Brazil take early honours in new series

Brazil drew first blood when the A1 Grand Prix series made its racing debut at Brands Hatch, with Nelson Piquet Jr winning the sprint race today.

The new championship, which pits nation against nation in a self-styled World Cup of motorsport, saw racing action for the first time in Kent this afternoon.

With all 25 drivers in equal cars, designed to encourage overtaking and with a boost button for extra help, organisers had promised an all-action championship.

But today’s half-hour contest saw precious few overtaking manoeuvres and GP2 regular Piquet won with ease after controlling the race from pole position.

A rare change of position at the start saw France’s Alexandre Premat squeeze past New Zealand’s Matt Halliday to secure second place in front of a huge crowd at Brands Hatch, estimated to be around 80,000.

Australian driver Will Power claimed fourth while Great Britain took a respectable fifth place through former British Formula Three champion Robbie Kerr, who held station after starting on the third row.

Only two cars failed to make it to the finish without trouble, with Holland’s Jos Verstappen and South Africa’s Stephen Simpson clashing at the start to ruin their chances. Both drivers should be back in action for this afternoon’s longer feature race.