Tomas Enge became the eighth different winner in A1 Grand Prix history as the inaugural World Cup of Motorsport drew to a close with a race of drama and excitement at Shanghai's International Circuit.
The result was decided both in pit-lane and on the track, as Team Czech Republic took advantage of an early safety car period to turn Enge around in double-quick time and get him out between polesitter Alex Yoong and front row starter Darren Manning. The former IRL pilot then swept around the Malaysian at turn one to seize a lead he was not to lose.
The season finale got off to an exciting start as Manning challenged Yoong for the lead into turn one, before deciding that discretion might be the better part of valour and allowing the yellow Malaysian car ahead. Ireland's Michael Devaney did not have that option, having been swamped off the line - something that would ultimately lead to the critical safety car period.
Mexico's Salvador Duran slipped into third, with Enge and Indonesia's Ananda Mikola battling over fourth with France and New Zealand in close attendance. Further back, Christian Fittipaldi's efforts in securing the final point in race one were rendered useless as the Brazilian was looped into a spin on lap one, but the biggest drama was only just about to unfold.
Having got back in touch with Mikola and Enge, Devaney made full use of their battle to slip through into fourth. Mikola retaliated and the two cars ran side-by side for two corners before Ireland appeared to have snatched a vital edge. Mikola didn't think so, however, but, keeping his foot planted, drifted wide at the next corner, catching Devaney's left rear with his right front and pitching the Irishman into a series of rolls that only ended with his helmet resting against the tyre barrier. Devaney was obviously unimpressed at seeing a strong finish taken from him, giving an equally aggrieved Mikola the bird as he stalked off.
Although the safety car duly waited for the pack on the main straight, the wait was a long one as everyone opted to make their compulsory pit-stop. It was here that Enge took the first step towards victory, converting the fourth place he had been handed by the Mikola-Devaney incident to second as the Charouz team - which had earlier celebrated a 1-2 result in the
F3000 Masters at Monza - executed the perfect pit-stop.
An equally good stop for Malaysia saw the bright yellow car pull out in front as smooth stops for Switzerland and Canada saw them move up from the back of the grid to ninth and tenth respectively.
While Yoong managed to get out ahead of the red, white and blue Czech Lola, however, Manning and Duran were not as lucky, as saw their races go downhill from that point on.
Enge tailed the Malaysian car for the next lap, but clearly was in no mood to hang around, pulling out of Yoong's slipstream and braving it out around the outside through turn one. From there, the Czech simply eased away, eventually crossing the line a handful seconds ahead of the sprint race winner.
