A1 TEAM SOUTH AFRICA APPOINTS ROOKIE
DRIVER
20.08.2007
Wesleigh Orr will join A1 Team South Africa as its
rookie driver for the third season of the A1GP World
Cup of Motorsport.
This was announced in Johannesburg this
morning by Mike Carroll, general manager of A1 Team South
Africa, and follows a selection process that started with
four young drivers trying out for the position at Phakisa
Freeway in the Free State.
Orr (19) is a two-times winner of the
karting Rotax Max World Finals and also won the DD2 and
Max Challenge classes of the European Rotax Max Challenge
in Ghenk (Belgium) in September last year in a factory
CRG. He has been competing successfully in Formula Renault
in Mexico this year.
He and Marc Murray (20) were selected
after the Phakisa test to travel to Snetterton circuit
in England to participate in the final stage of the selection
process, but this time at the wheel of South Africa’s
A1 car, nicknamed Vulindlela (“clear the way”).
“There was a lot of healthy competition
between the two drivers,” said Carroll. “They
both acquitted themselves very well and can be proud of
their performances.”
Adrian Zaugg, South Africa’s first
choice driver and winner of the opening race of the previous
A1GP season at Zandvoort in the Netherlands last October,
was on hand to set a target time.
Driving A1 Team South Africa’s
spare car, the two would-be rookies recorded a best lap
time within two tenths of a second of each other, with
Orr the quicker of the two. They were around a second
and a half off Zaugg’s time.
“I was impressed with the enthusiasm
and talent of both drivers, both at Phakisa and in England.
Frankly, either of them would be a good choice as rookie
in our team. I also have to say that Leeroy Poulter and
Kyle Mitchell, who also tested at Phakisa but were not
invited to travel to Snetterton, impressed. We were fortunate
to have four such talented young drivers at our disposal.”
Driver quotes:
Murray: “I am grateful for the
opportunity to drive the A1 car. I would love to have
had more time behind the wheel, but I’m happy with
my performance considering my limited ‘slicks and
wings’ experience.”
Orr: “This has been a great experience
and I thank A1 Team South Africa for inviting me to test
for the rookie position. Driving the A1 car was a lot
more physical than I expected. My Formula Renault experience
in South America definitely helped. Now that I know what
to expect, I can prepare myself for the challenge ahead.”
The new A1GP season starts at Zandvoort
in the Netherlands on September 30 and includes a round
in South Africa on February 24, 2008. Because the Zandvoort
race is held over two days, there will not be a rookie
test session.
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