Junqueira content with seventh

Junqueira had been drafted into the struggling Team Brazil squad because of his street racing experience, and set some promising times early in Friday practice only to become the first victim of the broken kerbing at the Durban street track's chicane, losing his front wing.

The Brazilian then heavily damaged his car in an accident at the same place in Saturday morning practice, and had to switch to the series' ill-fitting spare chassis for qualifying, where he struggled to 18th.

Junqueira then lost a lap at the start of the sprint race after damaging his front wing in a multi-car first corner tangle.

"I did a good start but I didn't want to take any risks," said Junqueira.

"I could have tried to go from 18th to 10th but I thought it was better to be safe.

"But then two cars crashed in front of me on the exit of the corner and I just didn't have anywhere to go."

However in the feature race Junqueira finally had a clear run, and was able to progress from 17th to seventh by the flag, pushing Alvaro Parente for sixth in the closing laps.

"I still had a lot of push-to-pass available, but I didn't take any huge risks," he said.

"Seventh is a good result for the team, especially after such a terrible weekend, just to finish with the car in one piece for the boys and get a solid finish.

"I'm never happy to be seventh but, looking at the whole situation, it's good."

Team principal Fernando Paiva was satisfied with Junqueira's contribution.

"I think Bruno, being the professional that he is, held himself together well to get the result this afternoon," said Paiva.

"I guess the way that this season has been going, this result is a good effort for us to build on."

An announcement regarding Junqueira's future participation in A1GP races is still awaited.

He is expected to return to the Champ Car World Series - most likely with Dale Coyne Racing - for the 2007 season, but of the remaining A1GP rounds, only the Shanghai race in mid-April clashes with a Champ Car date.