Adam Carroll looking at Indy Cars
Ireland secured the 2008/09 A1 championship title in style at Brands Hatch, as Carroll won both the sprint and feature races.
Carroll, who also has vast GP2 experience, was in phenomenal form throughout the campaign and is rumored to be on course to earn an F1 race seat for the 2010 campaign, possibly with the proposed Lola team.
The Portadown racer, however, is also being heavily linked with a possible move to the Indy Racing League but, either way, Carroll’s progression would make Gallagher glow with pride.
“If Adam was to launch his career into IRL or F1, we’d be the first people to congratulate him and support him because, after two years with us, it would be a great result for him to go upwards into competing in races like the Indy 500 or in Formula 1 events," Gallagher told setanta.com.
Ireland’s team principal and seat holder revealed: “He has made a pledge to me. Whatever he goes on to do – if he does go to IRL or F1 – he has promised me he would come back and drive for Team Ireland in the races that he could do.
“Of course, A1 GP’s rules allow for drivers to be changed week in and week out.
“Adam would love to be the first F1 driver to pop back in [to A1] to make guest appearances.
“The other thing he has offered to do is to work with us with replacement drivers. So whoever the replacement driver was, whether it be Niall Quinn or one of the other up and coming Irish drivers, Adam would mentor them and help us to develop them into the kind of driver he has been.
“I think it works for everyone and obviously it means that, if he were to have helped him to get to IRL or F1, then it means that A1GP has played a really important part in his career, probably more so than GP2. That is good for A1GP and good for Team Ireland." Setanta