Results of the 2005/2006 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Laguna Seca, USA

Round 10

By the end of the sprint race at Luguna Seca, Team France had been crowned World Champions of the first A1 Championship, with at least three races remaining in the season. They had to work for it however especially in the slippery conditions of the first wet race of the competition so far. They were eventually beaten by surprise package Mexico who had done so abysmally at home in the previous round, and Portugal took third.

In fact Team Mexico only briefly relinquished the lead after having it pinched from them off pole by a cheeky maneuver from New Zealand's Black Beauty. Portugal overhauled the Kiwis as well for a third place and Britain's Robbie Kerr continued his firm grip on third in the Championship with a fourth place finish ahead of Team's Canada, Ireland and Italy.

Despite the heavy rain all 22 A1 cars made it through the first corner. New driver Max Papis for Team Italy was the first to lose control, calling for a safety car deployment but he recovered well to finish with points. With Mexico runaway leaders France had to settle for a second place duel with New Zealand.

Team Mexico then stunned everyone again with a second victory, becoming only the third team to pull off a double header, and leap frogging them up the competition rankings. The team gambled on slick tyres on a track that still had damp patches, but quickly dried out and giving them a huge advantage. In an eventful race, Germany managed to overtake Great Britain during a pit stop to grab second, with Portugal and Canada settling for fourth and fifth.

Team France took the early lead but had to pit for a tyre change along with Portugal, Great Britain and Germany. Germany had the best stop and leapfrogged both Great Britain and Portugal during the stop. Mexico briefly lost the lead after a safety car period following South Africa's spinning off the track, and succumbed to a stubborn lead by perennial tail enders Team Lebanon, who were yet to pit.

A bad day for A1 Team Netherlands continued with a drive through penalty for overtaking during a safety car period which Jos Verstappen took at the end of lap 13 but this was swiftly followed by even more dramas when he was black flagged again, this time for speeding in the pit lane. It was not to be a good day for Teams Switzerland and Czech Republic either who failed to pick up any points.

Several cars were caught out by the ambiguous track conditions, including the cars of Malaysia, China, Lebanon and New Zealand. Newly crowned Champions France also had a unsuccessful race with their car stuck in third gear, taking the pressure of eventual winners Team Mexico.

Full results of the A1 Monterrey Sprint Race 2005

1. Mexico
2. France
3. Portugal
4. New Zealand
5. Great Britain
6. Ireland
7. Canada
8. Germany
9. New Zealand
10. USA
11. Australia

Full results of the A1 Monterrey Feature Race 2005

1. Mexico
2. Germany
3. Great Britain
4. Portugal
5. Canada
6. Ireland
7. Italy
8. Australia
9. South Africa
10. Malaysia

Fastest lap: France
Standings after ten races