2) from past experience a team is a team. It can comprise of any sex / machine provided the machine is a solo.
When I first read that I was thinking of James Brown riding a 24 hour TT.
Get up!
Lynne Taylor has been in the winning team at least once, which I know was once an all female team. Probably when they got the ladies team record.
But yes, teams can be mixed.
(There is very often a yank or an irishman riding).
Well, the defending champion, Ultan Coyle, is Irish.
The Irish have often had a rider or two in the last 10-15 years I can remember. I think that the Yanks taking part are down to Hoppo. I think it was him who sorted out the Mersey 24 as a UMCA event (and RAAM qualifier). It was probably why the World Champion chap (who everyone seemed to beat!) rode last year too.