One driver on the A1GP grid who can be fairly certain of keeping his drive next season is Team Pakistan’s Adam Khan – since he’s just taken over the national franchise.
The series has recently announced that Khan, who drove for the team during two of the last three seasons, is to take on the dual roles of driver and seatholder.
He is fronting a group of of investors led by the Khansheema Group – which views its involvement as “promis[ing] to open up many new opportunities for building strategic commercial partnerships with companies and brands in Pakistan.”
Its aim is also “to provide the foundation for the team and develop the infrastructure of the business to build a successful future, and to continue to successfully represent Pakistan in A1GP.”
The consortium has no web presence in English apart from mentions in the A1GP press release announcing the news and on sites reprinting that release, and therefore further information about it has been difficult to come by.
However Khan said of his new role: “I am looking forward to building the awareness for the team in Pakistan through my role as seat holder, while also racing for the nation at the A1GP events around the globe.
“Combining the two responsibilities will certainly keep me busy, but I also believe that having total focus on the team will help to bring us more success both commercially and on the track.
“The forthcoming season is going to be very exciting and I’m keen to start work, on and off the track.”
The Team Pakistan car was due to debut at Snetterton race track in Norfolk for a testing programme ahead of the first race.
Khan, who took a sabbatical during 2006 to complete a business studies course at London Metropolitan University, will be in the car from the first race in Zandvoort in the Netherlands on October 5.
A racing driver of Anglo-Pakistani decent born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, he has done much to promote the nation’s presence in motorsport, not least by racing under its flag.
He has been appointed as an official government ambassador for motor sports in Pakistan and in 2006 was presented with a young achievers award by the country’s president.
As well as racing in A1GP he has taken part in the British F3 Championsip, the GP2 Asia Series and Euroseries 3000.