Jason Smyth becomes first ever back-to-back FFord Festival winner

Photo: Ida Wood

Jason Smyth became the first ever back-to-back winner of the Formula Ford Festival a week ago.

Jordan Dempsey had won heat one from pole, with Smyth doing the same in heat two. Leo Robinson climbed three spots to win heat three, and in heat four Nial Murray charged from 18th to victory.

Having retired from heat two, Rory Smith had to take the long way to the semi-finals and won the progression race from 22nd on the grid. He rose from 23rd to sixth in semi-final one but retired on the last lap and Dempsey was victorious by 0.282 seconds ove Anthony Amato. Smyth pipped Murray by 0.103s to win semi-final two, with George Quartermaine completing a Team Dolan podium lockout.

Smyth and Dempsey shared the final’s front row, and ran by side-by-side until the opening corner where Smyth cemented himself ahead. Murray squabbled behind, then the safety car appeared due to Tom Nippers crashing out.

Red flags waved, and on the restarted lap one Dempsey nosed ahead on the outside. But the inside line was better for Paddock Hill Bend and Smyth led the way. Murray got into third again, with Quartermaine fighting Ben Cochran for fifth.

The top two fled, and Dempsey made two passing attempts on lap two. His second one brought Murray alongside, then onto the grass.

Murray moved into second place on lap three, shortly before the safety car was summoned again as team-mate Stephen O’Connor crashed out and Sam Street stopped off-track.

Action resumed on lap seven, with the race length extended to 23 laps. There was drama next time by as Smyth got very defensive against Murray up Hailwoods, made contact with him and sent him spinning. Dempsey then got alongside Smyth, but also ended up off-track briefly and lost second to Amato at Surtees. After pitting, Murray rejoined the race two laps down but later retired.

Dempsey reclaimed second into Paddock Hill Bend on lap nine but ran wide and lost it again as Smyth escaped.

He repeated his move on lap 10, made it stick, and was back on Smyth’s gearbox by lap 14. He pressured him hard, with Amato also on his tail, and the pair looked either side of the leader into Paddock Hill Bend on laps 16, 17 and 18.

Further back, Swift Cooper’s Luke Cooper gradually closed in on Cochran and Quartermaine and he gained a spot when the latter retired in the run-off on lap 15.

They were back with the leading trio by lap 18, and Dempsey had to defend from Amato up Hailwoods as the pressure ramped up with five laps to go. Amato got alongside twice, but then had Cochran on his inside through Clark Curve and that freed Dempsey to focus on Smyth.

When Smyth switched lines up Hailwoods on lap 20 the result was a close shave for Dempsey, who was overtaken by Amato at McLaren.

Amato eyed the outside of Smyth at Paddock Hill Bend on lap 21, and Cochran cleared Dempsey at Druids but they swapped places again a lap later.

The four-way fight culminated on the last lap with an off for Amato costing him two spots, and Dempsey going to Smyth’s inside through Clark Curve before his rival chopped him off to win and set up a three-wide photo finish for second. Dempsey prevailed by 0.019s over Amato, with Cochran 0.007s off a podium finish.

Race results (23 laps)