Indeed, following a brace of victories in China and Malaysia and a second place finish in the former to-boot, Carroll and Ireland have expertly overcome a double retirement in the opening meeting at Zandvoort to steal the championship lead three rounds into the nation vs nation series' 2008/09 campaign.

The Ulsterman is clearly enjoying the 'David vs Goliath' like challenge thrown down to him and is rising to the occasion – and he is confident the underdog team can now go all the way and clinch the crown, what he hopes may be just the necessary catalyst to re-ignite interest in him from the F1 world.

“It has taken me about six years to get into this position,” he confessed, “but now I have the support of the team, a good engineer and I can go out and show what I can do.

“We've been strong over the last two events on two completely different circuits, so our set-up of the car has really come together. We have a really good bunch of guys; they're quick in the pit-stops and extremely thorough with the car.

“Can we win the championship? Yeah, definitely!”