Fisi and Coulthard Have Eye in A1GP Team
David Coulthard is interested in running a Scotland team in the A1GP series when his career in F1 finally ends. And another grand prix veteran, Giancarlo Fisichella, is looking at the possibility of a Team Italy according to The Daily Express newspaper.
Several other F1 drivers have also been in touch with the boss of A1GP, Tony Texeira, who says that a new deal which will see the series branded as ‘powered by Ferrari’, has provided the respect to make F1 drivers reach for the phones.
That is the claim of Texeira, who says his deal with Ferrari for the next three years left F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone speechless – and then full of a new respect for the series, which has so far spent over £300million without seeing a penny of profit.
For a man who is personally out of pocket by over £100m on a motor racing series which will not break even for another couple of years, Texeira is amazingly buoyant as A1GP’s winter global tour ends at Brands Hatch Sunday.
“We will have a great weekend with the title being decided at the last race and a few other key spots on the grid sorted out,” said Texeira. “But the new era for A1GP begins on Monday and I can’t wait.”
Texeira is a tough-talking, gold-mining and oil entrepreneur of South African-Portuguese descent. He is a long way from striking paydirt in this series, but he struck a deal with Ferrari to supply engines and for Rory Byrne, who was behind the design of Michael Schumacher’s seven world title-winning cars, to be a consultant.
The old Lola cars, which have run for the past three years, are out after the final race tomorrow and the bigger, faster Ferrari-backed models will be in action next September when the series starts again.
“This will put us second only to F1 in terms of power and prestige,” said Texeira. “We were running with what were really F3000 cars and the GP2 series which goes with F1 was quicker – but not for much longer.
“We have paid for Ferrari, of course, but they have never done a deal like this so it is much more than money that has attracted them. When I told Bernie Ecclestone, he was totally dumfounded and then offered respect for the deal.”
Although Texeira would not comment on names interested in A1GP, it’s understood that Coulthard, who is with Red Bull Racing and looking for another year’s contract in F1, also has his eyes on a franchise which would see a Team Scotland.
The backing and heritage is there and Coulthard’s name and prestige would attract quality drivers and sponsors. He is examining the business profile, as is Fisichella, the former Renault driver now with Force India. The Roman already has a team in GP2 the announcement yesterday that A1GP would run in Italy next September will only heighten his interest.
“I can’t talk names, but we have had four F1 people in touch,” added Texeira. “And I would welcome people like Fisi and Coulthard. We have an open door. People know what is involved, it is straightforward – £2.5m for the licence for a year, £1m to run the team, everyone has the same engine and car and the drivers must be paid.
“We don’t have paying drivers. We have a lot of young drivers and already several have moved on to F1. I can see it happening in future that they come here, prove themselves, get picked up by F1 and then end their careers back here.
“We’re not competing with F1, never want to. We provide other countries, sponsors who cannot afford F1, with a global tour and a television audience which will be around 400 million.”
Texeira added: “I hope we can break even next season and make money as a series after that, although the teams can do their own thing on the commercial front.
“We have new teams, new countries coming. (A1 Team Korea is one - ed) It is worth the investment. When I dig a mine, it can take years to find gold. This is the same.”
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