12/03/2006 - A1 Team France may well wrap up the inaugural A1 Grand Prix series at Laguna Seca today, providing they can outscore A1 Team Switzerland, but it's the battle for third place overall that looks primed to provide the fireworks.

With as many as 21 points available for each of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations events at the Californian circuit and at Shanghai International Circuit on 2 April - running 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 for the top 10 finishers - as many as 11 nations could yet claim the bronze medal position. These are Great Britain, Brazil, Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Portugal, Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy and Australia. However, it is the first four of these who are most likely to be the effective challengers.

With 73 points to its name, A1 Team Great Britain leads the pack, heading Brazil on 70, Netherlands on 69 and New Zealand on 64. Of this quartet, A1 Team New Zealand is best placed after qualifying, lining up third for the Sprint race. Great Britain is sixth, but race-winners Netherlands are back in 12th and Brazil only 19th, making their job all the harder.

Beyond these four nations, A1 Team Malaysia, on 53 points, may be able to make up ground as Alex Yoong has qualified its car fourth. A1 Team Portugal, on 51 points, is seventh on the grid and the ever unlucky A1 Team Ireland, on 50, will start eighth.

So, watch this space.