Brands Hatch: Team USA Friday report

Summerton strong in practice at Brands Hatch
A1 Team USA driver 2nd in rookie, 4th in full sessions

LONDON-- As the sun burned away the clouds over the British countryside, A1 Team USA's Jonathan Summerton put in a strong and promising day of work for A1 Team USA in both the rookie and full practices Friday for the A1GP season finale at Brands Hatch.

This is the last event that Summerton will be eligible as a rookie in A1GP-- the World Cup of Motorsport--and he posted second place in the first all- rookie session with a 1:15.665 lap on the historic 2.65-mile, 9-turn Grand Prix circuit. As the temperature rose, teams struggled to maintain pace, but Summerton held firm with a 1:15.71 and took first place in Rookies II. He was second fastest in the combined sessions.

"The car felt great right from the start," Summerton said. " It was easy to push hard. This is a fun track--you can go really fast into Paddock Hill Bend."

The 1-hour afternoon practice session for all A1GP teams was punctuated with red flags, caused by numerous cars landing in the gravel traps. Summerton, of Kissimmiee, Fla., ran cleanly throughout, but struggled to find a clean lap. Still, the car was quick in the first and second sectors, posting an ultimate time of 1:15.815 for fourth position.

"It wasn't so easy in the afternoon session," Summerton said. "Still, we got through a lot of test items from our list, and we are well prepared to go faster tomorrow."

A1GP's unique four-session qualifying format is Saturday and the Sprint and Feature races are Sunday.

"We had a very good day," A1 Team USA owner Rick Weidinger said. "We've shown the speed to compete for the front of the grid in qualifying and run at the front in the Sprint and Feature races. We've made progress throughout the season and it showed today."

-credit: team usa