After the highs of Sunday’s win and second place in the latest rounds of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, the Irish team were straight back to work today, undertaking testing at Taupo, New Zealand, at the request of A1GP and Ferrari.

The team’s rookie and reserve driver Niall Quinn took the wheel of the Irish car and completed 56 laps without incident during which the Ferrari engineers gathered data and performed an evaluation of the car’s systems.

Team Principal Mark Gallagher: “We were asked to help out with the test and were happy to oblige. Naturally for reasons of fairness we could not use Adam Carroll for this test, nor carry out any performance testing of benefit to the team, but it was very useful for Niall to get some decent running in the car.

“It was nice as championship leaders to be asked to assist A1GP and Ferrari with this test and to help them ensure that the superb new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car continues to provide the teams with a strong, reliable package. We’ll focus all our energies on the next race in Gauteng, South Africa. Kyalami is a new track for everyone in A1GP and will be another leap into the unknown.

Niall Quinn: “It was great to get some proper running at last and to help me become better acquainted with this fantastic car which is a credit to A1GP and Ferrari.

The test was less about going quickly but I was delighted to get some proper track time. The weekend was another great one for the team and it’s great to be part of A1 Team Ireland at this time.”