Former British F3 champion and BAR Honda development driver Alan van der Merwe would seem a logical choice to campaign the South African car in the A1 GP series, but so far the South African-born driver “has not been asked” to drive for the team.
Former British F3 champion and BAR Honda development driver Alan van der Merwe would seem a logical choice to campaign the South African car in the A1 GP series, but so far the South African-born driver “has not been asked” to drive for the team.
There has been much media speculation over the identity of the driver to represent South Africa in the “World Cup of Motorsport”, which started at Brands Hatch on Sunday, and the location of the local leg of the series, which is scheduled to take place on January 2 9. An A1 South Africa media announcement on the latter was expected to be have been made in Durban on September 22, but was last week postponed until a date to be confirmed.
Formula Renault driver Stephen Simpson finally drove the car in the opening round at Brands Hatch on Sunday, but the driver line-up for forthcoming rounds remains far from clear. Simpson, Indy Racing League star Tomas Scheckter and international karting champion and off-road racer Gavin Cronje drove the car in pre-series tests. And, according to , former British F3 champion and F3000 driver Van der Merwe was also considered a strong contender to secure a drive in the championship.
On Friday, all the national A1 Teams nominated their drivers for the inaugural A1 Grand Prix of Nations. The South African team, led by former Opel SA Touring Car series manager Mike Carrol, nominated Simpson and Cronje, although only the former competed in the qualifying session and the sprint and feature races.
It is also believed that South African Engen Volkswagen Cup champion, Qumbu-born Tschops Sipuka, skipped the Kyalami round of the Vodacom Power Tour to attend the Brands Hatch event as a guest of A1 SA seat holder Tokyo Sexwale. A1 organisers have been at pains to point out that because the series was a competition between nations, teams could nominate any national driver to compete in the various events of the championship.
In the light of recent media speculation, Van der Merwe’s media spokesman on Monday clarified the British-based driver’s position with regard to A1 Team South Africa.
“While Alan is the BAR team driver for the upcoming Bonneville 400 land speed record attempt, he had no prior commitments in this regard this weekend, and was available to drive the A1 Grand Prix Team South Africa car in the opening round of the series at Brands Hatch,” a statement read.
“I was ready to drive the car at Brands Hatch. I would have loved the opportunity to represent my country, however, the reality is that I was never asked to do so by the team. I remain available, subject to my BAR commitments, to drive for the team at any time in future,” Van der Merwe was quoted as saying.
The official A1 Grand Prix rules state the following: “All points are allocated to the winning Nation and there are no driver points. Only drivers who take part in at least one of the three practice sessions can take part in the races. Therefore a maximum of three drivers can take part at a race weekend”.
Speaking to CARtoday,com on Tuesday, A1 Team South Africa media liaison Peter Burroughes said: “It is up to the A1 teams to nominate the best drivers at their disposal for a given race weekend. A1 teams can contract up to three drivers at a time, but it is up to them to decide which driver will be the most effective from a tactical point of view.
“In other words, should a team find itself in a position to win, it would nominate its fastest driver… If Scheckter is available for the next round in Germany, he could be selected ahead of Simpson, for example. In other circumstances, the team could choose to give the driver that may not necessarily be the quickest an opportunity.
“Driver selection is made by the entire team (ie. not exclusively by the seat holder or team manager). The biggest selection criterion for available drivers is that they post times that are no more than 5 per cent slower than the times set by their peers,” he added.
BAR Honda recently confirmed that it had signed a long-term agreement with Van der Merwe and Brazilian Danilo Dirani to join Adam Carroll and James Rossiter in formalising their relationship with the Brackley-based F1 team. The four drivers have been part of the Young Driver Programme since it was established last year.
Van der Merwer, 25, won the British F3 championship in 2003. He is currently supporting BAR Honda’s “Bonneville 400” record attempt, which takes place at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States on October 5. Alan is currently finalising his plans for a race seat in one of the feeder formulae for next season.
CARtoday.com will publish A1 Team South Africa’s comment on Van der Merwe’s statement as soon as it becomes available.