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A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has received influential backing for the
series to hold its first race in South America. This came during a
meeting in Brazil between A1GP ambassador, Emerson Fittipaldi, and
Brazilian President, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
The Brazilian President pledged his support for A1 Team Brazil's
quest to secure a home race after meeting with Fittipaldi, who is the
team's seat holder. The meeting happened last week when Fittipaldi was
racing in the Brazilian GT3 Championship with his brother, Wilson. The
two influential Brazilians, along with the Brazilian Minister of Sport,
Orlando Silva, discussed the team ahead of the new A1GP season, during
which all the teams will use the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari cars.
Following
the meeting Fittipaldi commented: "We are working hard at A1 Team
Brazil to raise the profile and awareness of the national team. It is
invaluable to have the support of President Lula, Orlando Silva and the
Government, and it is a goal of ours, in the not too distant future, to
have a race in Brazil, so we will work with them on this important
project.
"Another important side to A1GP is the
Think Greener Racing campaign, and some of President Lula's ideas on
the use of Brazilian ethanol could be very interesting for the series
to explore. I am excited to think about the future of A1GP and I think
A1 Team Brazil has an important part to play in it."
Tony
Teixeira, A1GP Chairman, said: "We have always wanted to take an A1GP
race to South America and Brazil would be our chosen location given its
heritage and amazing drivers like Emerson. We are proud to have him as
an A1GP ambassador as he is one of the best known and well respected
former motor racing drivers. The support the series gets from the
Brazilian fans is fantastic but to now also have the support of the
Brazilian government is a big step forward in bringing a race to the
region."
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