Narain Karthikeyan won�t make it to the starting grid at inaugural A1GP at Zandvoort, Netherlands on Sunday.
Shockingly, it�s not only team India,
but more than half of the 24 teams that will suffer the same fate due to the delay in production of the cars. With barely five days to go before the season-opening race, the bare minimum line-up of cars, which could be as low as six, has become a big embarrassment for the race organisers.
The A1GP was supposed to have taken a big step ahead this year with the introduction of the powerful Ferrari engines.
This meant that all the 22 cars had to have a new chassis. The cars were manufactured in the UK under the banner of A1GP using various suppliers. 
Speaking about the delay, Team India CEO Andaleeb Sehgal said, �Due to circumstances beyond the control of Team India, there has been delay in the build programme of the new cars, and Team India car has been affected. As a result, the team will to not be able to take part in the Zandvoort race.�
Armaan Ebrahim, who will be the rookie driver in A1 Team India, termed the development as unfortunate. �We are surprised at the turn of things. We obviously did not expect such a scenario,� he said. He however said that since other teams too were affected there was nothing they could do about it.
Ann Bradshaw, spokesperson for A1GP, said that the delay in the manufacture of components was the problem. �We came up with our schedule that in the perfect world was right for the tests and the first race. But some components took longer to manufacture than others and we wanted to produce a car that would be reliable and safe so we would not compromise,� she said. �We have to have a car that will last for three years and follow in the footsteps of the A1GP car in all areas. It has meant that those whose cars were at the end of the build schedule have not had the components to complete the project,� she added.
The delay comes against the background of reports that A1GP has been struggling on the money front. Recently, a top executive of the majority stakeholder in the series was recently removed. It is reported that the executive was criticised for several bad investments which took place during his tenure, including the one in A1GP.
Both Sehgal and Bradshaw put up a brave face by claiming that things would get better during the second race. �The situation we find ourselves in is unfortunate, but the morale of the team is high and we are focused on competing at the next race at Chengdu, China and through the rest of the season,� Sehgal said.
Bradshaw meanwhile insisted that the
delay had nothing to do with the introduction of new Ferrari engines. �It is just a late build of the chassis. We have all the engines and they were delivered on time,� she said.
So Ferrari have accomplish their commitment.
Register
Login
FAQ
Search
