Buckley Bags Season Opener

23-March-2024: Gavin Buckley holds up his trophy after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Kirkistown Racing Circuit along the beautiful Ards Penninsula in county Down was the venue for the opening round of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship. The circuit is a favourite amongst the drivers and teams alike. A new season brings a clean slate and a chance for those who missed out last season to go one better this year and also for the five newcomers, a chance to finally get racing after all their planning over the winter. 

Sadly 2023 Champion Lee Newsome was a non starter along with former champion Anthony Cross and last years hotshot Ronan Doherty was also missing but all will be out later in the year. That said the competion was still strong with Jack Byrne back in his newly built and painted Sheane. Colm Blackburn was also in a new car, his being the newer Leastone chassis and which once belonged to former champion Ray Moore. 

23-March-2024: Colm Blackburn, Leastone, leads Gavin Buckley, Sheane, and Jack Byrne, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Gavin Buckley who has been a championship contender for the last number of years but just missing out is determined to take the title this year. The Rathmichael man set his stall out early by taking pole by 0.7 second ahead of Jack Byrne. The long straights of Kirkistown provide great over taking opportunities but qualifying well means a driver can stay away from being caught up in a mid pack scramble that can cause problems.

As the lights went out it was a masterful start by Blackburn who went through the middle of the front two like a bullet to take the lead on the run to turn one. It was the same by the exit of the chicane but as mentioned to long straights came into play and by the end of the back straight it was three abreast going into the hairpin. From first to third, on the the exit Byrne now lead from Buckley and Blackburn. It was still early days however but already the front three had pulled clear of the field enough to let them battle for the lead between themselves.

23-March-2024: Colin Lewis, Leastone, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg.

23-March-2024: Brendan Ellis, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg.

A heavy shower of rain a half hour before the race left the track damp in spots making it tricky to overtake off the racing line. On the run to the hairpin second time round Buckley got alongside Byrne and took the lead at the hairpin. The tighter technical section of the track from turn two to three suited Buckley as he gained time over his pursuers but lost the advantage on the latter half of the track. That said he was driving well and absorbing the pressure well not making any mistakes. Blackburn was now back up to second and chasing the leader down, his car very quick down the back straight. 

23-March-2024: Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Colm Blackburn, Leastone, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Jack Cregg.

By half distance it was still the same heading to the hairpin nothing to separate the front three. A better exit from Blackburn gave him a run down the main straight to take the lead which he would hold for the next couple of laps. The weather again started to change with showers beginning to fall but slightly. Not enough to make track conditions change significantly. An excellent run down the back straight saw Buckley retake the lead and an even better run out of the hairpin gave him a three car gap to the two behind which would come into play as they were beginning to catch the tail-enders. Byrne got back into second at turn one with a move on the inside.

Buckley got passed the first of the tailenders to extend his advantage. Both Byrne and Blackburn were through but were in danger of losing the tow to the leader. With two laps to go Buckley was in command although loosing a bit of time behind one tail-ender, but he had enough in hand to bring it home barring any mechanical failure. Byrne was also in charge of second place until a sideways moment at the chicane on the final lap let Blackburn catch right up and try a move at the hairpin. He held on though and crossed the line to take second. Buckley had done so already and took his third win at the northern track.

23-March-2024: Charlie Hart, Leastone, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg.

 

23-March-2024: Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg.

A typical tight hard fought Formula Vee race and one to start the season off on a high note. 

Speaking after the race the winner was relieved to get the win. " It was a tight race with Jack and Colm, but I got a gap and then got through the backmarkers first which helped me get away a bit more. Conditions were tricky with damp patches and the wind, but its great to get the win and start the season off well"

Results:

Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

1st Gavin Buckley

2nd Jack Byrne

3rd Colm Blckburn

Tyre Doctor Gives His Rivals Medicine In Season Opener

23-March-2024: Andy Keogh, Sheane, on his way to winning the Tyredoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

For the opening round of the TyreDoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship and the Ability I.T. Formula Vee Rookie Championship, drivers headed for the beautiful Ards Penninsula in county Down. Kirkistown Racing Circuit is a favourite amongst the drivers and teams alike. 

A new season brings a clean slate and a chance for those who missed out last season to go one better this year and also for the five newcomers, a chance to finally get racing after all their planning over the winter.

23-March-2024: Early leader Kieran Hannon, Leastone, leads Robert Flemming, Sheane, and Andy Keogh, Sheane, during the Tyredoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

Sadly 2023 Champion Sean McCallion was unable to start as his new car was not ready for this event but will back out for round two. This would give his rivals from last season a chance to gain a good point haul and that is what series sponsor Andy Keogh of TyreDoctor.ie aimed to do. 

Even with regining Champion McCallion missing it would be hard to call after qualifying as the top four of Kieran Hannan,Ger Byrne,Andy Keogh and Robert Flemming all qualifying closely to one another. Hannan was quickest with a 1.07.435 lap. 

Keogh got the jump off the line and lead into turn one with Hannan, Byrne, Flemming and newcomer cody keogh all tucked in behind. However the long straights of Kirkistown create a slipstream effect which sees places change several times a lap. By the hairpin Hannan was in the lead and began to build on it. As Keogh, Flemming and Byrne battled he had started to open a slight gap. 

It might have been the opening race but everyone was showing a good turn of speed with not an inch given. By the end of the fourth lap Hannan had opened a lead of four car lengths and was starting to look like he was heading out of sight to the men behind. Behind him Flemming, Byrne and Keogh swapped places in a great race. 

