New Zealand eyes A1GP race

The founder of the A1 Grand Prix series has set the wheels in motion for a race to be held in New Zealand. Sheik Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al-Maktoum of the Dubai ruling family is in the country for a flying visit and says if the proposed Hampton Downs circuit south of Auckland is built, and the fans get behind it and the sponsors get on board, then New Zealand will host an A1 Grand Prix. He is impressed with what he has seen so far, having already studied the maps and the designs, and he hopes to go to look at the proposed site on Thursday. The backer of the New Zealand A1 Grand Prix car, Colin Giltrap believes resource consent for Hampton Downs could be granted by Christmas. Newstalk ZB