Adrian Zaugg delivered South Africa its second triumph of the 2007/08 A1GP season in the Eastern Creek feature outing, with it ensuring that his country is in the thick of a thrilling five-way championship battle heading towards his home meeting in Durban in three weeks' time.
The second of two action-packed races Down Under saw Zaugg conjure up a magnificent performance in treacherous conditions as the heavy rain continued to pour down, ultimately taking the chequered flag almost a full 20 seconds clear of erstwhile championship leader Switzerland, for whom Neel Jani atoned for his earlier sprint race indiscretion by racing to the runner-up spot.
“I have to thank Humphrey my engineer and the whole team for that call,” former GP2 ace Zaugg acknowledged afterwards, in reference to a timely tactical decision in the lead-up to the first round of pit-stops. “I could see I was able to go at a better pace than at least Robbie [Kerr – Team GBR] and Neel, so I thought we had a good chance. We stayed out and put in some good laps and then pitted and got out ahead.
“It was very, very hard in these conditions. Each time I was trying to get a move or pass someone, when you come so close the visibility gets so bad you can't see anything. It was just safer to wait until we got a chance for some clear laps and that's all we did. The track conditions stayed pretty consistent, but there was maybe a little less rain right at the end.
“The win gives you lots of confidence, but each time it's a new race and a new day and I always give it my best. Definitely we have a great motivation coming to Durban.”
Indeed, the on-track action began before the lights had even gone out to signal the start of the 42-lap race, with pole-sitter Jonny Reid in the New Zealand entry grinding to a halt just after leaving the pits to form up on the grid. The marshals were not able to push-start the stalled car uphill, and as a result
Black Beauty started from pit lane.
![Adrian Zaugg - A1 Team South Africa [pic credit: A1 GP Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/398643.jpg)
