The A1 Grand Prix (A1GP) series makes its way to Durban this weekend for another round of racing. Being the only street circuit on the A1GP schedule, the Durban race is often called ”the Monaco of A1GP”. Local favourite Adrian Zaugg gives his views on the A1GP series and his Formula One aspirations.
You represent your homeland in the A1GP series. What does that feel like?
It makes me proud. South Africa is my home country and to represent it in a worldwide racing series is an honour.
You had an excellent start to the season and South Africa has every chance of finishing in the top five. Do you think you can strive for the title race?
Yes, why not? Our car is good, the team works hard and I am fast.
Different to other teams, your pit stops seem to give you an advantage. How did that come about?
The pit stop times of most teams are more or less equal, except for teams like New Zealand, Britain or Germany, who are currently the quickest, on average. Our crew works hard and is constantly improving, but we never had the fastest pit stop so far. That is still to come.
The A1GP series will team up with Ferrari next season. Do you expect the cooperation to give the series a further boost?
Of course! I think it’s the best thing that ever happened to A1GP so far.
Speaking about a boost, you do, of course, want to give your career another boost. So what can we expect from you in the upcoming 2008 GP2 championship?
I didn’t find enough sponsors to secure a GP2 drive for this year, but you might see me in the World Series by Renault. F1 drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica came directly from this series.
GP2 is only one step away from the big goal for any driver, Formula One. When will we see you in an F1 car?
I have a certain game plan and that foresees that I will be in an F1 car in the next three years.
South Africa has a long-standing tradition in F1 with 1979 World champion Jody Scheckter and the races in Kyalami. Do you think you can help the series return to your homeland?
If I could influence it, we would be racing F1 in South Africa tomorrow. That would be simply awesome!
Your country has learned to produce a lot of young talent in world sports such as football or rugby. Can you see a similar trend in motorsports?
Well, I don’t know about the others, but I can certainly see one driver coming up (laughing).