Portimão, 10 April 2009: The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has travelled for the first time to the new Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for round six of the 2008/9 season this weekend.

Rain greeted the teams at the Autódromo this morning, providing damp and slippery early track conditions. Hubertus Bahlsen’s initial ‘Rookie’ session was cut short following a spin on his flying lap. The second session was halted for over half an hour due to a Red Flag situation and when the Green light was finally illuminated there were only ten minutes of the session remaining. All 17 participating teams quickly rejoined the session and Hubertus negotiated the busy track to set a time of 1:42.782 moments before a final Red Flag terminated running a few minutes ahead of schedule. 

Monegasque driver Clivio Piccione took over in the team’s A1GP ‘powered by Ferrari’ car for Official Practice 2 this afternoon. An early Red Flag deployment due to a stop out on track by host team Portugal caused a momentary lapse in on-track action, but as soon as the session resumed Clivio was catching the existing front runners and running in 11th place. He continued to improve on pace and was running in sixth position until he set a stunning final lap as the chequered flag was waved. A fastest lap time of 1:32.242 propelled him in to third position at the end of a hugely competitive final Friday practice session for the Vodafone A1GP Algarve, Portugal event.

Hubertus Bahlsen, ‘Rookie’ Driver and Seat-Holder: “We started the day with a very good set-up and had no problems. I was using a seat made for me for the first time this morning, so it felt much better to drive. I struggled with technique, however, and in the first session I stalled the car. But this is still a learning curve for me and the second session was good, so it is a shame we ran out of time with the Yellow and Red Flags. The track is very interesting and the car is extremely good so it only required fine tuning for Clivio this afternoon. His style is well suited to driving here, he likes the track and his last lap this afternoon was controlled and focussed.”

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Pour cette journée de découverte du nouvel autodrome de l’Algarve, théâtre de la 6e manche de la Coupe du Monde A1GP 2008/09, le bilan est positif pour toute l’équipe de l’A1 Team Monaco et son pilote Clivio Piccione qui a réalisé le 3e temps absolu des premiers essais libres.

La pluie en guise d’accueil, le petit monde de l’A1GP s’attendait à mieux au sud du Portugal ce matin, pour découvrir ce magnifique circuit de l’Algarve. Piste humide et glissante au début – pas vraiment des conditions idéales pour s’élancer – et Hubertus Bahlsen aux commandes de la monoplace rouge et blanche pour disputer la toute première séance d’essais libres réservée aux « Rookies ». Des premiers tours de roues perturbés par de nombreux drapeaux rouges, dont le plus long aura tout de même provoqué une interruption de séance de plus d’une demi-heure. Hubertus s’est lui aussi fait piéger au début, heureusement sans conséquences notoires, et a pu réaliser un temps de 1’42’’782 au baisser du drapeau à damiers. Retour aux affaires l’après midi pour Clivio Piccione, dès la seconde séance d’essais libres de la journée, avec d’entrée, un nouveau drapeau rouge en raison de l’immobilisation sur la piste de la voiture de l’équipe du pays hôte. Très rapidement, le pilote monégasque a pris la mesure du tracé portugais et a parfaitement respecté son tableau de marche. Résultat, des temps en piste en permanence parmi les tous meilleurs, avec un dernier tour lancé bouclé en 1’32’’242 qui lui permet ce soir de pointer à la 3e place à l’issue de  cette première journée d’essais libres, de bon augure pour la journée de demain…

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Monaco, 6 April 2009: The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is heading to Portugal for only the second time in its history and for the first time to the brand new Autódromo Internacional do Algarve circuit. The Vodafone A1GP Algarve, Portugal will be the host of round six of the series from 10-12 April 2009.

A1 Team Monaco is eager to arrive in Portugal for the closing stages of the 2008/9 season. A new track brings with it a new set of challenges and also the excitement of the unknown. The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve features 17 corners, with a generous downhill slope and right-hand turn following immediately after the main straight. The track looks set to provide some good overtaking opportunities and competitive racing when the A1GP circus comes to town.

