ZHUHAI (China), Dec 10: After a sensational event at Sepang last month, which saw Switzerland secure a double victory and steal the championship lead from New Zealand, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport returns to Asia to make the first of two visits to China this season, as 22 nations prepare to take on the Zhuhai International Circuit for the first time this weekend (14-16 December).

The series is set for a thrilling debut at Zhuhai on a level playing field as none of the teams have ever driven the 4.3 km circuit in anger and all 22 A1GP drivers will be taking on the unknown, keen to learn the new track as fast as possible.

The teams will have no previous data to rely on when setting up the car, putting a lot more emphasis on the rookie driver and developing nations’ practice session on Friday morning.

”It’s a privilege to be asked to drive for A1 Team Pakistan in Zhuhai. I will be contributing a hundred per cent to the team both in and out of the car throughout the weekend in order for us to have the best opportunity to achieve two strong results to be posted on the Championship table,” said Adam Khan, Driver A1 Team Pakistan.

The British born Pakistani driver whose best finish was fifth in the 2005-06 feature race event in China said that,” China has always been special to me as my best ever performance came in China. I aim to provide a much better performance this time and aim to gain some points out of this race.”

Meanwhile, Zandvoort Feature race winner Oliver Jarvis is no longer eligible to represent A1 Team Great Britain in the rookie session, as he has competed in more than the limit of six races that participation in the session allows. For Zhuhai, GBR has recruited a new rookie in Danny Watts, 2002 Formula Renault UK champion and a race winner in British Formula Three and the Porsche Carrera Cup.

Home nation A1 Team China’s lead driver, CongFu Cheng, who last drove at Zhuhai in 2002 in a Chinese Formula Renault race, thinks it is a relatively easy circuit to learn and predicts lots of close racing and overtaking.

China’s rookie driver, Marchy Lee, knows the circuit well having raced there in previous categories and became the first driver to lap Zhuhai in an A1GP car at the official launch in September.—Agencies