Former Ginetta Junior Ireland Champion turned single-seater winner Niall Murray embarked on his biggest challenge of the 2013 season so far, making the trip to Brands Hatch for the famous Formula Ford Festival. An event that’s seen the likes of Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Northern Ireland’s Eddie Irvine all go on to become Formula 1 winners, is considered to be one of Formula Ford’s toughest races to win, even for the most accomplished drivers.
Murray’s weekend began with testing on Thursday and Friday at the Kent circuit with weather conditions playing havoc with setup throughout the two days. Changing from wet to dry on several occasions and no clear indication what way it would go for the weekend meant that every session was crucial to try and identify that sweet spot in his setup for every outcome.
Niall and his Murray Motorsport team found that sweet spot for wet conditions as he qualified his Van Diemen second on the grid for Saturday afternoon’s heat. A good start off the line allowed him to remain in second for the majority of the race before contact put Murray into the gravel. Getting his car back onto the circuit he noticed that his steering was now damaged from the impact but nevertheless pushed on to cross the finish line in sixth position.
Starting in sixth position for Sunday morning’s semi-final, Niall now had to adjust his car and style to dry conditions at Brands Hatch. Undeterred by the change, he got a good start off the line and by the second lap was already up to third position. Doing his best to close the gap to the lead pair of Noel Dunne and Oliver White, Murray closed a gap of over two seconds to just over half a second as they crossed the finish line.
The most anticipated race in any Formula Ford driver’s career approached – the Formula Ford Festival Final. Run over 20 laps, Niall had qualified his Murray Motorsport supported car in fifth position from the morning’s combined semi-final times. A good start off the line was slightly hampered when the cars bunched up coming into Druids. Now back to sixth, he quickly mounted a challenge for fifth coming into Clearways and duly completed the move coming onto Brabham straight. Next on the cards was Joey Foster for fourth. Coming out of Graham Hill bend, he got alongside the UK driver and in a drag race up to Surtees managed to complete the move into fourth. The Safety Car was then deployed for three laps to allow Marshals to clear an incident on circuit, which was just what Murray needed to bunch up the field. After the restart, he was now in hot pursuit of former Festival winner Wayne Boyd. Eventually getting a superb run up the inside on the exit of Paddock Hill Bend, he completed the move coming into Druids to move into third. Murray followed that up with a similar move on Oliver White promoting the young Irishman into second position. Now following the very experienced Noel Dunne, yet another former Festival winner, Niall knew it would be tricky to find a way past. However on lap 12, Murray was becoming somewhat a master of the inside moves at Druids and made yet another superb dive up the inside and into the lead of the race. Clearly setting the pace, he went onto open a slender advantage at the front. However, Boyd who was making a surprise return to Formula Ford was only out for victory and quickly closed the gap down. Murray appeared to have the advantage coming out of Graham Hill bend on each lap to secure his lead, but Boyd had now set the fastest lap of the race and was mounting a challenge for the lead coming into Paddock Hill bend. Running wide and into the gravel, Murray was now able to secure his advantage at the head of the field. Exiting Clearways for the final time, Murray punched the air as he took the flag and added his name to the History Books as a Formula Ford Festival winner.
Speaking after the race, an ecstatic Niall said, “I’m lost for words to be honest. I’m absolutely delighted to have won this race but I cannot thank everyone enough who have helped and supported me throughout the year. Most of the credit must go to Eoin, my dad Joe and Pauly at Murray Motorsport for a superb job on the car all year. Noel Dunne has been a huge help to us also. Of course my sponsors who’ve been fantastic and without them this would only ever remain a dream, Murray Motorsport, SuperB Lithium Batteries, CL Brakes, Schroth and P1 : Digital. Now it’s time to focus on the Walter Hayes Trophy next weekend in Silverstone!”