The Nation versus Nation A1GP World Cup of Motorsport could earn a place on the bill at the annual Surfers Paradise Indy event, with organisers reported to be looking for a Plan B as merger talks between the Champ Car World Series and IndyCar Series rumble on.
The Surfers Paradise event is seen as one the of top events on the Champ Car schedule, with huge crowds lining the streets of the Gold Coast venue for the annual event on Australian soil, even more so in recent years thanks to the impressive performances of home grown racer Will Power.
Should a merger take place between the two open-wheel factions, then Surfers Paradise would be one of the Champ Car events to take its place on the new-look calendar alongside Long Beach and Edmonton, but according to the
Gold Coast Bulletin, contingency plans are being drawn up in case merger talks fail.
The ‘paper reports that Craig Gore, Alan Jones and Brett Murray met up shortly after Indy chairman Terry Mackenroth was hosted by A1GP bosses in New Zealand – itself leading to speculation that A1 could feature at the event in the future.
However, despite the various rumours, Murray insisted that the meeting between the three motorsport powerbrokers was just to talk business.
"We're hearing that the deal between the IRL and the Champ Car series is a goer and that's certainly the best result for the Surfers Paradise race," he said. "Craig and Alan have known each other for a long time. It was a business meeting."
It remains to be seen what the outcome of merger talks will be, with both sides having gone somewhat quiet after an initial burst of activity, although the inability of leading figures from both sides to sit down face-to-face hasn't helped proceedings.
