Adam Carroll has the chance to claim this season's A1GP title for Ireland when the season concludes at Brands Hatch this weekend.
Irishman has "no reason to fear anyone on the grid" this weekend
Adam Carroll has the chance to settle this season's A1GP title in favour of Team Ireland when the season concludes at Brands Hatch this weekend.
The 'World Cup of Motorsport' was to have been decided later this month in Mexico, an eventuality ruled out this week on account of the swine flu pandemic.
The Kent circuit therefore has the unexpected chance to play host to the season's climax, with Switzerland and Portugal the other teams in the mix following a typically tight A1GP tussle.
Switzerland, led by the experienced Neel Jani, lead the way with 88 points, two clear of Ireland with Portugal four points further back.
However, the situation is complicated somewhat given that teams are able to drop their worst points haul of the season - a consequence of technical problems which left some countries unable to contest the opening race in the Netherlands.
Ireland and Portugal both failed to score at Zandvoort and, with Switzerland liable to lose four points, Carroll's team in effect hold a two-point lead.
And, faced with the prospect of chasing his country's first title on a track he knows well, the 26-year-old is in bullish mood.
"Brands Hatch is one of my favourite circuits in world motor racing and I cannot wait to get stuck in to this weekend's races," said Carroll, who has claimed three wins and six podiums this season.
"Having been back in Ireland since Portugal with the A1 Team Ireland car I've been really touched by the level of support I've got from everyone at home.
"We've no reason to fear anyone on the grid and every reason to believe that there are many teams that fear the kind of performance that we can produce so we approach the weekend from a position of confidence.
"It won't be easy but if we as a team can put together the sort of Friday morning to Sunday evening performance that we managed in Portugal then Ireland can be champions of A1GP this season."
Experience
Jani has plenty of experience in A1GP, with 10 wins in the series to his name, but the former F1 test driver nevertheless believes Carroll holds the advantage this weekend.
"In order to defend the title successfully, we have to exceed ourselves," Jani said.
"The track is not only unusually fast, it is also technically difficult. Here, the experience of every lap counts. From that point of view, I have a slight disadvantage compared to Adam Carroll."
