A1 Team Ireland made an ideal start to the eighth round of the A1 World Cup of Motorsport when Niall Quinn finished second fastest in today's opening practice sessions in Mexico.
The Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year was quick throughout both 25 minute rookie sessions at the iconic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, ending the day less than three tenths of a second slower than the time set by Team Italy's European F3000 champion Davide Rigon.
The Meath driver recorded fourth fastest time in the first session, his first dry road course running in a 550bhp A1GP car after two previous outings with A1 Team Ireland on a wet track in Sydney and between the Armco barriers in the city of Durban.
Relishing his first real opportunity to get his teeth into a track session, Quinn worked hard to establish a base set up for the Ireland squad while chasing for a fast time.
Quinn was fastest of all the runners in the third and longest sector of the track and his combined sector times suggest that Niall was fast throughout the dusty former F1 circuit.
Afterwards Niall expressed his delight at being able to show his full worth behind the wheel of the A1 car.
‘That was a good run and it was nice to get a decent bit of mileage on a dry track to really get in tune with the Belmayne A1 Team Ireland car,’ said Niall.
‘I felt good in the first session and I knew there was a fair bit to come. I was really quick in the last sector and I might have been able to top the sheets if I could have made the tyres last all the way through my final quick lap towards the end of the session.
‘We've got a good base for the rest of the weekend and I hope my efforts have helped to give the squad the launching pad for a big result this weekend.’
