Perfect Day at Kirkistown for Byrne

Kildare’s Jake Byrne had the perfect day in Kirkistown, Northern Ireland on Saturday as he took pole position and two strong wins in Formula Ford 1600.

Driving his Ray GR13, the Punchestown Festival backed driver had been looking forward to a strong showing on the fast former airfield circuit on the Ards Peninsula.  Testing had gone well during the week and Jake was happy with the car. Having qualified on pole position, he made no mistakes to lead the pack away and, unusually in the closely fought Formula Ford class, was untroubled on the way to win number one. Race two was pretty much a carbon copy with Jake crossing the line well clear of his nearest challenger to take win number two and also the lead of the Northern Ireland Formula Ford Championship

Jake Byrne: “I’m delighted with that. ABR gave me a good car and everything clicked today. Testing went well and to get two pole positions, two strong wins and two fastest laps is fantastic! To come away leading the NI Formula Ford Championship is great too- not a bad day at all!”

Jake will take a break from his studies this week as he visits the Punchestown Festival- an event which attracts over 100,000 people to Kildare each year.

Jake Byrne’s next race is at Oulton Park in Cheshire on May 23rd.

Image from Raceline Photography.

FORMULA FORD 1600 RACE 1 (12 laps):
1 Jake Byrne (Ray GR13) 12m 30.15s, 87.07 mph,
2 Alan Davidson (Mondiale M89S) 12m 38.97s,
3 Tom O’Connor (Van Diemen RF90),
4 Johnnie Mulholland (Van Diemen RF91),
5 Miles James (Ray GR14),
6 Arnie Black (Crossle 32F).
Fastest Lap: Byrne 1m 01.54s, 88.45 mph.

FORMULA FORD 1600 RACE 2 (16 laps):
1 Jake Byrne (Ray GR13) 16m 39.24s, 87.16 mph,
2 Adrian Pollock (Van Diemen DP08) 16m 45s,
3 Alan Davidson (Mondiale M89S),
4 Johnnie Mulholland (Van Diemen RF91),
5 Miles James (Ray GR14),
6 Tom O’Connor (Van Diemen RF90).
Fastest Lap: Byrne 1m 01.61s, 88.35 mph.