The 2006/07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season kicked off in thrilling style today at the 4.18km Zandvoort circuit in the west of the Netherlands. A1 Team South Africa sealed victory in the 12-lap, 20 minute Sprint race, just 2.2 seconds ahead of A1 Team Mexico and A1 Team France. Germany, Great Britain and New Zealand rounded off the top six...
South Africa’s Adrian Zaugg started the 12-lap race from pole position following his last-gasp flying lap in yesterday’s qualifying sessions that denied Mexico the top spot by a mere 0.1secs. A1 Team France lined up third with Nicolas Lapierre ahead of Germany’s Nico Hülkenberg. Zaugg held the advantage into the first bend, but Mexico, on the drier outside line, was able to squeeze inside and take the lead on the exit. The two cars clashed as they tussled for position, with the South African car’s bodywork picking up a deep gouge on the left-hand side.
Competing in his first-ever A1GP race, Zaugg immediately fought back to retake the lead in the second corner and pushed hard to pull out a one second advantage by the end of the first lap, “I made a good start,” Zaugg said after the race. “It was hard but fair, and I had to push hard to back in front of Duran.”
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