THE GREAT RACE at Kirkistown
The motorsport focus will be on Kirkistown circuit on Saturday October 3 as the 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland hosts the Martin Donnelly Trophy meeting supported by Ards & North Down Borough Council.
Formula Ford 1600 cars are set to contest for what has become one of the major awards in Northern Ireland motorsport and the leading drivers in this class of motor racing will do battle over Irelands fastest race circuit.
Formula Ford 1600 is the class of motor racing which launched the careers of drivers such as Eddie Irvine and Martin Donnelly jnr. Both going on to reach the peak of racing – F1.
More than 20 cars have entered and in the line up, the recently crowned Northern Ireland Formula Ford Champion Jake Byrne; the young Irish driver proved to be the one to beat at the County Down circuit this season, taking more race wins than anyone else and he is the firm favourite to win the Martin Donnelly Trophy.
Jonny McMullan from Newtownabbey has had few races at his home venue this season; driving the Motorsport Ireland Van Diemen he has already landed the All Ireland Formula Ford Championship, taking the honours at the recent Leinster Trophy meeting at Mondello Park and he currently leads the National Formula Ford Championship which has seen him compete at several of the top UK circuits.
Could the 2014 Martin Donnelly Trophy winner Alan Davidson make it two in a row, already having tasted victory this year at Kirkistown, driving the Hugh Reid Mondiale, the double is very much on the cards.
Adding a touch of glamour to the line up, formerly from Newcastle and now resident in County Kildare Jennifer Mullan will be mixing it with the boys and she has already a class championship in her trophy cabinet. Other drivers to watch the Campbells Henry and Ryan, James Roe and Kevin O’Hara.
While much attention will be on the Martin Donnelly Trophy action there will be an excellent support programme which will see the new SEAT Supercup Ireland cars in action for the first time at Kirkistown, they will be featured in a split grid with the Kirkistown Saloons. Also on the programme the highly entertaining Roadsports, Formula Vees and while they may not be the fastest cars on the day, expect lap by lap action from the Ford Fiestas.
This is one race meeting that is not to be missed.
Picture caption: Jake Byrne the 2015 Northern Ireland Formula Ford Champion in action
