Carroll ready to resume at the top

A1GP series leader Adam Carroll is desperate to get back into the groove for Team Ireland this weekend as the season resumes after its winter break with the fourth round in New Zealand.

Ireland lead the standings by eight points from Portugal heading into the first race of 2009 at the 2.17-mile Taupo circuit on New Zealand's North Island.

Carroll's pole-to-flag wins in China and Malaysia have catapulted the 26-year-old an unexpected position of dominance in the self-styled World Cup of Motorsport, and he insists the whole team is anxious to start work again after two months on the sidelines since the previous round in Sepang.

‘I can't wait to get back into it,’ said Carroll. ‘I didn't mind the break at the start but now we're all just chomping at the bit.

‘It's hard to get in as much training as you'd like over Christmas - it was nice to get home but now it's time to get stuck in and go racing again.

‘I am determined to have a strong weekend in Taupo; we have had a terrific reaction in Ireland to leading the series, and I want to keep the momentum going.’

He added: ‘Qualifying is so important, like everywhere, to make sure you start at the front and especially so at Taupo which is a tight circuit.

‘It can be quite difficult in midfield to get through the first couple of corners.’

Concerns over those opening turns have led race organisers to begin this weekend's sprint race from a standing start rather than the normal rolling start in a bid to ease congestion through the tight section.

Meanwhile, reigning champions Switzerland are sweating on the fitness of lead driver Neel Jani, who has recently suffered from meningitis-like symptoms.

After undergoing tests, doctors determined the virus not to be meningitis, but doubts persist over whether Jani will be fit for this weekend's races.

‘I'm still not at my best, and it's going to be pretty difficult to drive next weekend,’ Jani said

Elsewhere, Germany and Pakistan will again sit out the action this weekend due to ongoing delays with their new cars.