Ronan Doherty Stars on Vee Debut Season

The 2023 LOH Motorsport Formula Vee Star of Tomorrow Championship stats make interesting reading. Newcomer Ronan Doherty, once he dropped his single DNF, took a maximum score, annihilating the opposition on his way to the title. Nothing too unusual there, you might say, as we often see fast novices arriving in our sport. This time though, it was a little bit different.

Formula Vee, for the last number of years has been incredibly competitive at the front of the grid. Names like Anthony Cross, Colm Blackburn, Dan Polley, Lee Newsome and Gavin Buckley are top class single seater racers. They neither ask nor give any quarter and are probably capable of running at the front of any other class, should the opportunity arise. As a result, the front running B class racers and the C, or Star of Tomorrow, runners are unlikely to get near them without plenty of experience and track time. Or so we thought…  Enter Ronan Doherty. Well known in the Sim racing community, the son of well known Vee engine builder, team owner and former Vee racer Damian, he was a virtual unknown in the paddock when he arrived at the opening round at the start of the year. A fifth place finish overall was enough to get the Kirkistown paddock talking but at the next round at Bishopscourt, he was first across the line to take maximum points and throw his hat in the ring for the Selco A championship, as well as the LOH Star of Tomorrow rookie series. This form carried on throughout the season, with the Ballymena driver, if anything, getting even stronger as the season went on. By the end of the season, the newbie had dominated the Rookie Series, won the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy,finished runner up in the overall title, and without a heart breaking mechanical failure, might well have been the latest name on the famous Leinster Trophy.

Ronan Doherty: “It’s been a fantastic season, a rented car and its quirks held us back early on, but after Anglesey the car was flying and I had a very easy job of driving it. To come out of the season second  in the overall Vee Championship, winning the Rookie championship and the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy is a dream. We struggled early on for power, not getting my engine built until May, alongside with many carb issues was a learning experience but my Dad, along with all the lads, did a great job in getting the car up to speed, and I had my first National win by Bishopscourt, in my third weekend racing.”

A few “ifs and buts” such as a penalty in Mondello in June, an unfortunate incident in Mondello in March when Sean Newsome’s pedal went to the floor, a silly spin in Anglesey costing me a win and of course the breakdown in the Leinster Trophy. It could have looked even better this year with potentially the overall Championship and the Leinster Trophy, but racing is full of disappointments

The pace in the second half of the season was mega, the car was very good in all conditions, we had the most wins of any driver, taking four in the last six. (This could have been six , if not for the Leinster Trophy DNF and that spin in Anglesey). Also, I’m very happy to have won all three wet races this year. The team is mega! My Dad has a wealth of knowledge, alongside my uncle Niall and mechanics ; Joe Dowds, Uel McMillan and Alan Whitty. It was a very competitive year with five former champions on the grid and many more former race winners.

I would like to thank my sponsors: Peden Auto Security, 3D Contracts, Zest Fire Security and Laurence Dusoswa.”