Brazil, with a car driven by Nelson Piquet junior, will start the first A1 Grand Prix race at Brands Hatch on pole position on Sunday.

The last world Formula 1 race run at Brands Hatch was 19 years ago. Piquet’s father captured the pole for that race.

New Zealand qualified second and France third.

A1 Grand Prix, self-styled the ‘World Cup of Motorsport’, involves 25 national teams using identical Lola cars with the same tires and engines.

Only countries score points, not drivers, and Saturday’s qualifying at the southern English circuit dictated the grid for the first of two races on Sunday.

Just as interesting is the absence of technology from these cars. No traction control. No launch control. No ABS. All the good stuff is up to drivers and mechanics.

The brainchild of Dubai’s Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al Maktoum, A1 is a 12-race series designed to fill the quiet European winter months when Formula One is absent.

Ironically, the first race of the series coincides with the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix that could crown Renault’s Fernando Alonso as the sport’s youngest champion.

I haven’t any perception how many site visitors might be fans of open-wheel road racing. Up until 3 days ago, I didn’t think I’d be able to watch the debut race in the series at all because American TV thinks no one is interested. We’re lucky we get to watch Formula 1 — the highest performance racing cars in the world.

It’s close to the sort of motor racing that was predominant before much of it became a game between engineers vs. rules-makers.

Update:

The first A1GP race has ended and most discussion, of course, will happen at the motorhead BB’s. The Brazilian, Piquet, dominated. Australia was second, Power. Mexico was third, Duran.

I hadn’t realized the team concept plays through the whole season in that a team may have more than one driver, alternating between races. In fact, the Malaysians used a different driver for each of the two race day events: the sprint race and the longer feature. In all, a good feeling — reminding me very much of Formula 2 days back in the 1950’s.

Update

Apologies for making this even longer. Congratulations are in order for Fernando Alonso Diaz. Locking up the Formula 1 World Championship, today — he’s the youngest champion in the history of Gran Prix — and the first Spaniard to win it.