Kicking-back
4 Apr 2005, 12:20
Sixteen countries have been confirmed so far, with nine more to be announced.
CONFIRMED:
South Africa
China
Lebanon
Pakistan
Portugal
United Kingdom
Australia
Canada
Malaysia
Mexico
Brazil
Turkey
Korea
Holland
India
New Zealand
Who do we think the other nine will be?
There are rumours of a Willi Weber-arranged German team.
Stephen Green
4 Apr 2005, 13:55
I would have thought France, Italy and Spain would be amonst those yet to be announced?
Kicking-back
4 Apr 2005, 14:43
Logically they probably will be!
Depends on who comes up with the best franchise proposals.
A1GP tell us they are "in negotiations" over the other nine countries.
Team Agrentina? Japan? Russia?
Stephen Green
4 Apr 2005, 14:47
And of course there are seven other franchises after that I believe, bringing the total number of cars (assuming they are all sold) to 30. Now that would be a poke in the eye for F1 however you look at it.
Kicking-back
4 Apr 2005, 15:05
A1GP say there will be 25 cars on the grid - they've ordered 50 chassis from Lola - so a car and a spare for each country.
Just remembered too - the United States is likely to be one of the remaining nine.
Stephen Green
4 Apr 2005, 15:14
Yes, I had forgotten them!
the_royksopp
4 Apr 2005, 18:04
Sweden will probably be there too?
GP Racer
7 Apr 2005, 00:33
I found it abit strange that there are so many countries that are considered non-racing involved already, and so many of the more traditional racing countries are not. I never really expected to see the countries of Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey, and China involved in something like this.
I can't imagine them doing to well against the more established racing countries that will be there. Does anyone feel differently?
Kicking-back
7 Apr 2005, 07:55
I think getting non traditional racing countries on board and allowing them to race the "big boys" on a level playing field is one of the keys to the appeal of the series and its future.
With nine countries still to announce and the series using a drip drip PR approach to remain in the headlines, I'd expect to see a few more of the "traditional" racing countries (eg USA, France, Italy) confirmed in the coming weeks.
Is there a cutoff date for when they can be confirmed?
ralf fan
7 Apr 2005, 20:19
. I never really expected to see the countries of Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey, and China involved in something like this.
I can't imagine them doing to well against the more established racing countries that will be there. Does anyone feel differently?
But watching your countryman race for the sort of "world cup" will surely raise interest in motorsport in these countries and hopefully motorsport can grow in these traditionally non racing countries as well...
I suppose the United Arab Emirates would have a team. Or not?
thejester
11 Apr 2005, 02:04
I found it abit strange that there are so many countries that are considered non-racing involved already, and so many of the more traditional racing countries are not. I never really expected to see the countries of Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey, and China involved in something like this.
I can't imagine them doing to well against the more established racing countries that will be there. Does anyone feel differently?
Agree with you for the first year, but see the gap closing fairly quickly.
