 |
| 23-March-2024: Gavin Buckley holds up his trophy after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg. |
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
No comments:
Post a Comment