Portal:Northern Ireland/Selected biography/6

Edmund "Eddie" Irvine, Jr. (b. 10 November 1965, Newtownards) is a former Formula One racing driver from Breezemount in Conlig.

His professional racing career began in 1983 and he progressed to Formula Three racing in 1988, before moving on to Formula 3000 in 1989. He got his break in the top of the Formula racing series after he started racing for Jordan in the Formula 3000 series in 1990, and was subsequently picked up by the Jordan Formula One team in 1993. His reputation steadily increased in Formula One, eventually leading Ferrari to sign him in 1996.

1999 was his most successful season: He won four races and took the Drivers' Championship to the last race, finishing a close second to McLaren driver Mika Häkkinen. Having felt held back by Ferrari's support of his team mate Michael Schumacher, he left Ferrari to join the new Jaguar Racing team in 2000. He was the only driver to get Jaguar to the podium in the team's short F1 history; he achieved this feat twice.

Irvine is seen by many as a playboy in the mould of James Hunt, in contrast to the sport's modern stars, who are seen as staid and less flamboyant. Irvine is also remembered for his tendency to speak his mind, often to the irritation of some.

He was a millionaire through property investment before reaching Formula One. Outside of F1 Irvine is said to have built up a multi-million pound property portfolio, owning around 40 properties throughout the world. In April 2006, the Sunday Times Rich List named Irvine as the fifth richest person of Northern Ireland, having increased his personal fortune to approximately £160 million.

He owns Eddie Irvine Sports, a snooker, pool, kart racing, paintballing and football facility in Bangor.

He is now executive producer of a film being produced about Paddy Mayne and he has been linked to a future role at the Spyker MF1 Racing Formula One team. More about Eddie Irvine...