A1TeamRacer.com: The GP Racer's Resource Online

A1TeamRacer.com and IndyProRacer.com Cease Publication

Economic Woes Turn Out the ‘Lights’ at Auto Racing Sites

From IndyProRacer.com and A1TeamRacer.com press release:

Allan Brewer, publisher of IndyProRacer.com and A1TeamRacer.com professional auto racing websites, announced that publication had ceased for both entities with the close of the Firestone Indy Lights season at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday (September 7th).

Brewer cited conflicting personal obligations and the rising costs of fuel and travel to cover the series in person as major factors in the decision to close the websites. The economic downturn of 2008 also created fiscal stress that neither site could overcome.

“It’s been a great privilege to work with officials of the Indy Racing League and A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, the drivers, the teams, the owners, the public relations agents, and the directors and executives of the IRL and A1GP, and their partner organizations and race tracks over the past two seasons,” said Brewer. “I can’t imagine a harder-working, more dedicated group of professionals anywhere than the people who make the Firestone Indy Lights Series and the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport go.”

The IndyProRacer.com and A1TeamRacer.com websites achieved growing readership throughout their existence, even winning acclaim by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Assocation with an ‘Honorary Mention’ among professional racing websites in 2007 and citations for excellence in reporting on the Indy Lights Series.

Despite the public and critical acclaim, IndyProRacer.com and A1TeamRacer.com never achieved financial success sufficient to match or exceed their expenses in the tough news and sports information marketplace of the twenty-first century.

“Readership without revenue is not a model for success,” said Brewer.

A1GP Returns to Brands Hatch to End New Season

Mugello, Italy Officially Dropped from 2008/09 Calendar

From A1GP Media Reports:

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is heading back to Brands Hatch, for the fourth year in succession and will hold the 2008/09 season finale there on May 1-3, 2009. The Kent circuit has played host to three superb A1GP events so far, with the inaugural race in September 2005 and the Season Two and Three finales.

A1GP Chief Executive Officer, Pete da Silva, said: “We are pleased to announce A1GP is returning to Brands Hatch for a fourth consecutive season. We have worked hard to put together an interesting calendar of challenging circuits for the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari cars, and Brands Hatch will provide an exciting final venue.”

Following the delay to the start of the season it has not been possible to find an alternative date to accommodate A1GP Mugello, Italy in this year’s calendar, therefore this event will now be taken out of the Season Four schedule.

Team testing begins at Donington Park this week with two days scheduled on the September 9th and 11th.

The second team test in the UK has now also been confirmed for Snetterton in Norfolk on September 23-24, 2008, and there will also be a one day test at this track on October 1st. The season opener will be A1GP Zandvoort, Netherlands, October 4-5, 2008.