A1 Grand Prix (A1GP) was founded in 2003 by Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum of Dubai, featuring modern V8 formula cars built to a common specification.
A1GP formula cars raced in a "national team" format with each team fielding drivers from a single country, creating an exciting Olympics feeling and becoming known as the World Cup of Motorsport.
The cars themselves featured sleek modern carbon fiber chassis based on Ferrari's F2004 F1 car, with Michelin spec tires, and a 4.5 liter Ferrari V8 producing around 600 hp.
A1GP race weekends were exciting, due to the high-horspower spec chassis, world-class drivers, and running two races on Sunday (a rolling start sprint and a standing start feature).
Sadly the series folded in 2010.
