed in his face and come within three laps of winning the Indianapolis 500, the collapse of a Peugeot LMP1 shot meant Japan was Bertrand Baguette's last chance of a career. But it's one which he has grasped with both hands
The female all-rounder who arrived "too early"
From Formula 3 to truck racing, Dakar and EuroNASCAR via a winning stint in the DTM, there's not much Ellen Lohr hasn't seen in a stellar racing career that highlights the merit in being a generalist. But she believes her career came too early...
How Radical's latest machines fare on track
The lightweight sportscar manufacturer has not rewritten the rulebook with its latest machines, but the new SR3 XX and SR10 still provide a step forward on its previous successful models
The real-life racing rogues stranger than fiction
The forthcoming Netflix film linking the world of underworld crime and motorsport plays on a theme that isn't exactly new. Over the years, several shady figures have attempted to make it in racing before their dubious dealings caught up with them
How a GP is thriving in a COVID-free territory
The New Zealand Grand Prix's mix of rising talent and big-name stars thrilled the crowds (yes, remember crowds?) assembled for the Toyota Racing Series meeting at Hampton Downs last weekend and left distant observers craving a repeat
How a much-changed Macau GP kept the party going
OPINION: The 67th edition of the Macau Grand Prix might have been a largely muted affair to the outside world without its international influx and star line-ups, another victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organisers deserve huge credit for keeping the party going
Engineer's view: Motorsport's revolutionary braking tool
Although brake pressure and temperature logging is commonplace, measuring and understanding braking performance hasn't been so straightforward. But that's about to change following the introduction of a groundbreaking new sensor
The high-tech materials helping Renault in its F1 rise
The Renault F1 team is at the vanguard of innovative solutions pushing development of the V6 turbo hybrid engine rules, embracing the full potential of material science in its bid to get back to the top