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