A1GP Sign 5-Year Deal with Surfers Paradise

Alan Jones, A1 Team Australia seat holder

Maybe we won't get to see much of IndyCar Series at Surfers Paradise in the near future, but we'll sure have plenty of A1 GP action at the Queensland track for the next 5 years. Australia will return to the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport calendar next year following the signing of a 5-year contract with the championship organizers.

The announcement certainly comes as great news for Alan Jones' team, who was used to competing in Australia for every year since the series' debut in 2005. Until this season, the Australian event was held at Eastern Creek Raceway, 20 km west of Sydney.

“It has been a big hole in the A1GP calendar this year not being in Australia. To say I am thrilled about this deal is an understatement. Having the chance to race in my own back yard is something special for me and the team. We are looking forward to it and I can warn all the other teams now I aim to make sure we have a home win in Surfers,” admitted Jones after the A1 GP announcement.

A1 GP Chairman Tony Teixeira also admitted it was important for the series to come back to Australia for the following seasons, as the World Cup of Motorsport has become a very interesting championship for the Aussie fans throughout the past 3 years.

“We wanted to go back to Australia and this is the ideal venue for our series. A lot of people have worked hard on putting this deal together, and now it has come to fruition it is very exciting.”

“I am aware we are being given a perfect opportunity to showcase our series to the Australian fans, who have been great supporters of both the series and their own team. Australia has a rich motorsport heritage and I know our TV fans worldwide will be delighted to have this spectacular race on our calendar,” revealed Teixeira.

The Australian event was scheduled for the 22nd -25th of October next year and will probably count as the 2nd round of the 2009/2010 A1 GP championship.