Ferrari's A1 GP deal

Ferrari have signed an agreement to supply the A1GP series with hardware and technical support from next season, it was announced today.

The six-year deal will see the historic Italian manufacturer build and supply engines to the one-make series in addition to designing and collaborating on the manufacture of cars and chassis.

Commenting on the deal, A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira said: “Partnering with a world-class organisation like Ferrari will officially position A1GP as one of the most significant motorsport series in the world.

“Ferrari will add significant value to our brand and in our opinion there is no better partner to progress the series.”

The agreement represents a significant coup for a series still in its infancy.

Now in its third season, A1GP is already building a following thanks to its nation-versus-nation concept, and links with Ferrari will no doubt significantly raise its profile.

Racing in a number of countries not represented on the Formula One calendar, A1GP affords Ferrari the opportunity to further expand global awareness of its brand, according to A1GP CEO Pete da Silva.

He told PA Sport: “I would like to think that one of things that attracted Ferrari was the areas that we cover.

“We have a worldwide footprint and are in all the emerging markets that must be attracted to a brand like Ferrari.

“We are going to carry on with nation-versus-nation concept and uphold the A1GP brand, and Ferrari will subscribe to all of that and more.”

Da Silva believes the deal will finally silence doubters of A1GP, who have questioned the financial sustainability of the FIA-endorsed series since its launch in 2004.

“I think it says that we are not just here to stay, we are going to be growing too,” he continued. “We are taking A1GP to the next level.

“This did not happen by chance. It has always been my plan that in season three we would go with a commercial partner.

“Once it was proved to the world that we were sustainable, the next step was to improve the car.

“We didn’t anticipate that we would get the biggest commercial partner in the motorsport world, but we did anticipate one or two suitors.”

The series supremo expects the deal with Ferrari will see the series make a leap in performance from the 550 bhp delivered by the existing Zytek engine units.

“We will see an improvement in handling and performance,” Da Silva added. “As you can imagine when you have an association with Ferrari, all the cars are going to perform.”

Da Silva also confirmed that Ferrari will collaborate on the newly announced A2GP series, a regional single-seater competition developed by A1GP to begin testing in 2009.

The mooted series, which will act as a feeder to A1GP, will be staged in a number of countries outside Europe, where there are already a large number of national series available to up-and-coming young drivers.

“Together with Ferrari, we came up with the A2 series which will be a formal feeder series in developing countries,” said Da Silva.

“We will also look at the USA as well, because we see an opportunity for open-wheel racing there too.

“We think that A1GP should be the top echelon of nation-versus-nation racing and we anticipated that somewhere along the line we would need a feeder series.

“Ferrari see the expansion of national series in developing countries as a major attraction.”