23-March-2024: Andy Keogh, Sheane, leads Ger Byrne, Sheane, on his way to winning the Tyredoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

The weather was also changing and the sunny blue skies were grey and cloudy as the rain began to fall. Then the safety car was brought out bringing everyone back together, not what leader Hannon wanted. A great move after the restart by Byrne to get past both Flemming and Keogh at the hairpin saw him move into second place and looked to have the speed to trouble the leader. Sadly though a distributor problem wrecked his chances and he dropped back down the field.

With the laps running out mistakes could not be made. Unfortunately for Hannan he outbraked himself at turn two and ran wide. Dropping down the field but came back strong to finish third but his chance of victory was gone. Keogh seized the opportunity with two laps to go took the lead and withheld the pressure from Flemming, who ended up outbraked himself at the hairpin on the final lap. Keogh held firm and took the chequered flag and his maiden win in Formula Vee. A deserving victory and drive that shows he is one to challenge for the championship this year. Flemming came home in second with Hannan in third.

23-March-2024: Ger Byrne, Sheane, leads Robert Flemming, Sheane, and Andy Keogh, on his way to winning the Tyredoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

23-March-2024: Robert Flemming, Sheane, leads Ger Byrne, Sheane, during the Tyredoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

 Speaking after the race Keogh was delighted to get his first win in Formula Vee. " It was a good race with the lads, I got a bit lucky with the safety car but its great to start the year with a win. Its been a very good weekend with a good haul of points for the championship but its still early days but the hard work over the winter has paid off but I will take it race by race as you dont know with these cars it can go wrong easily too."

23-March-2024: Andy Keogh, Sheane, leads Robert Flemming, Sheane, on his way to winning the Tyredoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

In the Ability I.T Rookie Championship melia had an impressive drive battling with Finn Gillespie for much of the race until  mistske by Gillespie ending the battle for the day. Behind  this Brian Hall who missed qualifying was on a charge. Starting dead last he drove superbly to work his way through the field and handled the restart well and moved up the field go into the lead and take the chequered flag. Great news for him bad for his rivals. Conor Melia also drove superbly mixing it with some of the B championship drivers to take second with Simon Rudd coming home in third. It is looking to be a close championship for the rookies all on similar pace and it is already going to be though to call for the championship.

23-March-2024:  Brian Hall, Sheane, on his way to winning the Ability I.T,  Formula Vee Rookie Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

23-March-2024: Andy Keogh, with his trophy after winning the Tyredoctor.ie Formula Vee B Championship Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture Barry Cregg.

Results:

Tyredoctor.ie B Championship

1st Andy Keogh

2nd Robert Flemming

3rd Kieran Hannon

Ability I.T Rookie Championship

1st Brian Hall

2nd Conor Melia

3rd Simon Rudd

Tohill Does the Double at IRX rounds 3 and 4

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, FOrd Fiesta, on his way to victory in the Superfinal. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture Barry Cregg.

Derek Tohill made it two wins from two at the wknd in Mondello Park, for rounds three and four of the partforcars.ie IRX Championship. On Saturday for round 3 the cold weather and eventual hail shower made life hard for competitors choosing the correct tyre and compound for the heats and finals. 

Hoping to build on his championship lead after winning the opening rounds. It looked good with a second place behind local man Tommy Graham in the opening heat and a win in the second but a collision with rival Michael Leonard in the third, through no fault of his own dropped him down in the times but he was still quicker enough to start from pole for the final. 

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, left, Ford Fiesta, leads John McCluskey, right, Ford Fiesta, with Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, and Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, into turn one during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

His thrusty Ford Fiesta known as 'Molly' had a few battle scars but he would have a lot more by the events end on sunday. A great start off the line gave him the lead into turn one and he was never headed although fellow ford driver John McCluskey kept him honest right to the chequered flag finished just under half a second behind. Another win in the Superfinal gave him a terrific double.

Sunday dawned for round four of the championship and it look as if the Tohill's good run came to and end in heat one. Yet another collision this time with rival McCluskey resulted in a broken rear suspension and a dnf. However the partsforcars.ie team worked their magic and had the car fixed in time for heat two. He repayed them with two second places in the following heats. The dnf earlier meant a second row start for the final though. A good start saw him move up to third going into turn one but a coming together with John McCluskey saw him loosing his front bumper and wing.

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, leads Darragh Morris, Subaru Impreza, during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Poor 'Molly' was looking very second hand but still seemed to be handling resonable enough to continue although crucial time lost to rival Leonard who was out front and looking strong. Try as he might Tohill could not cath him and had to take the runner up spot this time. For the Superfinal he would start in the middle of the front row sandwhiched between his two rivals who were also team-mates. Yet again the partsforcars,ie team worked wonders and 'Molly' was looking new again. Tohill got the start right and got the jump on his two rivals and lead into turn one.

Instead of working together the two Murray Motorsport run cars did not give each other an inch and as a result they collided and both ended up in the barriers exiting turn one. While McCluskey got back going Leonards races was over with his right rear wheel hanging offand pulled off track at turn three. Tohill was out front and by the end of lap two he was cruising. McCluskey battled his way back to fourth by the end. It was another Superfinal win for Tohill, to round out a hectic weekend's racing.

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, leads John McCluskey, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

02-March-2024; Derek Tohill, left, Ford Fiesta, leads John McCluskey, Ford Fiesta, with Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta and MIchael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, into turn one during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

A break to the 25th and 26th of May where the British championship travels over for a round of their championship and also to contest the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. An event not to be missed if last years was anything to go by, where local driver Tommy Graham took the win. Tohill will be out to add that trophy to the cabinet.