A1GP news
Cheng: A1 Team China should find a partner
25 June 2008Congfu Cheng believes A1 Team China could break into the top ten next season if it would consider working with another team. The 23-year-old drove China to 13th in last season's standings, the team's best ever finish in A1GP. Cheng also showed strong pace on occasions, scoring four fastest laps. The only team to better that total was eventual champion Switzerland.
|
|
However, unlike the majority of the field, China does not work with any other teams on the grid. Teams have traditionally taken different approaches to technical relationships and data sharing, with many nations using the same service providers, and sharing the data for mutual benefit. By sharing technical data, a driver could potentially learn from another's telemetry where they could, for example, improve at a particular corner. However, the flipside to that is a team also gives away its own information to a rival nation, and some teams have always chosen to use an exclusive service provider.
However, Cheng firmly believes the way forward for China next season would be to work hand-in-hand with a rival.
"We are working by ourselves and there is a lack of data," Cheng said, speaking to A1GP.com from his European home in England. "This means we can be at a disadvantage compared with the others. We managed the situation quite well in the end last season, but if we keep running by ourselves then we will find it difficult to break into the top ten.
"I don't believe even the fastest driver is faster than the rest at every corner. There must be at least one corner when the fastest driver may not be the fastest and can improve. From this point of view, I want the chance to learn from another driver.
"The championship is getting tougher and it will be important to understand the new Powered by Ferrari car as early as possible. One driver and one car will always understand things slower than two drivers with two cars.
"I hope that China can get this situation solved. But nevertheless we have enough clever people to turn the situation around and I hope we can do well."
Cheng is aiming to be recalled by China for the 2008/09 season, when the team will be targeting its maiden A1GP win, though he believes more regular front-running results will be more important to improve their championship standing.
"I hope the win comes as soon as possible," he added. "We are improving, but every other team will improve too. The important thing is to be consistent. India and Narain Karthikeyan won two races last season but were not consistent enough, and only finished 10th.
"There will be surprises where teams manage to find the best car set-up first, so they may be able to get some good results early in the season. I hope China is the one that can spring that surprise."
more news
- 05 Nov.
- 17 Oct.
- 13 Oct.
- 25 Sep.
- 21 Sep.
- 17 Sep.
- 14 Sep.
- 07 Sep.
- 14 Aug.
- 12 Aug.
- 10 Aug.
- 05 Aug.
- 28 Jul.
- 23 Jul.
- 22 Jul.
- 26 Jun.
- 11 Jun.
- 18 May
- 13 May
- 07 May
- 03 May
- 02 May
- 01 May
- 29 Apr.
- 23 Apr.
more news
| Cheng Cong Fu news | |
|---|---|
| 07 Jan. | Congfu Cheng returns at A1 Team China |
| 20 Mar. '08 | Congfu Cheng to carry Olympic Torch |
| 14 Dec. '07 | China can make top six, says Cheng |
| 15 Aug. '07 | Cheng Cong Fu looks back at difficult weekend |
| More Cheng Cong Fu news, Photos | |
| A1 Team China news | |
| 03 May '08 | China sets surprise practice pace |
| 02 Nov. '07 | China demonstrates in Jiangmen |
| 04 Feb. '07 | China scores first podium finish |
| More A1 Team China news, Photos | |