Nur managed not only to keep up the grueling pace, but also to steadily improve the finishing position for himself and A1 Team Pakistan at each race.

Beginning with the race in Beijing, China on 12 November, the A1 teams faced one of the most challenging tracks on the A1 calendar at this brand new street circuit.  Many drivers, including those from Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, encountered problems, which ended their hopes for the race.  Nur Ali and A1 Team Pakistan also encountered problems after the car hit a bump and spun off the track.  Nur wisely kept the engine running and made a valiant effort to rejoin the race, but circuit officials pushed his car off the track.  After the race, Nur Ali said, “This was a frustrating race; it would have been good to have completed more laps and flown the Pakistani flag for a bit longer.”  Team Pakistan finished 22nd, with nine cars failing to cross the finish line.

As storms arrived over the Sepang International Circuit on 26 November, Nur Ali and Team Pakistan rolled up to the starting grid in conditions that provided near-zero visibility in the torrents of rain pouring onto the racetrack.  After suffering an incident during the pit stop, when the car slid off the jack, Nur and A1 Team Pakistan finished 20th in the race.  Nur Ali looked toward the future saying, “The main thing was to get some experience running in these conditions and to finish the race.  A lot of the teams and drivers here have a year’s experience in A1GP and we are all still learning.  It’s not just about me; it’s about the entire team.  It’s a true team effort.”

In his best finish of the season to date, Nur Ali drove the A1 Team Pakistan car, liveried in the green and white colours of the Pakistani flag, to a 15th place finish in Sentul, Indonesia on 10 December.  Early in the week, Nur took part in a PR event in which drivers from 13 nations raced through the tropical forests of Indonesia on All-Terrain Vehicles.  As the race began, rains deluged yet again, forcing A1 Team Pakistan to make last minute set up changes.  Commenting on the race, Nur Ali said, “We obviously got our best result of the season, which is great for both the team and me.  I didn’t find the hot or rainy conditions here tiring, so I will be maintaining my fitness over the break and just having a bit of rest before the season starts again.  I’m really looking forward to getting to New Zealand.”

Nur Ali and Ali Motorsports wish all of the fans around the world a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and Eid Mubarak.

Continue to follow Nur’s progress as he prepares to fly the flag of Pakistan around the racing circuit at Taupo, New Zealand on 21 January.