The latest circuit on the A1GP calendar is 4,692 kms (2,915 miles) long and located in Portimão, Portugal. With a total cost of €195 million (approximately $250 million), the project includes a karting track, technology park, five-star hotel, sports complex and apartments. With a capacity of 100,000 spectators, 15,000 of which can be seated in the main grand stand, the facilities available for the fans promise to be second to none.

Construction was finished in October 2008 and the circuit was homologated by both the FIM and the FIA a few days later. The track has already begun to host a selection of top international motorsport events. A proven testing ground for Formula One at the end of 2008 and the beginning of this year, the circuit also hosted the final round of the Superbike World Championship last November. A night Sportscar event and an FIA GT round will also be held at the new Algarve circuit later in 2009. 

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Fresh from securing Monaco’s maiden medal in Gauteng, Clivio Piccione has been tasting more success – this time against a five-time World Rally Champion.

The 25-year-old has just beaten French rally mega-star Sebastien Loeb at racing a quad buggy around a special dirt course in the heart of the principality.

Piccione and Loeb were invited to take part in a special VIP section of the Monaco round of Quad Master series, pitting their skills against other established motor sport stars including Luc Alphand, Soheil Ayari and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Stephane Ortelli.

Piccione got through two heats, a semi-final and the final against the highly-regarded opposition, with the A1GP racer grabbing lead the start of the 15-minute final and never being headed, despite pressure from Loeb throughout.

“It was an awesome experience,” Piccione told A1GP.com from his home in Monaco. “It was a bit of last minute call, but I was happy to attend. They are really fun machines to drive. We raced around a 500m course with two jumps and you really have to hold on, because you can get as high as 10 metres.

“I got a great start and lead pretty much straight away. Then it was just about hanging on.

“I knew Loeb was right behind me on braking in the corners and I could hear what was going on behind me thanks to the commentators there. Loeb owns ones of these buggies and is used to racing on dirt and mud – I have no experience so it was pretty thrilling to beat him.

“It’s very different to racing an A1GP car, and had a more fun element, but ultimately, when we are all racing, we all want to win.

Victoire de Clivio Piccione devant Sébastien Loeb

Le récent médaillé de bronze de la course « Principale » d’A1GP de Gauteng en Afrique du Sud s’est imposé dimanche dans les rues de la Principauté de Monaco, face au quintuple champion du monde des Rallyes, Sébastien Loeb.

C’est à domicile que le jeune Monégasque, qui a fêté ses 25 ans mardi dernier, a participé et brillamment remporté la course VIP, dans le cadre de cette première édition du Monaco Quad Master, organisé par Daniel Elena. Face à de nombreux autres pilotes, venus tout spécialement pour l’occasion, Clivio Piccione est finalement venu à bout en finale de Sébastien Loeb, la grande star et invité d’honneur de cette grande première réservée au Quad en Principauté. Parmi les autres personnalités du sport automobile engagées, citons également les noms de Luc Alphand, Soheil Ayari ou bien encore Stéphane Ortelli, le vainqueur des 24 heures du Mans.

« Cette course au volant de RZR Polaris fut une incroyable expérience », a commenté Clivio Piccione à l’arrivée de l’épreuve. « Nous avons pris grand plaisir à piloter ces engins sur cette piste de 400 mètres de long, mi-terre, mi-asphalte, composée de deux bosses dont une énorme à plus de 4 mètres de haut. La partie n’a pas été facile face à Sébastien, qui notamment a une bien meilleure connaissance de ce genre d’engin et un sens de la glisse plus étoffé que moi. Le pilotage de cette machine est très différent d’une monoplace d’A1GP mais en tout cas très marrant à piloter. Ces quads, bien que carénés et arceautés, dispose d’une suspension relativement souple et d’une boîte de vitesses automatique. Malgré tout, même présents pour le plaisir et le spectacle, nous nous sommes tous livrés à fond dans la bagarre, ce qui a, j’espère, régalé les nombreux spectateurs présents. Avoir battu « Seb » restera comme un très grand souvenir… »