An encouraging result for Team Australia on day one of the Taupo New Zealand round of the A1GP series with John Martin setting the third fastest time in Friday afternoon’s first practice session.
In hot and dry conditions Martin moved into third place behind pace setter Neel Jarni and Lebanon’s Daniel Morad.
Jarni overcame a health scare to set the fastest time of the day after his teammate Alexandre Imperatori started the day as the quickest rookie.
Jarni was rushed to hospital last week with suspected meningitis, which ruined his training regime and left him feeling drained. He arrived in Taupo several days later than normal after getting the all-clear from doctors to race.
Jarni said the New Zealand Summer weather had improved his health and he remained confident that he would be fine to race over the weekend., “… it looks as though the warm weather is helping me as we don’t have minus degrees like at home. I am feeling better every day and had no issues with driving today so I am very positive.” he said.
The very fact that the race is happening will be a big relief for organisers after rumours spread earlier this month that the series may wind up.
A street race planned for Indonesia was cancelled due to the circuit not being ready in time and several teams have still not received the new Ferrari based A1GP car.
The NZ round itself has also come under considerable scrutiny with a move by track owners of the new Hampton Downs circuit to take the race away.
Regular Team New Zealand driver Johnny Reid has upset Taupo race fans and officials by telling local media that he would prefer to see the series move to the new track.
Reid said that the new tracks proximity to major population centres Auckland and Hamilton were the prime reason for the move.
“I would like to see it go to Hampton Downs when that opens, just because of the location and the facility.
“Probably a few people are going to be disappointed I said that, but Taupo has had an extremely good run.” he said.
According to local officials the race contributes almost eight million dollars to the region which strongly relies on tourism for its existence.
Accommodation in the area is solidly booked and local Taxi companies told the New Zealand website stuff.co.nz,that the race had caused them to hire 26 extra staff for the period of the race.
The A1GP will return to Australia in November this year replacing the Indycars on the Queensland Gold Coast.