Brazil’s President pledges A1GP team support

Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged his support for A1 Team Brazil after meeting with its seat holder, Emerson Fittipaldi. President Lula met Fittipaldi when he was racing in the Brazilian GT3 Championship with his brother, Wilson, last week, and discussed the new A1GP season.

In the meeting with the President, which also included the Brazilian Minister of Sport, Orlando Silva, Fittipaldi talked about the team ahead of the 2008/09 season during which everyone will use the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari cars. President Lula pledged his support, and vowed to assist Fittipaldi and A1 Team Brazil in their quest to secure a home race in the future.

“We are working hard at A1 Team Brazil to raise the profile and awareness of the national team," said Fittipaldi after the meeting. “It is invaluable to have the support of President Lula, Orlando Silva and the Government, and it is a goal of ours, in the not too distant future, to have a race in Brazil, so we will work with them on this important project.

“Another important side to A1GP is the Think Greener Racing campaign, and some of President Lula’s ideas on the use of Brazilian ethanol could be very interesting for the series to explore.

“I am excited to think about the future of A1GP and I think A1 Team Brazil has an important part to play in it."