KARACHI, Nov 3: Brilliant race-driver Adam Khan, who is spearheading the A1 Team Pakistan, has made the nation proud by making waves globally in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport which begun in Zandvoort, Holland, in September and culminates at Brands Hatch, Great Britain, in May next.

Running alongside racers of 21 nations, the British-born Pakistani has won hearts of millions of fans back home with his skills that he demonstrated at Zandvoort (Holland) and Brno (Czech Republic).

Pakistan has been in the forefront since AI Grand Prix was launched in Dubai on March 30, 2005 by its founder Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum.

The AI Team Pakistan was formally launched by President General Pervez Musharraf at Lahore on March 28, 2005 at the impressive Lahore Fort. The following day, Sheikh Maktoum drove the A1 Team Pakistan car around the streets of Lahore, the first time a single seater race car seen in the country.

It pits nations against nations taking the participants across Europe, Asia, Australasia, South America, Africa and back to Europe for the season finale in May next year.

Adam, 22, is back in the driving seat of the green and white car with crescent and star after a year’s layoff. Earlier, he rode the car in its first season (2005-06) with a best result of fifth place at the Shanghai international circuit. Overall, Pakistan was placed 20th ahead of Japan, China, Lebanon, India and Russia.

Strangely, results show that Enrico Toccacelo, an Italian, also represented Pakistan in the inaugural year at Durban, South Africa.

Last year (2006-07), Nur Ali, 33, had the distinction to be at the helm of AI Team Pakistan vehicle. He finished 22nd among 24 countries.

As far as the ongoing third season is concerned, Adam Khan is lying last but one after four races while Indonesia is at the bottom.

“It’s a great privilege to represent Pakistan again. I hope I can make the country proud by regularly putting the team in the points. A1GP is a great series and gives countries like Pakistan the opportunity to race against nations with a strong tradition in motorsport on a level playing field.” said Khan when asked to comment on his role as race driver for A1 Team Pakistan.

Businessman Arif Husain, a specialist in corporate finance, is the seat holder or team leader of A1 Team Pakistan. He is looking to maximise the exposure of A1GP to grow investment within Pakistan and the Middle East. “The mere fact that a racing team from Pakistan is flying the country’s flag the world over should be a matter of pride for us,” says Arif. “It not only is an exciting bit of news for all Pakistani motoracing fans but also portrays a soft image of the country overseas which is so important in today’s changing scenario.”

Meanwhile, Yan Lefort, head of marketing and communications, recently visited Pakistan to publicise the AI Team Pakistan.

In an informal chat with Dawn, he apprised the media of the steps which are being taken for promoting AI Team Pakistan.