Team Ireland comments on Ferrari partnership

Team Ireland 'powered by Ferrari' from 2008

Dublin, Ireland, 10th October 2007; Belmayne A1 Team Ireland is pleased to give its full support for today's announcement by the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport that, starting next year, it will enter into a six year technology partnership with Ferrari. This means that, starting with season four of the World Cup of Motorsport, the Irish team will utilize a Ferrari-designed chassis and Ferrari V8 engine as they continue to battle over 20 other nations for a prestigious title.

The agreement, announced by A1GP Chairman Tony Teixeira, is a landmark deal and the first time in the modern era that Ferrari has agreed to design single seater chassis outside of Formula One. The series will be officially 'powered by Ferrari' and the Irish team will therefore not only use Ferrari technology but enable its sponsors and fans to become associated with the most famous brand in motor racing.

Belmayne A1 Team Ireland started this year's A1GP series on a very positive note when Ralph Firman scored eight championship points in the opening round in Zandvoort, Holland, at the end of September. This coming weekend will see Portadown's highly rated Adam Carroll make his debut for the team in the second round of the series in Brno, Czech Republic. Both the team management and driver are excited by the Ferrari announcement which comes after a month in which the team announced its title sponsorship deal with Belmayne and secured coverage of the series on Ireland's TV3.

Mark Kershaw, Team Owner; "This is a breakthrough deal and to think that Belmayne A1 Team Ireland will be using a Ferrari-designed car and Ferrari engines in only a year's time is very exciting for us, our sponsors and fans. Ferrari is the most famous name in motor sport, and we look forward to being able to offer our commercial partners an association with this iconic brand through involvement with Ireland's team in The World Cup of Motorsport."

Mark Gallagher, Team Principal; "When we started out on the A1GP project it was clear that the series' management had big plans for the future. This announcement shows just how serious they are about making the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport not only unique in terms of its level playing field and nation versus nation concept, but also exciting both for the terrific racing it produces and the technology being used. Team Ireland's Ferrari-designed car and engines are going to be exciting to watch, and for the team and drivers to work with. This is an extraordinary deal, and a credit to A1GP."

-credit: a1gp.ireland