A1 GP LIVE on RTE this weekend!!

Motormouth

A1 Grand Prix Durban RTE 2 Sun 25th Feb 2007 @ 12.55

Commentators John Kenny and Michael Devaney

Last season's street race in Durban was one of the real successes in A1 GP's rookie year. The temporary circuit proved a real hit with the drivers and South African race fans turned out in huge numbers to support their home team.

The feature race in Durban almost produced Ireland's best ever result. Ralph Firman was running in a strong second place and looked set for the podium, but the mechanical gremlins struck after the pit-stop and Ireland bowed out, Firman's challenge ruined by a broken anti-roll bar.

Maybe this time around the gods will look more favourably on the boys in green. Team Ireland has experienced a difficult season and bad luck has plagued the team. Recent personnel changes have produced a marginal improvement. The arrival of former Jordan engineer Gary Anderson should help get the best out of the A1 GP car and improve race strategy. The rest is down to Richard Lyons, who recently replaced Michael Devaney in the race seat.

Devaney can consider himself unlucky to be sidelined for the moment, but he'll be watching with interest from the RTÉ commentary position, where he joins John Kenny in calling the race live on RTÉ Two this Sunday.

The 'rub o' the green' has eluded Team Ireland so far this season, so there is real hope that fortunes will improve this weekend. If that's the case, you can expect Lyons to run comfortably in the top ten. If the set-up is nailed, a first podium of the season is a realistic target. Hope you'll join us to watch the race unfold.

AdMMM

How did they get the rights to that? I thought Sky had it all sewn up for 3 years? Not that I care, being able to watch it live will be great!

Ghost Train

yeah they mentioned this after the football the other night. good that rte are still looking to provide some live motorsport. anyone know is this a one off or will it continue for the last few races?

BostonB

Might be interesting.

cooker3

|.Murderer.| wrote:

How did they get the rights to that? I thought Sky had it all sewn up for 3 years? Not that I care, being able to watch it live will be great!

Rights for uk and ireland are seperate markets for pretty much all sports hence why they show champions league etc

Running Bing

Why is'nt this being advertised? If people see an ad for it I am sure loads will either be interested or intrigued and tune in. You see the same adds non stop for show like fair city, the shows been on for the past 60 years, people know it's on ffs yet not one ad for something like this. Maybe I just missed it but I think they should be doing a better job to promote this over here. Never even got a passing mention on the news.


Any way it will be great not having to listen to those British twats although I cannot imagine any of the irish panel looking as good as georgie thompson;)

grumpypaddy

they did a deal that allowed rte to show two feature races live this season... the first was the second race of the season in brno back last september and then this one in durban. they are the only two that rte can show live this season. otherwise you are stuck with the half hour highlight show the thursday after a race a around 1am on rte2.

Ghost Train

grumpypaddy wrote:

they did a deal that allowed rte to show two feature races live this season... the first was the second race of the season in brno back last september and then this one in durban. they are the only two that rte can show live this season. otherwise you are stuck with the half hour highlight show the thursday after a race a around 1am on rte2.

that sounds more like rte, pity really as lots of irish folk miss out on seeing the irish team race(unless they pay sky), maybe the team would do better if there were more people watching and showing support

Running Bing

eolhc wrote:

that sounds more like rte, pity really as lots of irish folk miss out on seeing the irish team race(unless they pay sky), maybe the team would do better if there were more people watching and showing support

Yeah and more promotion. The overwhelming majority of Irish people dont have one iota what A1 is.


It is only the feature race rte are showing as well:( Would have liked to see them get the full thing.

AdMMM

Even on the Programme Synopsis that they provided SKY for the EPG it had no mention of it being "Live" and referred to the programme as being the highlights from the round!

Ghost Train

wasn't so great, only one good overtaking move (by yoong on maybe the second last lap).

with gary anderson's involved in A1GP (which was repeatedly mentioned yawn) does it mean he won't be doing any work with setanta this year

can't wait for the first f1 race of the season now, pity it starts a week or so later this year

The Crunch

Hi all,
First post. Excellent board.
Gary Anderson will be covering the entire F1 season with Setanta again this year.