Motorsport: Lap record under threat at A1GP

New Zealand A1GP driver Chris van der Drift at Taupo. Photo / A1GP

Dusty track conditions didn't stop talented Italian driver Edoardo Piscopo from threatening the Taupo lap record during the A1GP practice session this morning.

Switzerland's Neel Jani was fastest coming into the session, after being the only driver to dip into the magic 1:15s yesterday.

But Piscopo's lightning 1:15.112 lap put him at the top of the table before this afternoon's qualifying session, followed by the Netherland's Robert Voorbos, then Jani with USA driver Marco Andretti in fourth.

The current lap record has been held by Jani since 2007, when he lapped a slightly faster version of the circuit in 1:14.679.

The new Ferrari-powered A1GP cars are expected to smash the record before the event ends.

New Zealand driver Chris van der Drift ended practice in 11th place.

As the hour-long session began, Portugal was first to top the time sheet, but was quickly knocked down by series leader Adam Carroll of Ireland and Switzerland's Neel Jani, both in the 1:16 bracket, followed by Chris van der Drift in fourth.

The Kiwi got faster, but Loic Duval, who was third in last year's feature race here, pushed the French car into third.

Jani again impressed with a 1:15.971, moving up to the top of the table.

Monaco then elbowed its way into moved into fourth, pushing van der Drift further down the order, before Australia and Malaysia shoved Black Beauty down into eighth place.

Marco Andretti then really threw the cat amongst the pigeons, putting the USA car into first place with a 1:15.744.

New Zealand fought back with a move into fifth place, still in the mid 1:16s, and then the Netherlands' Robert Doornbos came within a hair's breadth of the lap record with 1:15.245.

With less than ten minutes to go, Italy's Edoardo Piscopo lapped in 1:115.112.

The flood of fast times left Kiwi hopeful Chris van der Drift more than halfway down the order.

Separate qualifying sessions for tomorrow's sprint race and feature race will take place this afternoon.

- NZ HERALD STAFF