Great Britain's A1GP drivers chosen - July 4

Alex Lloyd and Robbie Kerr to represent UK in new championship

04/07/2005 - Former British Formula 3 Champion Robbie Kerr and European Formula 3000 race winner Alex Lloyd have been selected to represent the UK in this year's inaugural A1 Grand Prix Championship, which makes its global debut at Brands Hatch on September 24/25.

The pair were unveiled by Team Great Britain principal John Surtees - the only man ever to win World Championships on both two and four wheels - in London today.

They were selected after a two-day driver evaluation test at the legendary Brands Hatch circuit in May. The first ever round of the new series will be run on the awesome 2.6-mile Grand Prix circuit.

A1 Grand Prix is the brainchild of Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, a member of the ruling family of Dubai. In a new concept, the series will pitch nation against nation in a battle for the World Cup of Motorsport. Twenty-five countries will take to the track at Brands Hatch on September 25, with their native drivers competing in identical 550bhp Lola cars.

Kerr, who has already tested the A1 GP car, expressed his delight at sealing a seat in the fascinating new championship: "I am really honoured and pleased to be announced as one of the drivers for A1 Team Great Britain. We have got a tremendous team of experienced people we can call on and I am looking forward to giving it my best shot."

Former McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Lloyd is similarly ecstatic. He said: "I've been on tenterhooks for the past month, so it was a fantastic feeling to get the call from John confirming that I have been chosen to be one of the two British drivers in the A1 GP series.

"I look forward to flying the flag for Great Britain in all four corners of the world, and I feel very privileged to be a part of this team. With all the elements now in place, we should be a formidable force in the series and what better way to start off the than with the first event at Brands Hatch, one of the greatest venues in motorsport."

Surtees added: "A1 Grand Prix is a series of opportunity, particularly for these two young British drivers, who have demonstrated their abilities but found it hard to be in the right place at the right time when it came to seating themselves in a competitive car.

"It is nine years since the last British Formula One World Champion. Yet despite all the talent being developed through from karting to cars, we are still relying on David Coulthard to bring the car home in the points and willing Jenson Button on to win his first Grand Prix."

Advance weekend tickets for the A1 GP meeting on September 24/25 cost £40 or £39 if booked online. Advance race day tickets cost £30 or £29 if booked online.

Tickets on the gate will cost £10 for practice day (Friday, Sept 23), £15 for qualifying day (Sat, Sept 24) and £35 per adult on race day. Children aged 12 and under go free. Call 0870 950 9000 or log on to www.motorsportdirect.co.uk to book tickets now.