Ralph Firman makes his A1 GP race debut this weekend for Team Ireland, having missed out on the Brands Hatch weekend due to his commitments in the Japanese SuperGT series with Team Honda Japan. Pitpass editor, Chris Balfe, caught up with the former Jordan F1 driver ahead of this weekend's event at the EuroSpeedway in German.

Balfe began by asking the former British F3 and Formula Nippon Champion if he was fired up for the Lausitz race weekend.

"I'm very excited," admitted Firman. "I was very disappointed to miss the first race, especially after a very promising test. I'm excited not only to be racing single-seaters again, but to be back in Europe again. I've got a lot to prove, but I've got a great team around me."

Asked if he has any previous experience of the EuroSpeedway, he replied: "Other than a walk around it yesterday, no. But I don't think I'm the only one here this weekend who is new to the track."

At Brands Hatch, Michael Devaney finished tenth in the Sprint race, but was eliminated at the start of the Feature race, what did Firman think of his teammate's performance. "Unfortunately I didn't see it," he admits, "but the team says he did a good job. I believe he was unlucky in the second race to get taken out (by Switzerland), other than that I think he did a good job, especially with his limited experience of the car. He drove a good race.

So what are the realistic aims this weekend?

"We're out to win, and claw back some of the points we lost at Brands," he shoots back without hesitation. "The aim is to win races and the championship, that's the whole aim of racing.

"That said, I am still learning about the car," he continues. "I missed a lot of testing and I've now missed a race, so I've still got a lot to learn."

Firman is scheduled to do ten of the twelve A1 race weekends, having missed Brands Hatch, the other event he'll miss out on is the Australian round at Eastern Creek.

"Sadly they clash, and Eastern Creek clashes with my final Japan race," he says. "I think the Australians will put on quite a show for their race."

Although he didn't see the Brands Hatch races, Balfe asks Ralph who, other than Nelson Piquet, looks 'useful' in the A1 series.

"I know his team had a bad weekend, but Scott Speed (USA) looked very good in testing, very fast. The Portuguese team was also very quick. Then again, Piquet knew the circuit really well, so it's hard to tell, I think it will be different here."

Firman has been involved with A1 almost since the beginning, he was one of the original test drivers, therefore we asked him to tell us a little about the car.

"When I did the tests, which was a long time ago, it was only for the first initial four days, they did a lot more after that, with other drivers, I think Robbie Kerr (Britain) even drove it at Dubai, where we're going to race.