Minister backs A1 Grand Prix plans

SPORTS Minister Martin Cullen has backed proposals to bring a round of the A1 Grand Prix series to Dublin.

The Minister has asked Team Ireland to conduct a feasibility study with a view to bringing a race to Dublin, perhaps in September or October of next year, after meeting with Team Ireland driver Adam Carroll in Dublin yesterday.

“I’ve had preliminary discussions with the group involving A1 Grand Prix. From my point of view I’d be hugely optimistic.

“I know what it can do for a city especially a capital city, the worldwide coverage would be phenomenal.

“There obviously is a lot of work to be done before we would arrive there, but an A1 GP certainly fits in with our vision of trying to bring a world event, if not every year, well every second year, to Ireland.”

And the minister insisted that the whole country would be boosted by the effects of having the series visit these shores, particularly the tourism sector.

“Having a world focus through sport will have a huge impact on selling the country from a tourism point of view.

“This event is certainly one of the products that we would consider.”

The A1 Grand Prix is a ‘single make’ motorsport series which is unique in that competitors represent their nation as opposed to themselves or a team.

The series is held in the traditional Formula One off-season — the northern hemisphere winter.