McMullan sets the pace at Oulton Park
Oulton Park, Cheshire, UK – Sunday 24th May 2015: Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Jonny McMullan travelled to Oulton Park for rounds five and six of the 2015 BRSCC National Formula Ford Championship. The Irish Sports Council supported driver lead the series coming into the weekend, and having come away from the same venue on Easter weekend with a double victory, was brimming with confidence.
Friday testing couldn’t have gone much better for the Northern Irish Driver, finishing the day comfortably the fastest driver in the field.
McMullan and his Motorsport Ireland supported team continued their dominance on Saturday morning in Qualifying. McMullan set a time under the class lap record early in the session that looked like it wouldn’t be beaten. Towards the end of the session however, David McArthur came within two tenths of McMullan’s time, but it was too little too late as the chequered flag fell, Jonny having done enough to secure pole position for both of the day’s races.
Despite leading the field into the first corner for race one, at the end of the opening lap Jonny found himself slipping to second. However lap four would be the unfortunate turning point in McMullan’s race, as he was forced to take to the grass to avoid a mistake from David McArthur just in front. Returning to the circuit in 13th, Jonny set off on a superb recovery drive that saw him set the fastest lap of the race on route to finishing sixth at the chequered flag.
Hoping to make amends for race one, McMullan once again set off from pole position for the second and final race of the weekend. Struggling off the line as the lights went out, McMullan slotted into third in a tightly packed first corner. McMullan moved ahead of McArthur into second on lap two and setting the fastest lap of the race at that point showed just how keen he was to get back in front. Now locked onto the gearbox of main championship rival, Patrick Dussault, a classic Formula Ford battle was about to commence before being temporarily halted for a lengthy Safety Car period. On lap six, racing got back underway as McMullan resumed his charge for the lead. Initially coming under pressure from Luke Williams from behind, Jonny managed to break away and back into a position to challenge for the lead. Despite a number of challenges on the final lap, Dussault had his bases firmly covered to take the win with McMullan crossing the line in second.
Jonny McMullan – #5 Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Van Diemen Formula Ford 1600:
“The weekend got off to a good start getting pole by nearly two tenths. Unfortunalty the races were a bit more difficult. We got caught out in race one by taking avoiding action through Island bend which put me down to 13th place before I worked my way back up to sixth with the fastest lap of the race. In race two I fell to third at the start and unfortunately we just had a few too many laps under the safety car to mount a serious challenge for the lead from second after the restart. There’s still lots of positives to take from the weekend, we were under the lap record in qualifying and set the pace in almost every session this weekend. Thank you to Bernard, Morgan and my Dad giving me a great car all weekend and of course to Motorsport Ireland, Dunlop and the Irish Sports Council for their support.”
