Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: A1GP and Speedcar racing off into the sunset]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/03/report-a1gp-and-speedcar-racing-off-into-the-sunset/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/03/report-a1gp-and-speedcar-racing-off-into-the-sunset/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/03/report-a1gp-and-speedcar-racing-off-into-the-sunset/#commentsFiled under: ,



In the wake of Formula One's near collapse and the shock resignation of Indy chief Tony George, it'd be all to easy to assume these are the only two racing series in serious trouble. However, emerging reports indicate that they're only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

According to the latest, both the Speedcar and A1GP series are on the verge of total collapse. The former, for those unacquainted, is a stock car series pitting former F1 drivers like Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jacques Villeneuve against each other on tracks around the Middle and Far East. After only two short seasons of operation, Speedcar's official website is offline and reports suggest the cars have been parked along with it.

Meanwhile, the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, an open-wheel feeder championship between various national teams, appears to be going down the same path. Only one season after unveiling their new Ferrari-designed and -powered spec single-seaters, A1 Grand Prix Operations Ltd has reportedly declared bankruptcy and began liquidating its assets. A1 was starting to position itself as an alternative to the likes of GP2 and the new Formula 2 as a feeder series for aspiring F1 drivers, but its purported collapse will leave that territory to the mainstream series, while Speedcar's demise will leave one less sunset into which burnt-out grand prix pilots can ride off.

[Source: F1-Live]

REPORT: A1GP and Speedcar racing off into the sunset originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a1a1 gp world cupa1gpA1GpWorldCupspeedcarspeedcar seriesSpeedcarSeriesFri, 03 Jul 2009 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Speedcar Series inaugural season wraps up in Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/13/speedcar-series-inaugural-season-wraps-up-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/13/speedcar-series-inaugural-season-wraps-up-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/13/speedcar-series-inaugural-season-wraps-up-in-dubai/#commentsFiled under:

It's been a very long time since Jean Alesi has taken a title. Nineteen years, to be precise, when the French driver took the Formula 3000 championship for the second time. Over the course of thirteen years in Formula 1 and another five in DTM, Alesi has not taken the title home once. And after the inaugural Speedcar Series wrapped this weekend in Dubai, it was clear that it'll be at least one more year.

The Speedcar Series, for the uninitiated, is a circuit-based racing league that runs at events across Asia with 620hp 6-liter V8-powered stock cars. Most of the grid in this, its inaugural season, was composed of former F1 drivers looking to relive the glory days.

Somehow we doubt you had this one TiVo'd - unless you watch Al Jazeera Sports or ESPN Asia - but in case you were waiting for something (say, more geriatric has-beens to emerge from the woodwork), go no further. For everyone else, sleep well tonight knowing that Johnny Herbert ultimately took the crown after winning the final race in the series, beating out points leader Alesi who started the race in 14th place and mounted ambitious charge to the front resulting in a collision that took him out of the race. How about Jacques Villeneuve, who came to the series for two races to hone his stock-car skills against his former colleagues? He must have had Robert Duval on the radio yelling, "rubbin' is racin'!" as he slammed into everything on the track. Herbert, meanwhile, vows to defend his title next season as the pan-Asian Speedcar Series prepares to return.

[Source: Speedcar Series]

Speedcar Series inaugural season wraps up in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jacques villeneuve speedcarJacquesVilleneuveSpeedcarjean alesi speedcarJeanAlesiSpeedcarspeedcarspeedcar seriesSpeedcarSeriesstock car asiaStockCarAsiaSun, 13 Apr 2008 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Not quite NASCAR: Villeneuve signs on for Speedcar races]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/31/villeneuve-signs-on-for-speedcar-races/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/31/villeneuve-signs-on-for-speedcar-races/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/31/villeneuve-signs-on-for-speedcar-races/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jacques Villeneuve will be back behind the wheel next week when the F1 circus heads to Bahrain, but he won't be competing in the grand prix. Instead, Villeneuve will be piloting a stock car in the Speedcar Series race that will support the main event.

We initially brought you news of the Speedcar Series when fellow Francophone former F1 driver Jean Alesi signed on to headline the series, which campaigns stock cars of all things at events across Asia. Although several retired F1 drivers compete in the series, Villeneuve is the only former world champion to line up. Following the Bahrain event, JV will join the Speedcar grid the following week for the season finale in Dubai. The Canadian driver has fought hard to stay racing since retiring from Formula One, driving for Peugeot at Le Mans while trying his darnedest to break into NASCAR.

[Source: Speedcar Series]

Continue reading Not quite NASCAR: Villeneuve signs on for Speedcar races

Not quite NASCAR: Villeneuve signs on for Speedcar races originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jacques villeneuveJacquesVilleneuvespeedcar bahrainspeedcar seriesSpeedcarBahrainSpeedcarSeriesvilleneuvevilleneuve speedcarVilleneuveSpeedcarMon, 31 Mar 2008 08:33:00 EST