A1GP 2008/09: Neel Jani Equals "The Hulk's" Winning Record

I would first like to apologise for not writing any articles for a long time. My University work has swamped me down and I haven't had a chance. I know this happened nearly a month ago now but here is an A1GP article for Gauteng, South Africa.

The sunny, picturesque scene of the Gauteng circuit in Kyamlami, South Africa, saw Team Switzerland's Neel Jani take the championship lead away from Adam Carroll and Team Ireland, and equal Nico Hulkenburg's record number of wins for a driver in an A1GP career. Team France still hold the record of most wins with 15.

The Swiss driver carried on his fun of form from the last round at Taupo, New Zealand, by recording another Feature win and securing a third place in the Sprint race.

However, the Sprint race saw a different team take the winning honours, as it was Team Netherlands, who haven't won a race since Beijing in the second season, who took victory.

Jeroen Bleekomolen piloted his A1GP powered by Ferrari car superbly, and was completely untouchable, as he was just over 4.5secs clear of Team Portugal in second, demonstrating his dominance.

There was plenty of drama to accompany this race as Team China tried to get passed the New Zealand car of Earl Bamber, who fought to hold onto the last point scoring position.

China's Ho-Pin Tung threw everything he had at Bamber, and even got passed him twice, on laps four and five, but overshot it both times and ran wide, and from then couldn't get passed.

There was also some pit drama for Switzerland, as they could have finished second, but Team Malaysia got in their way in the pits, and he got leapfrogged by Team Portugal, after just managing to creep by the Malaysian car.

Team Great Britain's Danny Watts had more bad luck this time around by swiping the Brazilian car on the start/finish straight, and beaching his car on the gravel. He also picked up suspension and front wing damage.

When the chequerd flag was waved after lap 14 and Team Netherland's Jeroen Bleekomolen picked up the victory, with Portugal and Switzerland rounding out the podium.

Team Ireland, who qualified sixth, fought his way all through the race, to pick off Monaco's Clivio Piccione on the final lap to get fourth place, with India, South Africa and New Zealand rounding out the points finishers.

This was only a glimpse of the excitement from the weekend of racing, with the Feature race providing excellent racing and some controversy.

This was the moment when Neel Jani would show his experience as an A1GP driver, and take the championship lead from Team Ireland.

When it comes down to it, raw pace isn't the only factor that determines a race victory, its also about being cautious and waiting for the right moment, which is exactly what Jani did to secure himself his ninth A1GP career victory.

Team Monaco were very quick in qualifying, as Clivio Piccione put himself right at the front of the grid to give himself Monaco's first pole of the season.

As the race started, Piccione got off to a brilliant start, with Teams Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, and Switzerland going four abreast into the first corner.

Team Switzerland were the winners in that tussle as the experienced Jani guided his A1GP powered by Ferrari car passed the others into second, with Australia's John Martin being forced onto the grass behind Malaysia and New Zealand.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?