Ireland team wins Brands Hatch Sprint Race

Adam Carroll motors to victory from pole

A1 Team Ireland and Adam Carroll moved one step closer to the team’s maiden title after taking victory in this morning’s Sprint race at A1GP Brands Hatch, Great Britain.

India’s Narain Karthikeyan finished second with Mexico’s Salvador Duran taking the final podium position.

Ireland got a good start but Mexico had a better run into Paddock Hill, taking the lead around the outside through the first corner. Ireland settled into second from USA, Portugal, India and Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.

Australia’s John Martin took advantage of a mistake by Switzerland’s Neel Jani to take eighth place before the mandatory pit stop window opened.

India made the decision to pit early alongside Lebanon, Germany and Malaysia. A lap later Mexico and Ireland made their way into the pits but after an incredibly quick stop by the Irish team, Adam Carroll regained the lead with India taking second.

John R Hildebrand continued his good weekend form in his first race for A1 Team USA today by moving up to third after the pit stops, pushing Mexico down to fourth. Monaco’s Clivio Piccione had problems leaving the pits, rolling to a stop at the pit lane exit.

On lap nine the order was Ireland from India, USA, Mexico, Portugal, Netherlands, Australia and Switzerland.

Duran was then able to capitalize on a mistake from Hildebrand at the final corner which gave the Mexican a good run to take third into the first corner.

Carroll now had a 3.867-second lead from India but still kept the fans on the edge of their seats kicking up the dust showing no sign of easing off the pace.

On lap 15 Lebanon’s Daniel Morad lost the back end and spun into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend with New Zealand’s Earl Bamber also going into the gravel to avoid hitting the Lebanese car, leaving both cars out the race.

Carroll took victory with a comfortable 7.230-second margin over India. Mexico’s Duran settled for the final podium position.

A1 Team Brazil did not make the start after being unable to repair the car in time for this morning’s Sprint race. The team is still working hard and hopes to have the car ready in time for this afternoon’s Feature race.

Portugal’s Filipe Albuquerque finished fifth with Switzerland’s Jani taking a single point for eighth. Ireland now leads the championship with 97 points from Switzerland (89) and Portugal (86).

Ireland needs to finish fifth or better in this afternoon’s Feature race to guarantee them the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport title.

“It’s never easy," said Ireland’s Adam Carroll. “Sprint races are always quite strange, they’re tougher than the Feature race for some reason. I could see Mexico pushing very hard so just let then get on with it and hoped the boys would come up with the goods in the pit stop and they did. It’s a relief for this race to be over and once this afternoon is done we can relax."

India’s Narain Karthikeyan said: “it was difficult after a small mistake in qualifying as we should have been further up the grid. The car is working well so I think we are looking good for another podium this afternoon."

Mexico’s Salvador Duran said: “I did a small mistake put still the team did a great job and put me out in a podium position. To achieve a podium is great for us and it’s a developing project for next season."

Sprint Race Results

Pos

A1 Team Driver Laps Time Gap
1 Ireland Adam Carroll 18 22'32.704 0.000
2 India Narain Karthikeyan 18 22'39.934 7.230
3 Mexico Salvador Durán 18 22'45.044 12.340
4 USA J.R. Hildebrand 18 22'45.393 12.689
5 Portugal Filipe Albuquerque 18 22'45.722 13.018
6 Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 18 22'46.487 13.783
7 Australia John Martin 18 22'47.912 15.208
8 Switzerland Neel Jani 18 22'54.924 22.220
9 France Nicolas Prost 18 22'55.649 22.945
10 Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi 18 22'59.766 27.062
11 Germany Michael Ammermüller 18 23'04.651 31.947
12 Indonesia Satrio Hermanto 18 23'05.863 33.159
13 Great Britain Dan Clarke 18 23'06.245 33.541
14 China Cheng Cong Fu 18 23'07.667 34.963
15 South Africa Alan van der Merwe 18 23'13.192 40.488
16 Malaysia Aaron Lim 18 23'14.232 41.528
17 Lebanon Daniel Morad 13 16'51.416 5 laps
18 New Zealand Earl Bamber 13 16'51.675 5 laps
19 Monaco Clivio Piccione 8 10'53.522 10 laps
Brazil Felipe Guimarães 0

Fastest Race Laps

Pos

A1 Team Driver Time Gap Lap
1 Ireland Adam Carroll 1'12.276 0.000 8
2 France Nicolas Prost 1'12.639 0.363 9
3 India Narain Karthikeyan 1'12.658 0.382 18
4 Australia John Martin 1'12.907 0.631 12
5 USA J.R. Hildebrand 1'13.036 0.760 7
6 Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen 1'13.168 0.892 9
7 Portugal Filipe Albuquerque 1'13.199 0.923 7
8 Mexico Salvador Durán 1'13.236 0.960 3
9 Italy Vitantonio Liuzzi 1'13.296 1.020 18
10 China Cheng Cong Fu 1'13.429 1.153 9
11 Switzerland Neel Jani 1'13.442 1.166 10
12 New Zealand Earl Bamber 1'13.508 1.232 6
13 Great Britain Dan Clarke 1'13.645 1.369 16
14 Lebanon Daniel Morad 1'13.706 1.430 11
15 Monaco Clivio Piccione 1'13.811 1.535 7
16 Indonesia Satrio Hermanto 1'13.864 1.588 9
17 South Africa Alan van der Merwe 1'13.864 1.588 10
18 Malaysia Aaron Lim 1'13.874 1.598 15
19 Germany Michael Ammermüller 1'14.039 1.763 17