Qualifications – Switzerland and Canada in the lead!

For the seventh round of the A1GP season, taking place this weekend in South Africa on the Durban street circuit, it is A1 Team Canada and A1 Team Switzerland that have secured pole positions. Robert Wikens scores his first pole with Canada for race no. 1, known as the Sprint race. Swiss driver Neel Jani, currently third in the standings, will start first in race no. 2, known as the endurance race (70 minutes).

France, which attempted an ambitious strategy by running three different drivers between yesterday and today, had Loic Duval during the qualifying sessions. The young Frenchman knows this track well and achieved a pole position two weeks ago in New Zealand, yet he did not rank in the top 5 of the two races. Great disappointment.

South Africa – Sprint Qualifications – Durban – TOP 10

We expected France to be in the top 10 at least, yet Duval, who only participated in the third free practice session this morning, having been occupied in Japan earlier, could only manage the 17th fastest time. He was hindered by events occurring on the track.

The South African, racing at home, Adrian Zaugg, violently went off track in the first part of the qualifying session. He caused the interruption of the session and did not set any time, forcing him to start from the last position…

All the debris left behind prevented the drivers, who hadn’t yet turned, from achieving good lap times. When the session resumed, there was little time left, but a new red flag was signaled after the accident involving Ireland. The driver is unharmed, but the incident prevents many other drivers from speeding up.

In the end, Duval is only 17th, completing only one timed lap of the two allowed, while Canada, somewhat fortunate, takes the best time ahead of Brazil and New Zealand (leading the championship with France).

South Africa – Endurance Qualifications – Durban – TOP 10

For the second race, fewer incidents occurred, nonetheless, it is Switzerland that benefits the most from the conditions and numerous red flags due to touches against the walls, which are very close here.

Néel Jani therefore signs his third pole of the season, ahead of Canada’s Wickens, who misses his second consecutive pole by only a tenth after securing one for the sprint race.

The ranking is similar to the first race. New Zealand is 3rd, Great Britain 4th.

Junqueira, who races for Brazil, achieved the best qualifications for Brazil with his 2nd and then 5th time in this session. Only Nelson Piquet Jr, during the first season, had managed to do as well.

Small improvement in the French camp as Duval achieves the 8th best performance, but will have difficulty tomorrow fighting for the victory, which would mean the 1st place in the championship.

France, New Zealand, and Switzerland are indeed very close in the top three positions of the championship, but it is Switzerland that is doing the best at this stage of the weekend.