Many of the A1GP teams have ex-Formula One drivers as either seat holders, CEOs, managers or consultants.
Brazil has Emerson Fittipaldi, Australia has Alan Jones and the Netherlands has Jan Lammers.
New Zealand is no different. In Bob McMurray, the team has a leader with 40 years' experiencein the sport.
McMurray left McLaren in 2002 to return to New Zealand and, with his knowledge of grand prix teams, was snapped up by A1 seat holder Colin Giltrap.
"It all started when I used to go round and help my brother-in-law work on Bruce McLaren's cars," said McMurray. "Bruce [McLaren], Phil Kerr and Tyler Alexander used to see me creep in and fiddle around with gearboxes, or something, and then bugger off again, so they called me the nameless mate.
"In 1970, I started going away with the team on the odd occasion and Ron Dennis was already a friend and it just developed from there," said McMurray. "Over the years, I worked in Formula 2, Formula 3 ... but I was always in and out of McLaren."
McMurray has done everything with McLaren; truck driver, tyre fitter, mechanic and team manager of the F2 and F3 cars to eventually become manager.
"I would have to say it was the best time of my life and I was at the right age to enjoy it."
After a stint with TVNZ, he joined the Toyota Racing Series, then Giltrap called. "He told me he'd bought an A1 franchise and wanted someone who knew about Grand Prix teams to run it."
As A1Team. NZL evolved, and with the involvement of David Sears Motorsport, McMurray stepped aside as CEO and is now team spokesperson. Eric Thompson
