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Organizers upbeat on preparations for first A1 street race
The organizers of the A1 Grand Prix race are confident they will be able to complete all preparations for the country's first-ever Formula One street race ahead of schedule
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The organizers of the A1 Grand Prix race are confident they will be able to complete all preparations for the country's first-ever Formula One street race ahead of schedule.
The race will take place in Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang, Banten on Feb. 6-8 next year.
"We are racing against time as we only have 85 working days. Hopefully, we will have fewer rainy days so we can expedite the road construction work," senior executive architect with PT Lippo Karawaci Gordon G. Benton said at the unveiling of the new circuit construction project Thursday.
"I think we will be able to finish the track construction before the race, while we will also be able to maintain the good quality of the track.
"We are experienced in this kind of work," Benton said, adding that at least four construction companies would start building the new two-kilometer section of track and the track barriers this weekend.
Indonesia will host the fifth series of the total 10 series of A1 Grand Prix races in the 2008/2009 season at the Lippo Village street circuit in Karawaci after a year of hiatus. Previous A1 races were held at Sentul International Circuit in Bogor, West Java, in February and October 2006.
The Lippo Village street circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke, the world's top architect of Formula One motor racing circuits. The circuit will have a 3.2-kilometer track 12 meters in width. Circuits that German-born Tilke has worked on include the concept design of the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore (2008), Valencia Street Circuit in Spain (2008), the planned Formula One venue at the Beijing Street Circuit (2006) and the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia (1999).
The Lippo Village circuit will allow a driver to race at an average speed of 176 kilometers per hour and a maximum speed of 308 kph. It will be equipped with 30 paddocks, several grandstands with a capacity of 20,000 spectators and parking space for 8,000 cars.
A1GP Asia Pacific CEO David Clare said 23 countries would be competing in the street race using Ferrari cars.
"We have a five-year deal to use the Lippo Village street circuit. But, of course, we are expecting a 20 or 30-year (deal) actually," Clare said.
"This is not just about the race. The most important thing is the festival activities and celebrations as part of efforts to promote Indonesia."
The organizers said they also planned to expand the circuit to four kilometers in the second year of A1 races at the circuit.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Motorsport Association (IMI) welcomed Indonesia's first street circuit race.
"This is a big project we have been expecting for a long time," IMI secretary-general Irawan Sucahyono said.
"We've also heard that the circuit will comply with the standards imposed by the world's motorsport governing body FIA. We wish the race great success."
