CIRCUIT INFORMATION AND RACE PROGRAM
THE SOUTH AFRICAN A1GP CIRCUIT EVALUATION
This brand new 3,283 km (estimated R 90 million) South African street circuit is located just north of the popular costal city of Durban, next to the famous Suncoast Casino Complex and has already been referred to by some locals as the “Monaco” of South Africa. Like the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Australia this circuit is not really a “street circuit” in the true sense of the word and it offers a good combination of high as well as low speed corners with possible passing opportunities at the first hairpin at the end of the Pits Straight, the first Chicane as well as at the tight right-hand corner, at end of the back straight.
This to date untested circuit, will most likely, require a good compromise between efficient aerodynamically downforce through the high-speed corners and good mechanical grip through the slower corners. Good stability under hard braking would also be essential for any successful out braking manoeuvre. The track surface will with out a doubt, be as green as the surrounding landscape and the grip level will be poor, although it should improve throughout the race weekend . This should however provide the spectators with a very exciting and eventful race weekend.
The local summer weather of extremely high ambient and track temperatures, humidity factors and a distinct possibility of rain, will put high stress levels on the engineers, the drivers and their cars. The 2006 South African A1GP certainly has all the required ingredients to develop into an extremely exciting race weekend.
EVENT PROGRAM AND INFORMATION
The 2006 South African A1GP event will take place over a three-day period, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Friday
Day one of the race weekend and is the first opportunity to experience the 2006 South African A1GP – World Cup of Motorsport as the 25 National A1 Grand Prix race cars hit the circuit for two action packed Official Practice Sessions each lasting one hour. These take place between 13h00-14h00 and 16h00-17h00.
Saturday
Saturday features the third one hour Official Practice Session between 11h00 and 12h00. At 14h00 the new and innovative format for the Official Qualifying Session starts. The teams will be competing for fastest lap times across four 15 minute qualifying sessions to establish grid positions for Sundays Sprint Race.
Sunday
Sunday's 2006 South African A1 Grand Prix action begins with a 15 minute warm up session at 10h00. The race action begins at 13h30 with the Sprint Race, lasting approximately 20 minutes and featuring a rolling start. The results from the Sprint Race determine the grid order for the main Feature Race lasting approximately 1 hour starting at 15h00 and featuring a compulsory pit stop to change tyres.
