ISLAMABAD, April 03(Online): A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Shanghai International Circuit, China A1 team Pakistan ends season on high with best result.
Qualified: 14th , Sprint Race: 12th , Feature Race: 5th Adam Khan drove superbly all weekend. His enjoyment of the track and his love of China seemed to be the boost he needed to get all the ingredients together for his best drive of the season.
Adam’s performance combined with a fantastic pit stop by A1 Team Pakistan delivered the best finish the team has had and six championship points.
The Sprint Race saw Adam lose places on the start but he quickly regained them. He then managed to overtake two cars leaving him only two places to gain in the Feature Race to get into the points scoring position which was his goal.
His start in race two was better and by the end of the first lap he’d gained a place to put him in 11th. An incident on lap two triggered the safety car and A1 Team Pakistan took the opportunity to make the compulsory stop to change tyres.
The team performed a brilliant pit stop and when Adam rejoined he was in eighth place. Drive through penalties for competitors meant that A1 Team Pakistan benefited and gained another three positions putting Adam in fifth place where he stayed to take the chequered flag. Adam Khan “In race one I lost places at the start. By slipstreaming and passing I could overtake but it’s really hard to get a slipstream in the first place with the long fast corners.
I knew I just needed a couple more places to get points so I was determined to make them in race two. I didn’t get such a good start but I knew we were quick round this track. It’s difficult to pass here so I’m delighted. The boys did a fantastic job – not just on the stop but the whole weekend – I’m glad we got some points and prize money.
We’ve had quite a bit of bad luck and misfortune this season so it’s great to finish on such a high.” Arif Husain, A1 Team Pakistan Seatholder: “It’s a great way to finish! What Adam has proved is that he has the skills and talent to win races and through the season he’s been held back through luck and incidents. Full compliments to the team who worked wonderfully well together.
As a Pakistani I’m proud for Pakistan that we’ve established that we can compete in this sport and play a part in A1 Grand Prix. I’m anxiously and eagerly looking forward to next season and hope that A1 and A1 Team Pakistan have inspired the Pakistan people to follow us next year.