December 17, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 6, 1428

ZHUHAI, Dec 16: The A1GP provided some action packed racing on Sunday as Team Pakistan raced for glory in the fourth round of the 2007-08 season.

Following a difficult qualifying session on Saturday, A1 Team Pakistan driver Adam Khan made up several places to finish 14th in both the Sprint and Feature races.

A1 Team India’s Narain Karthikeyan made history when he took his and the team’s first ever A1GP race win in this afternoon’s incident-packed Feature race at China’s Zhuhai International Circuit.

Karthikeyan was joined on the podium by New Zealand’s Jonny Reid, who started from 10th on the grid, and South Africa’s Adrian Zaugg.

Filing around the first corner in safety, an incident at the back of the field on the second corner resulted in a group of cars crashing.

Picking his way carefully around the unfolding melee without losing position, Adam finished at 15th place.

As many more experienced drivers clashed and suffered the consequences, Adam kept the Pakistan car on track and by lap 11, he was up to 14th, the position he would take at the chequered flag.

After a colourful opening ceremony watched by an enthusiastic local crowd, the 22 A1GP cars took their positions for the 70 minute Feature race.

Featuring a standing start, Adam made a stunning start, passing the cars of the Czech Republic and Lebanon.

However, as the cars thundered towards the tight first corner, Adam left with nowhere to go, was forced onto the grass and hit by another car.

With a missing front wing and severe damage to the bodywork, Adam limped back to the pits for a new nose cone and front wing.

Emerging from the pits in 18th place and despite the team’s earlier problems, Adam continued to race hard, passing the Portuguese car in a great move at the first corner on lap six.

As various teams crashed off track, he kept pushing, and was up to 14th by lap 23. The team made their second mandatory pit stop on lap 32, and emerged in 14th with 13 laps to go. Driving a solitary race from there to the end, Adam maintained his position to cross the finish line.

Reflecting on the Feature race, Adam said, “I had a great start, unfortunately there was a bit of action mid-field, and two cars spun ahead of me. I had to take avoiding action, and was forced onto the grass, and then I think it was Australia who cut right across me and took off the front wing.”

“By the time I had stopped for a new nose cone, I was already a lap behind, so the race was really over by then. It’s just luck of the draw really — that’s racing,” Adam added.

About his team’s strategy in the upcoming races, he said: “I think we need to focus on qualifying and start higher up the grid. Then we’ll be able to get the results rather than just talk about them.”—Agencies