Shanghai: Team Ireland unveils its 'Celtic Tiger'

Shanghai, China: Belmayne A1 Team Ireland today unveiled its new Celtic Tiger design to mark the team's first Feature Race victory at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport event in Mexico three weeks ago. The design, which sees a green Celtic Tiger added to the nose section of its A1GP car, will be part of the team's livery from now on and the team's entry will be referred to as The Celtic Tiger.

The name 'Celtic Tiger' (Irish; Tiogar Ceilteach) has been used to describe Ireland's dramatic economic expansion and industrial success since the early 1990s which has seen the Republic of Ireland develop into one of the wealthiest nations in the European Union, particularly as a result of becoming a major centre for research, development and manufacturing in the IT sector. With Northern Ireland now also emerging as an important centre for business, tourism and sport, Belmayne Team Ireland is aiming to underline all of these achievements as it battles for The World Cup of Motorsport.

The launch of the Celtic Tiger at the A1GP Shanghai, China, is particularly appropriate as in Chinese culture the tiger is associated with power and good fortune, and is treated with fear and respect. The tiger's associated colour in astrological terms is green - ideal for the Celtic Tiger design on A1 Team Ireland's award-winning green livery.

"Ireland has become associated with achieving great success in business, particularly in the technology sector, and as a result of our race-winning success in Mexico we felt it was appropriate to add a symbol of success to our livery," said Team Principal Mark Gallagher. "The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is such a competitive series that Ireland's success puts the team finally on a par with other major motorsport nations, and in a sport where technology, engineering and IT is central to what we do."

The team is now concentrating all its efforts on the final two rounds of the 2007/08 A1GP Series as it aims to achieve a strong finish to the season with drivers Adam Carroll and Niall Quinn.

-credit: ireland