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| Gavin Buckley 2024 Selco.ie Formula Vee Champion. |
Sadly recent Leinster trophy winner Ronan Doherty did not enter but former champion Anthony Cross made his return to the series for the first time this year and showed no signs of rust by taking pole position with a brilliant time of 1.05.182..Colm Blackburn and Dan Polley also would be ones to watch as both had nothing to play for. The Tyredoctor.ie 'B' Championship was also down to the wire between Kieran Hannan and Andy Keogh. So it would be an exciting race for both championships.
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| Gavin Buckley and Colm Blackburn battled for the lead in the opening laps. |
As the lights went out it was Colm Blackburn who got a lightning start and lead the field through turn one ahead of Cross but Buckley was right behind and slotted into second by turn two. As always in the early laps in Kirkistown the field is one big freight train with everyone tucked into each others tow. Buckley wasn't for hanging around and took the lead on lap two putting Blackburn, Cross and Polley between him and Byrne.
With Buckley out of reach the race was for second and try as he might Byrne couldn't get past Blackburn over the next few laps. Cross tried to get past both at the hairpin but it didn't work out but was right there if anything happened between the two ahead. Then with a three of laps to go he Byrne got past at turn one and it looked like he could now pull away but a dive down the inside at the hairpin saw him briefly take second but Byrne got him on the switchback. Then on the last lap a move at turn two saw Blackburn back to second which he held to the line. However it was Buckley's day and year as he took the chequered flag to take his third win at Kirkistown and the championship with it. A well deserved victor who has been knocking on the door for the title in the last three years. And for someone who is a couple of years away from the free travel pass he has shown no signs of slowing down. It is thought he is the oldest Formula Vee champion too date, a record I'm sure he will hold for quiet a while.
While they were going for the championship the rest were out for the glory but could play a big part in the outcome.
Byrne had to work quick and get by the men in front to stay with the leader and not let him get away.A great exit from the chicane allowed him a run down to the hairpin and a brilliant move on the outside of Polley and Cross saw him up to third. A lap later he tried the same move on Blackburn but it didnt work. He got a better run down the straight and a dive down the inside at turn two saw him get through but was unable to hold the line and Blackburn got past again. All this let Buckley make a break for it and he pulled out a gap enough to cause those behind to loose the tow.
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| While Gavin Buckley broke away in the lead, top, Jack Byrne and Colm Blackburn had a titanic battle the whole race, above. |
With Buckley out of reach the race was for second and try as he might Byrne couldn't get past Blackburn over the next few laps. Cross tried to get past both at the hairpin but it didn't work out but was right there if anything happened between the two ahead. Then with a three of laps to go he Byrne got past at turn one and it looked like he could now pull away but a dive down the inside at the hairpin saw him briefly take second but Byrne got him on the switchback. Then on the last lap a move at turn two saw Blackburn back to second which he held to the line. However it was Buckley's day and year as he took the chequered flag to take his third win at Kirkistown and the championship with it. A well deserved victor who has been knocking on the door for the title in the last three years. And for someone who is a couple of years away from the free travel pass he has shown no signs of slowing down. It is thought he is the oldest Formula Vee champion too date, a record I'm sure he will hold for quiet a while.
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| Gavin Buckley on his way to the 2024 Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship |
Speaking after the race which he made look easy, the delighted Dubliner said it was close to going all wrong in the dying stages;
" I am delighted to get the win here today. It was close all year between myself, Jack and Colm. It was far from easy though. I thought with two laps to go it was going to go all wrong. I could heard a noise getting worse with a few laps to go and it turned out to be a headstud that cracked. I wasn't sure weather to slow down or keep the pace the same. If I slowed the others could catch back up but if I kept up the same pace it could go wrong. So I just prayed to god that it held together and it did. It's been a great year and a huge thanks goes to Adam McAuley who runs the car and for making it so reliable all year. I have been close to taking the championship before but it just didn't happen for different reasons but to finally get it now is great."
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| Further battles down the field top, Ger Byrne leads Niall O'Mara, Paul Lewis leads Conor Melia, Eamon Thornton, Kieran Hannan, leads Dan Polley on his way to the 'B' Championship and Charlie Hart leads Owen Kelly on his way to the rookie championship race win. |
In the Tyredoctor.ie championship battle Kiearn Hannan took the victory. He ran right up with the front runner again showing the progress he had made this year. Finishing fifth ahead of Dan Polley he took the title in style. His rival Andy Keogh didn't get the start he wanted to get near Hannan but had a great battle with Ger Byrne, Conor Melia and Niall O'Mara.
Charlie Hart already crowned this years rookie champion had a great battle with Owen Kelly all race but just lost out on seventh place to the Donegal man.
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| Charlie Hart with his team after winning the Ability IT Rookie Championship |
Results:
Selco.ie National Championship
1st Gavin Buckley
2nd Colm Blackburn
3rd Jack Byrne
Tyredoctor.ie 'B' Championship
1st Kieran Hannan
2nd Owen Kelly
3rd Paul Lewis
Ability IT Rookie Championship
1st Charlie Hart
2nd Conor Melia
3rd Simon Rudd
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