2009–10 A1 Grand Prix season


The 2009–10 A1 Grand Prix season would have been the fifth season of the A1 Grand Prix series. However, due to the series' financial insolvency, none of the originally scheduled races actually took place.
It would have been the first season of a three-year deal with IMG Sports Media to handle all worldwide media rights for the series.
Following doubts that the season would go ahead due to financial constraints and reports that engine suppliers Ferrari would pull out over non-payments, chairman of A1 Grand Prix Tony Teixeira, announced that the series had secured its long-term future, following a financial restructuring. Doubts were reinforced by the high profile cancellation of the season's scheduled opening round in Australia for October 25. With the Malaysian and Chinese rounds cancelled, the season was reduced to having only rounds occurring in 2010. The circuit meant to stage the Dutch event, then pre-empted likely cancellation by scheduling a different event for that date. By May 2010, none of the remaining scheduled races had taken place, confirming the end of A1GP.

Teams

Prior to the official list of teams originally supposed to compete in Australia being revealed, it was rumoured that the entry list would contain 20 teams, including a brand new team, and a revival of an older team.
An official teams list for the Australian round was released on Tuesday 13 October. The provisional list showed 19 teams, with Canada, Korea, Lebanon and Malaysia not returning. Several drivers had provisionally signed up for their respective nations including John Martin, Felipe Guimarães, Zahir Ali, Satrio Hermanto, Fairuz Fauzy, Aaron Lim, Luis Díaz, Salvador Durán, Robert Doornbos and Jeroen Bleekemolen.

Off-season testing

A one-day test for all teams was to have been held at Queensland Raceway on October 19, the week before the opening round at Surfers Paradise. However as the cars were not due to arrive in Australia until Monday, the test session was cancelled.

Season calendar

Prior to official announcement

On 21 September 2009 the series announced a nine-round calendar, which stated the nine nations that would play host to an event, but did not name which circuits would host those particular events. The expected street race in Indonesia was a notable omission, while Great Britain, host of the season finale in the previous three seasons, did not have a round named. Rumoured rounds in India and Ireland did not come to fruition. However, A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira said "I am confident this calendar, that may still include at least one more event, will achieve our criteria for the series".
It was announced on 17 October 2009 that the opening round at Surfers Paradise in Australia was cancelled, as the cars and other equipment for the A1GP teams had still not left London, and would not arrive in time for the event. Modifications to the V8 Supercars schedule was made to fill the gaps in the schedule. On 5 November 2009, the Malaysian date at the Sepang International Circuit was postponed indefinitely, and on the same day, the Chinese round was also confirmed as cancelled. The Dutch round at Assen was cancelled, with A1GP being replaced with a Superleague Formula race.
CountryCircuitDate
AustraliaSurfers Paradise Street Circuit25 October 2009
ChinaZhuhai International Circuit15 November 2009
MalaysiaSepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur6 December 2009
South AfricaKyalami, Johannesburg28 February 2010
BrazilAutódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo14 March 2010
MexicoAutodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City21 March 2010
PortugalAutódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão11 April 2010
GermanySachsenring9 May 2010
NetherlandsTT Circuit Assen16 May 2010