Ireland: We're ready to win the title

The Irish squad now lead the standings by eight points following six of this season's 20 rounds. Although Carroll retired early in both Zandvoort races, he has since taken two wins and a second place from the Chengdu and Sepang events to move his team to the head of the championship.

Team boss Mark Gallagher says those results have given Ireland a crucial boost going into the two-month break before the next races at Taupo.

"To lead the championship at this stage going into the Christmas and New Year break is ideal," he said.

"Clearly in the last two events we've established ourselves as the team to beat. Adam and the whole team are doing a magnificent job and it's taken some time to build this squad into a world-beating team.

"The result is there for all to see - that we've shown everyone a clean pair of heels today."

Gallagher said it was now vital for Ireland not to squander their current advantage.

"Now our focus is on keeping up the consistency," he said.

"There are seven rounds remaining and we can't win every race but we clearly have a very strong team and if we can keep a consistent approach and continue to get podiums and points finishes we have a good chance to win the World Cup of Motorsport."

Having spent most of his career as an underdog against better-funded rivals in Formula 3 and GP2, Carroll says he is determined to take this opportunity to prove that he can put together a title challenge.

"I feel good now and I really want to go on and win the championship and show that not only can I win races but that I can be a champion," he said.

"It's just really all coming together. I'm going to keep training hard on the winter break. It's a long hard season and I'm looking forward to racing in New Zealand in January.

"It's a going to be a long hard fight. The other guys are going to come back at us and hopefully we've got an answer for them."