Five set to return in China

A1GP organisers insist that the five nations missing from this weekend's Netherlands Grand Prix will line up on the grid in China next month.

Great Britain, India, Germany, Mexico and Canada will not be in action in the opening race in Zandvoort, Holland due to a car-build delay following the introduction of a new chassis that from this year house engines supplied by Ferrari, who are at the start of a six-year deal.

"We put our hands up," said A1GP spokesperson, Ann Bradshaw. "To design, build and test 23 cars in just 11 months, we were always going to be up against it.

"But this is nothing to do with Ferrari. They have delivered their engines as promised. This is down to us and the car-build problem.

"We are naturally disappointed, but as far as we are concerned we don't anticipate anything other than a full grid for the following race.

"We would have liked 23 cars on the grid this weekend, but despite that, we will still put on a great show and go racing for the championship, as we will in years to come."

The five who lost out were effectively at the back of the queue, but all are due to compete in the next round in Chengdu, China, on November 8 and 9.

To assist those nations, and to ensure they do not feel handicapped by missing an event, organisers have tweaked their own rules.

From this season, teams can discard their lowest scoring weekend from the 10 scheduled races.

Long haul

As for the long-term future of the series, Bradshaw added: "We are confident we will be around for the long haul.

"We're in the first year of a six-year engine deal with Ferrari, and we would hope for another six years beyond that.

"We have done the hard part of surviving the first three years."

And to highlight the progress of the series, the new car was unveiled last Thursday in Monaco by Prince Albert.

Andretti Green Racing, one of the most famous names in American motor sport, have also agreed to run Team USA from this season.

Owner Michael Andretti is due to announce his driver line-up, with rumours Danica Patrick or Marco Andretti will be behind the wheel.