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A1 Team Lebanon completed the first official pre-season test of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, with three drivers: Khalil Beschir, Chris Alajajian and Jimmy Auby sharing duties in the car throughout the two day test session.
The team were at Silverstone with all 22 of the competing nations in the single seater championship as the series gears up for its third season of racing. The team recorded 17th quickest lap in the morning and 20th in the afternoon. Over the course of the two days each of the drivers were given time behind the wheel of the A1 car.
Beschir and Alajajian were returning to the car after testing at Snetterton in the UK three weeks ago. Beschir had last raced the car in November last year, while it was Alajajian’s first experience of driving an A1 racer. The Silverstone test was Auby’s introduction to A1 Team Lebanon, with no prior experience of A1GP.
The Silverstone test session was an opportunity for A1 Team Lebanon to start their preparations for the first race of the new season, which will be held at Zandvoort in Netherlands at the end of next month. Beschir was the first driver to take to the track and following a number of laps to learn the circuit and undertake the routine tasks of engine installation laps and bedding brakes, he was able to focus on improving his pace.
Alajajian then took over for his first taste of the Silverstone circuit, with Auby following him to conclude the first day. This morning the team resumed their test programme, with each of the drivers having further time in the car and using the track time to make further progress.
All three drivers enjoyed their experience and gained valuable experience of working with the highly professional race team.
Beschir said of returning with A1 Team Lebanon, “Apart from our Snetterton test, when we had limited running due to bad weather, it’s been a while since I’ve had so many laps of the A1 car. It was the first time that we ran with all the other cars, and I think we made good progress during the two days of running. I’m looking forward to further testing before Zandvoort.”
Alajajian added, “I’ve really enjoyed this second opportunity to run with A1 Team Lebanon. It’s a steep learning curve when you have no prior experience of the track, and have had little running in the car, but I focused on being consistent and taking the time to adapt to the characteristics of the A1 Team Lebanon car.”
The third driver to sample the A1 Team Lebanon car, Jimmy Auby, concluded, “Driving with A1 Team Lebanon over the last two days has been a very special opportunity. The power of the car was the biggest challenge, but I’m very grateful for the chance to be here and proud to be driving the Lebanon car.”
The team will return to Silverstone for a final pre-season test, running with the new biofuel which is set to be introduced by A1GP for the new season as part of its environmental policy launched this week.
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