Autosport Plus

For the Pride of My Nation

The debut of Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum's A1 Grand Prix series was received with mixed reactions, some rejecting the concept of a 'World Cup of Motorsport' while others see it as a breath of fresh air in the corportate-driven world of racing. Subsequently, though, it will be the fans who will determine whether the concept is a success or a failure. 17-year-old Daniel McCalla made the trip to Germany last weekend to support Great Britain in the second round of the 2005 championship. He came back with lifetime memories and some shattered illusions

Daniel McCalla Oct 12, 2005, 12:44 PM

There have been a number of issues raised in recent weeks over the potential of A1 Grand Prix, Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum's new 'World Cup Of Motorsport'. Over the last eighteen months, the Championship promised 25 identical cars, each representing a different nation, charging for the first bend at Brands Hatch in a blaze of glory, and despite the cynicism of those who saw ideas like Premier1 Grand Prix crash and burn, that is exactly what they got.

However, not everyone was happy with what they saw. The processional, defensive nature of the first race, the problems with TV timing, the lethargic batteries that denied Great Britain's Robbie Kerr a home win in front of 46,000 people at Brands Hatch were among them. This, allied to the wheel-changing problems that put him into the lead in the first place, left a bitter taste in many mouths.