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In keeping with Ireland’s proud racing tradition, the RDS in Dublin hosted the launch of the newly formed “A1 Team Ireland” this September 15th. The team is set to compete in the new A1 Grand Prix Series commencing in late September 2005, with an initial event to be held at Brands Hatch, England. The new A1 Grand Prix series has been constructed in such a way that all entrant teams can be closely competitive with each other, thus ensuring an exciting race weekend from start to finish. |
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At the launch event at the RDS the team principal of Team Ireland, Mark Gallagher spoke optimistically about the coming season. "Although we face stiff opposition from some of the world's largest nations as well as countries with highly developed motorsport industries, the fact that A1GP provides teams with a level playing field in terms of the car and technology means that the difference between winning and losing will be decided by driver ability, quality of engineering, team-work and race strategy. In each of these areas, we are strong and to emerge fastest on the final day of the major pre-season test in Paul Ricard, France, demonstrated our potential. I am confident we have built a team capable of challenging for victories in the inaugural A1 Grand Prix series"
A1 Team Ireland's Team Principal, Mark Gallagher spoke of the significance of including Ireland in the global A1 Grand Prix series. "Although we face stiff opposition from some of the world's largest nations as well as countries with highly developed motorsport industries, the fact that A1GP provides teams with a level playing field in terms of the car and technology means that the difference between winning and losing will be decided by driver ability, quality of engineering, team-work and race strategy. In each of these areas we are strong and to emerge fastest on the final day of the major pre-season test in Paul Ricard, France, demonstrated our potential. I am confident we have built a team capable of challenging for victories in the inaugural A1 Grand Prix series"
Announcing that 20 year-old Michael Devaney will make his race debut in the opening round of the A1 Grand Prix series at Brands Hatch on 25 September, Chief Executive of A1 Team Ireland Mark Kershaw explained the Team's philosophy on driver choice. "We are fortunate in Ireland to possess a small but highly talented group of drivers on which to draw for A1 Team Ireland. In Ralph Firman - A1 Team Ireland's main driver - we have someone who has not only won at every level of the sport but also raced in Formula One and is currently one of Team Honda Racing's leading drivers in the Japanese SuperGT series. When we signed him, we knew he had conflicting commitments in the first and fourth rounds of the A1 Grand Prix series, so we are fortunate to have a rising star such as Michael Devaney to drive for the team in Brands Hatch. The World Cup of Motorsport is an innovative and exciting concept and in A1 Team Ireland we have the talent to compete for success."
Devaney, who currently lies second in the German Formula 3 Championship said: "Naturally I am delighted to drive for the Team at Brands Hatch and I'd like to thank A1 Team Ireland for giving me the opportunity to demonstrate my ability against top international competitors. Every driver wants to be given a break like this and A1 Grand Prix enables countries such as Ireland to develop their drivers at international level. I am really looking forward to racing in A1GP."
Speaking at the launch of A1 Team Ireland, A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman, Sheikh Maktoum said: 'Ireland has a strong tradition of competition in
high-level international motorsport that will continue with A1 Team Ireland's entry to the World Cup of Motorsport. With the backing of Mark Kershaw, PJ Fallon and Mark Gallagher - all renowned for their motorsport expertise, and a bit of the traditional Irish luck, I am sure that A1 Team Ireland will do their country proud when the inaugural A1 Grand Prix of Nations takes to the grid at Brands Hatch next week.'
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Ralph Firman & Michael Devaney Ex-Jordan F1 driver Ralph Firman called on his mother’s Irish roots to secure him a drive in A1GP with Team Ireland. Nothing wrong with that, and it is good to have a driver of Firman’s experience and calibre involved in A1GP. Firman has the added advantage of having completed the lion’s share of early testing on the prototype A1GP car at the beginning of this year. This could be a danger to the other teams, but possibly not at Brands Hatch, as clashing commitments may mean Firman will not attend the season opener. That would leave ex-German Formula BMW frontrunner Michael Devaney to carry the hopes of the Emerald Isle, and he may struggle where Firman could have challenged. He’s been somewhat out of circulation for a while but showed flashes of good speed in Germany. It will be good to see him back, and interesting to see how he copes. |
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All competing teams are equipped with an identical chassis. Lola international have laboured on the development an testing of this chassis in the run up to the inaugural championship along with the engine constructor, Zytek engineering. The cars will all run on the same tyres from the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, based in the USA, but whose racing operation is run by Avon Tyres Racing out of the company’s UK premises in Melksham, Wiltshire.
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