A1GP: Team Malaysia press release - Paul Ricard day 2

Alex and Fairuz at Paul Ricard

(click image to enlarge)

Le Castellet, France - Thursday, Aug 25 2005 - A1 Team Malaysia successfully completed their second day of testing at the renowned Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track (HTTT) located at Provence in the South of France today.

Both Alex Yoong and Fairuz Fauzy were present to share driving duties. A total of 20 cars representing 20 nations from six continents were on track clocking an impressive 3,000 km over the two days. Countries represented were USA, Brazil and Mexico from North and South America; France, Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland and Russia from Europe; South Africa representing Africa; Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Lebanon and China from the continent of Asia and Australia and New Zealand rounding up for the Australasia.

"Both Fairuz and I have gained a lot from these two days of testing and it had been nothing but exhilarating," said Yoong, "We concentrated on set up tuning to get the best out of the 550bhp A1 car for the first race in Brands Hatch rather than for the qualifying condition therefore we had been making runs mostly with fuel loads. We are looking forward to the final day tomorrow to complete our programme. Fairuz has done a good job the past two days."

Fairuz got his first taste of the A1 Team Malaysia car yesterday by being the first to take to the track in the morning. He also took part in the first ever A1GP rolling start simulation at the end of today. Fairuz was very impressed by the series and the car, saying, "I am very honoured and proud to be associated with A1 Team Malaysia and the A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport. We are all very excited, not only as drivers but also as members of our country's team. The competition is going to be very intense and tight. We hope to spark the imagination of all Malaysians at home and around the world."

Team Principal, Jack Cunningham said after today's test, "The team has worked really well together. It's incredible to see both the drivers interacting well between themselves as well as with the engineers and the mechanics to see through the test programme over the two days."

Day three of the test at the Paul Ricard HTTT continues tomorrow with a half day programme from 9am to 1pm with the same 20 cars comprising some 42 drivers representing 20 nations continuing their test programmes before they see their cars on track again on the week of the first round at Brands Hatch for the A1 Grand Prix of Great Britain scheduled for the 23rd to 25th next month.Malaysia's round will be run at the Sepang International Circuit on the 18th to 20th of November 2005.

Meanwhile Team Germany was launched at the circuit today with the announcement that Willi Weber (manager of the Schumacher brothers) is the seat holder while Team USA was launched yesterday with the unveiling of their car in their national colours.
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