Irish Team to compete in The World Cup of Motorsport
A1 Team Ireland™ is pleased to announce that it has secured Ireland’s entryfor the inaugural A1 Grand Prix™ series which will commence in Brands Hatchon September 25th 2005.
The team, which will be based in Dublin, has been created specifically tocompete in the prestigious A1 Grand Prix™ series, representing Ireland inThe World Cup of Motorsport™!
Ireland will be competing in all 12 scheduled races throughout the worldfrom September 2005 to March 2006 visiting every continent and will have thechance to take on and compete with the biggest countries in the world,marking a momentous occasion for Irish motorsport, by providing the firstever Irish-based Grand Prix racing team.
The A1 Grand Prix series is more than just another motor racing phenomenon;it's an entirely new sport - The World Cup of Motorsport™. Pitting driveragainst driver and country against country for the first time in motorsportshistory, A1 Grand Prix will bring together up to 25 nations representing 80%of the world's population to actively compete on a level playing field. Theidentical A1 Grand Prix cars will place the emphasis on driver ability andteam performance.
The World Cup of Motorsport promotes countries and utilises the nationalpatriotism instilled in every person on the planet not only attractingtraditional motor sport and sporting fans but also exciting anyone who ispassionate about their heritage, country and population.
Mark Gallagher takes the role of A1 Team Ireland™, - Team Principal andcommented; ‘This is a momentous day for Irish motorsport and thecombination of many months of planning and negotiations. The A1 Grand Prixseries promises to be innovative and exciting. I have no doubt thatmotorsport and sporting fans in Ireland and around the world will befascinated by it. Having worked in Formula One™ for many years, I have beenvery impressed with the detailed planning and professionalism that has goneinto the creation of A1 and have no doubt that this will be a prestigiousworld wide event’.
The senior management team is completed by Mark Kershaw as FranchisePrincipal and PJ Fallon, responsible for Commercial Affairs. Seniortechnical staff have been appointed and will be announced in the comingdays.
Former Jordan Formula One driver (2003), Formula Nippon (2002) and BritishFormula 3 Champion (1996), Ralph Firman will take the place of PrincipalDriver for A1 Team Ireland™, and a reserve driver will be announced afterthe team’s first test scheduled for Paul Ricard, France, August 24th - 26th.
Ralph commented, ‘I have always been very proud of my Irish heritage and amdelighted to be selected by A1 Team Ireland™ to represent the country inthis exciting new series. Having been closely involved in the development ofthe A1 Grand Prix Car, I know how good it is to drive and it really doesprovide a complementary alternative to Formula One. Since driving for Jordanin Formula One, I have been determined to get back into the top ofinternational motor racing’.
The A1 Grand Prix series founder, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Hasher MaktoumAl Maktoum, a member of the Ruling Family of Dubai, launched the racingseries over a year ago to fuse a highly effective business model ofteam/country franchises with the entertainment and thrills of motorsport.
