Brands Hatch: Team Ireland Gala Awards summary

Double win for Ireland at A1GP Gala Awards

Belmayne A1 Team Ireland was named Most Improved A1 Team and Best Presented Team at the glittering A1GP Gala Awards dinner at the Hilton Park Lane in London last night.

Five-time Grand Prix race winner, John Watson presented the award for the Best Presented Team in the series to Ireland's Mark Gallagher, Mark Kershaw and Team Manager Dave O'Neill as they scooped the prize for the third consecutive year.

The award was swiftly followed by the whole team cramming on to the stage to receive the Most Improved A1 Team award. The team enjoyed its most successful season to date with Ralph Firman scoring points at the season opener in Zandvoort before Adam Carroll took over at Brno and went on to notch up four podium finishes and scored the teams maiden Feature race victory in Mexico City this March. Niall Quinn came on board in January after winning the Ireland's Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Year and he has also played a vital role getting each weekend off to good start in the Friday morning rookie-only sessions.

Belmayne A1 Team Ireland were the only team to walk away with two awards alongside being nominated for the A1 Team PR Excellence award, as the A1GP Gala Awards came to an end to conclude another thrilling season of racing,

Adam Carroll: "It's been fantastic to be a part of Belmayne A1 Team Ireland this year. They have all been superb and over the course of the season we have grown together as a team which has resulted in podium finishes at the last three events and the team's maiden victory in Mexico which I was extremely proud to be able to deliver. It's a complete team effort so it's great for the whole team to be recognized with these awards for all their efforts both on and off the track."."

Mark Gallagher, Team Principal: "'This time last year we won the award for being the best presented team and having the best livery and I said that instead of being all show and no go I'd prefer to be the most improved team in a year's time and we've now achieved that,' said an emotional Irish seat holder Mark Gallagher. 'This year I don't even have to decide which I'd prefer us to win as we now have both! That's completely down to Dave O'Neill (team manager) and the boys in the team, to Adam Carroll, Ralph Firman, Niall Quinn and the fantastic support we've had from all our sponsors. The victory in Mexico was a major turning point and the way in which the team has finished the season has made all the efforts over the last three years worthwhile. It has renewed our belief that the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport really does offer every country in the world the chance to enjoy success at the very highest level."

-credit: ireland