The first question put to world champion rally driver Carlos Sainz appeared to be particularly pertinent. The lady wanted to know why rally driving lived in the relative shadows while Formula One thrived in the white hot heat of global acclaim.
We could have said that it is because television says so. And, to all intents and purposes that is exactly what the 36-year-old current world championship leader told her.
"In Spain there is more rally than F1. But I hope next year Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA (International Automobile Federation) will make more decisions on the promotion of rallying," said Sainz.
"Already rallies have been changing to allow manufacturers to promote it. We have seen other sports change rules like football and basketball. It is a good thing to change slightly. At the end of the day we're doing rallies because it's important to sell cars - but it is important we do not run away from the concept of rallying."
In the background a giant screen hammered out the beat of victory. No surprise here as Sainz is the most successful driver in the history of the sport with 22 victories worldwide. We were shown large swaths of conifer forests, snow and cars careering sideways around gigantic bends, so we knew Sweden. Sainz came second there this year. We saw groups of tall Africans holding staffs and standing on one leg with what appeared to be a Toyota screaming through the air out of the eye of a dust storm - a sort of brash image of new world meets old. Sainz won in Kenya in 1992.
We were offered a number of bouncing kangaroos. Ah, Australia. Mist and rain. Ireland?
Sainz has won everywhere since his first serious assault on the world championship in 1990, one which gave him his first title. Two years later he added a second world championship. Since then the Spaniard has never failed to finish outside the top three in the world.
Sainz leads the current championship by nine points - 47 compared to joint second-placed drivers Colin McRae and Tommi Makkinen on 38 - and he appears confident of picking up his third world crown.
"The car this year is more agile. The concept of the car is smaller and more compact. The good thing is that I believe it can be much more competitive than it is now. There are still two rallies to go and we've a nine-point lead so anything is possible."
Having been to Dublin in the 1970s to learn English as a 16-year-old student, Sainz is no stranger. Today he will be in Mondello Park along with Formula One Jordan driver Damon Hill to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the track.
Martin Birrane, the owner of Mondello, also outlined his plans to upgrade the facility. Having invested £1.5 million already, another similar amount will go into the construction of pits, paddocks and a grandstand to "make it a training ground where we can produce world champions".
The Leinster Trophy, the most prestigious award in Irish motor sport, is also whetting appetites. Former winners such as Ayrton Senna (1982), Mika Hakkinen (1988) and Eddie Jordan (1978) give the event depth and prestige, something it has always had as the first winner in 1934 was a woman, Fay Taylor.
Birrane will officially open the circuit and will drive a Lola T70 sports car in demonstration laps. Birrane is the owner of Lola, the longest established constructor of racing cars in Britain.
Spectators should note that the Sainz-Austin McHale clash is scheduled for 2.25 p.m. today. The official opening of the new international circuit will be at 1.30 p.m. tomorrow followed by the Formula Ford Zetec championship final.
The Toyota F1 Race will start at 3.0 p.m. and the Leinster Trophy Euro race at 4.40 p.m. These schedules are not flexible because of live TV coverage. Damon Hill will arrive by helicopter at 3.40 p.m.
Local driver Eamonn Boland, in his Ford Escort WRC, heads the quality entry for one of the most popular rallies on the calendar, the two-day Wexford Rally.
