It is almost twenty years ago when A1GP made it’s debut at Brands Hatch. From the start on at Brands Hatch the series was a huge success. All races saw over twenty cars on the grid with many circuits packed with fans cheering for their country. Because, it is what made A1GP so special the teams represented their or a nation. Therefore, there were teams as Team Pakistan and Team Lebanon on the grid. As the series became bigger, so did the ideas and plans. Ferrari would deliver from 2008-2009 the engine and car. The idea’s went further, Taxeira and da Silva were working on a feeder series the A2GP. Yes they really did, the plans were for real and concrete, and then the series collapsed and went into liquidation.
There were several reason A1GP collapsed and eventually went into liquidation. While the stock exchange crashed and banks felt due to Bernie Madoff who vaporised billions of dollars in a pyramid scheme. There was also mismanagement within A1GP. With the “Powered by Ferrari” cars, a lot of things would change. In the back of their minds, they choose Ferrari to keep the series on track for the coming six years, to keep the sport alive and affordable. At that time, the series didn’t make any profit. Rules were changed shortening the qualifying sessions and a longer sprint race.
However, this article is not about the collapse and liquidation of the series many of us loved. This is about an idea for a Feeder series. The first time there was talk about the A2GP Feeder Series came from Tony Texeira in October 2007. During the announcement of Ferrari as their engine and chassis supplier, he spoke about A2GP. Later in March 2008, more talks about the feeding series arrived on the surface such as in the Autosport magazine.
What was the idea behind the A2GP Feeder series? What would the purpose be of the series? Like in those days with the Formula Renault, who had many regional championships in Europe going on. Eventually could A2GP drivers continue to the A1GP. For countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany, it would not be a problem to hold the series. For countries like the Netherlands it could probably be possible to held a regional championship together with Belgium. Same goes for Monaco who could join France. Perhaps a special league could be created as well for several countries in Asia and so on.
The cars were to be powered by the same Ferrari V8 engine from the A1GP cars, though down tuned to 400/450HP. The chassis would be slightly different from the once used from the 2008-2009 season onwards. Some information stated that the first A2GP prototype cars were to be tested in early 2009. While the regional series were to start in mid-2009. Brands Hatch had even the A2GP already on their calendar. However, the A2GP would never appear, and as far as I know, there was not a car build. Eventually, after four season the A1GP would collapse due to debts and the worsened economic situation in the world. At that time even, the Formula One was not save any more.
However, here the feeder series don’t end for the A1GP. Earlier on, in 2006/2007, there were already cars build for the A3GP. To give young talent the chance to get experience.
A1GP Zandvoort 2008
