Irish on grid for launch of A1 series

Martin Walsh

The Dublin based A1 Team Ireland has secured the Irish franchise to compete in the World Cup of Motorsport.

The series will run from next month through to March 2006 and the Irish outfit will be involved in all 12 races with former GP racer Ralph Firman as the lead driver. Ironically, Firman was also in contention for the British team but lost out in a shoot out to former British Formula 3 winner, Robbie Kerr (25) and Alex Lloyd (20).

Firman is vastly experienced having also contested Formula Nippon (2002) and was the British Formula 3 Champion in 1996. He will be the Principal Driver for A1 Team Ireland with the announcement of a reserve driver set to follow the team’s first test scheduled two-day test at Paul Ricard, France in eight days time.

Firman said, “I am delighted to be selected by A1 Team Ireland to represent the country in this exciting new series. Having been closely involved in the development of the A1 Grand Prix Car, I know how good it is to drive and it really does provide a complementary alternative to Formula One. Since driving for Jordan in Formula 1, I have been determined to get back into the top of International motor racing“.

Meanwhile, former double Dunlop Sexton Trophy winner, Michael Devaney appears to be favourite to become the reserve driver. He is currently competing in the German F3 series, however, and with the advent of the European F3 series, the level of competition in the German series has greatly diminished.

Head of Commercial Affairs at A1 Team Ireland PJ Fallon, who ran his own racing team on the domestic scene over a decade ago, didn’t rule out drivers such as Michael Keohane or Paddy Hogan (Formula Renault) for a test. Keohane, a former double British Formula 3 race winner in 2002, has great experience having also driven in Formula 3000 and tested at Champ Car level. The Clonakilty driver availed of the opportunity to put a Formula Renault car through its paces at Mondello Park last week and illustrated that despite being out of action for almost a year, he has lost none of his pace.

The A1 Grand Prix series will pit driver against driver and country against country for the first time in motorsport’s history and it is set to bring up to 25 nations together to race in identical cars where the emphasis will be on driver ability and team performance.

Mark Gallagher, the Team principal of A1 Team Ireland said, “This is a momentous day for Irish motorsport and the combination of many months of planning and negotiations. The A1 Grand Prix series promises to be innovative and exciting. I have no doubt that motorsport and sporting fans in Ireland and around the world will be fascinated by it. Having worked in Formula One (Jordan), for many years, I have been very impressed with the detailed planning and professionalism that has gone into the creation of A1 and have no doubt that this will be a prestigious world wide event.”

The senior management team is completed by Mark Kershaw as Franchise Principal, and senior technical staff have also been appointed and will be announced soon.

A1 Grand Prix series founder, Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, a member of the Ruling Family of Dubai, launched the racing series over a year ago to blend a highly effective business model of team and country franchises with the entertainment and thrills of motorsport.