RUNCORN, England – Niall Murray has been confirmed as winner of the 2016 BRSCC Avon Tyres Formula Ford 1600 National Championship, which concluded recently at Croft Circuit in north Yorkshire, and will represent the series in the inaugural Mazda Road to Indy $200K USF2000 Scholarship Shootout at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on December 6/7.
Murray, from Dublin, Ireland, has packed a tremendous amount of success into his 21 years. He gained success initially in junior rallycross, then won the 2010 Ginetta Junior Ireland title in his first season of car racing. He switched to open-wheel cars in 2013, winning the coveted Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and being named as the Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year.
He gained more success the following year, winning the Northern Ireland FF1600 championship before branching out into saloon car racing and winning the SEAT Supercup Ireland in 2015.
The prospect of an invitation to the Mazda Road to Indy shootout lured Murray back to FF1600 in 2016, in conjunction with veteran racer Bernard Dolan’s team. After encountering some misfortune in the opening two races at Oulton Park, he proceeded to dominate the results thereafter, failing only twice to stand on the top step of the podium in the remaining 14 races.
“The rest of the season went mostly according to plan and I ended with 12 wins, six out of eight pole positions, 11 fastest laps and two lap records from 16 races,” noted Murray. “Thanks to Bernard, Sam and David for their help all year in running the car brilliantly, and the fact that I have been on the pace at every circuit and without having any mechanical failures at all is a testament to the time and detail Bernard puts into the cars between races.
“I am really looking forward to going to the iconic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in December to compete against champions from around the world for a prize of $200,000 to compete in the 2017 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and represent the BRSCC FF1600 Championship.”
“Niall has conducted himself very professionally and in a sportsmanlike manner over the course of a long, hard and competitive season – as well as being a standout race car driver,” added BRSCC FF1600 championship coordinator Ian Smith. “He has been a splendid ambassador for our championship and I am sure he will show his qualities at the upcoming shootout.”
Prior to then, Murray will be competing in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, England, on October 22/23, followed by the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone on November 5/6.
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