A1 Team Ireland was the Irish team of A1 Grand Prix, an international racing series. The team were the A1 Grand Prix champions for the fourth season, 2008-09.

A1 Team Ireland
Ireland
Founded2005
Seat holder(s)Mark Gallagher
Teddy Yip Jr.
Mark Kershaw
David Kennedy (racing driver)
Team principalMark Gallagher
Race driver(s)Adam Carroll
Niall Quinn
Michael Devaney
Richard Lyons
Ralph Firman
First race2005-06 Great Britain
Rounds entered39 (78 starts)
Championships1
Sprint race victories3
Feature race victories3
Pole positions6
Fastest laps9
Total points282
2008-09 position1st (112 pts)

The team

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Founded by Mark Kershaw and Mark Gallagher in 2005, the team was owned and run by Status Grand Prix. In 2008, Mark Kershaw sold his interest in the team. The new the seat holders were Mark Gallagher, Teddy Yip Jr., John P. Hynes and David Kennedy.[1]

History

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The inaugural team's 2005-06 car was presented to the public on 15 September 2005.[2] For that debut season, Ralph Firman was the team's principal driver, scoring the team its first podium in Portugal to finish 8th overall in the championship. The series organisers awarded the team for being the best presented team,[3] the first of three consecutive wins for A1 Team Ireland.

In its second season, the team did not perform quite as well. The best result achieved that season was fifth place in the Feature race at Shanghai, and the team finished in a disappointing 19th place.

For the 2007–08 season, Ralph Firman secured some points at the season opener in Zandvoort before Adam Carroll took over as the A1 Team Ireland principal driver. He went on to get four podium finishes in his debut season and record the team's first Feature Race victory in Mexico City. After winning Ireland's Dunlop Racing Driver of the Year, Niall Quinn joined the team as the Rookie Driver. A1 Team Ireland ended Season Three in 6th position, helping them to win the 'Most Improved Team' award at the 2007/08 Gala Awards. A1 Team Ireland have won the A1GP award for best presented team in all three seasons alongside winning the 'Most Appealing Livery' trophy for their stunning green car in Season Two.[4]

In the 2008–09 season, Adam Carroll returned as lead driver, as the team set its sights on a full championship assault. As rookie driver, Niall Quinn provided the engineers with important feedback, and getting each race weekend off to a flying start. A1 Team Ireland were championship contenders most of the season, and won the championship at the last event of the season at Brands Hatch, with a dominant performance.

Drivers

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Name Seasons Rounds
(Starts)
Titles Wins Sprint
wins
Feature
wins
2nd 3rd Poles Fastest
Laps
Points
Adam Carroll 2007-08, 2008-09 16 (32 starts) 1 6 3 3 3 3 6 6 198
Michael Devaney 2005-06, 2006-07 7 (14 starts) 16
Ralph Firman 2005-06, 2007-08 9 (18 starts) 1 3 61
Richard Lyons 2006-07 7 (14 starts) 7

Complete A1 Grand Prix results

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(key), "spr" indicates the Sprint Race, "fea" indicates the Feature Race.

Year Racing
team
Chassis,
Engine,
Tyres
Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Points Rank
2005–06 Status Grand Prix Lola,
Zytek,
Cooper Avon
 
GBR
 
GER
 
POR
 
AUS
 
MYS
 
UAE
 
RSA
 
INA
 
MEX
 
USA
 
CHN
68 8th
spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea
Michael Devaney 10 Ret 4 14 4 Ret
Ralph Firman 9 6 19 3 7 9 4 Ret 4 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret 5 6
2006–07 Status Grand Prix Lola
Zytek
Cooper Avon
 
NED
 
CZE
 
BEI
 
MYS
 
INA
 
NZL
 
AUS
 
RSA
 
MEX
 
SHA
 
GBR
8 19th
spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea
Michael Devaney 15 14 13 13 20 Ret 14 10
Richard Lyons 17 12 Ret 19 10 Ret 6 Ret Ret 16 12 5 8 DSQ
2007–08 Status Grand Prix Lola
Zytek
Cooper Avon
 
NED
 
CZE
 
MYS
 
ZHU
 
NZL
 
AUS
 
RSA
 
MEX
 
SHA
 
GBR
94 6th
spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea
Ralph Firman 8 6
Adam Carroll 3 6 7 7 4 16 6 5 15 13 15 Ret 4 1 11 3 3 13
2008–09 Status Grand Prix Ferrari,
Ferrari,
Michelin
 NED  CHN  MYS  NZL  RSA  POR  GBR 112 1st
spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea spr fea
Adam Carroll Ret Ret 1 2 5 1 1 2 4 Ret 2 5 1 1

Notes

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Sporting positions
Preceded by A1 Grand Prix Champion
2008–09
Succeeded by
None