Australian event axed from A1GP schedule
Having hosted an A1GP event at Sydney’s Eastern Creek since 2005, Team Australia boss Alan Jones had previously called for the event to be transferred to Queensland’s Gold Coast following less than expected crowds in recent times.
However, with the resurrection of the newly-formed IndyCar Series, following the merger of the Champ Car and IRL series, the Gold Coast event promoters would have been unlikely to instate the A1GP over a series that now boasts the likes of Australian’s Ryan Briscoe and Will Power, along with Brisbane-born Kiwi Scott Dixon amongst its draw cards.
"The fact of the matter is that A1 has been increasing in its interest internationally over the last three years,'' Jones said.
"They are at a stage now where they are actually being paid a sanction fee which of course is what Melbourne paid Formula One and Queensland paid Champ Cars. There are other countries now that have put their hand up to host a round of A1.
"If Sydney can't or won't come up with the required sanction fee, then unfortunately they are going to lose it to somebody who can. I can tell you one thing, it's considerably less than what Melbourne paid for Formula One and what Queensland paid for the Champ Car race.''
For the 2008/09 A1GP calendar there will also be at least three completely new events, with Portugal and Indonesia joining the previously announced season-opener in Italy.
The Portuguese round will take place on the 18-turn Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, currently being built in Portimao, Portugal.