A1 Team Great Britain will field a new face come race day in round three of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in Beijing next weekend, with rookie Oliver Jarvis taking the reins of the red, white and blue challenger.
The 22-year old is no stranger to the A1 Team GBR set-up, having fulfilled driving duties in the rookie-only sessions at the opening two rounds of the season, but becomes only the third driver to race the car, after Robbie Kerr and Darren Manning.
The 2005 Formula Renault UK champion and current
McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year, Jarvis finished second overall in his maiden season of F3 this year, and looks set to become hot property over the winter. However, his sights are set on the short-term, with his Team GBR debut occupying his full attention.
Q:
After two rookie sessions, how does it feel to be selected to race in China?
Oliver Jarvis:
Well, it's obviously nice to know that the team thinks you've done a good enough job to merit getting the race seat. They're taking a little bit of a chance on me, being the rookie of the three drivers, but it's a fantastic feeling to know I'll be racing for A1 Team Great Britain next weekend in China, and I hope to show them what I'm capable of.
Q:
What have you learned from your time in the rookie sessions in Holland and the Czech Republic?
OJ:
Fundamentally, I've got to know the A1GP car a lot better as well as how the team works. In turn, they've been able to see how I like to go about things in terms of set-up and how to get the best out of the car. The car's totally different from anything I've driven before, so the rookie sessions have afforded me time to get used to its characteristics. It's been great getting to know and work with the team and I think those experiences will be put to good use in China.
Q:
How does the A1GP car differ to the cars you've raced in your career to date?
OJ:
The A1GP car is certainly quite a bit quicker than anything I've raced so far. The power-to-grip ratio is significant and it requires a slightly unique driving style, but key to A1GP competition is to get the most out of a new set of tyres, not least in the aggregate qualifying system used to set the grid for the Sprint race.
Q:
What's the single biggest challenge facing you ahead of China?
OJ:
Well, it really goes back to the one-lap qualifying system, as I've never been involved in anything like it in any other championship. You really have to focus to get the best out of the car and, of course, yourself, but you have to get all that done at the one time to really nail it in qualifying. Obviously, the circuit's going to be completely new to me as well - but that's the case for everyone.
![Oliver Jarvis (GBR) - A1 Team Great Britain [Pic credit: A1GP Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/272707.jpg)
