Super Sean McClements Takes Maiden Vee Victory - 2026 Round 1 Review

By Evan Dalton for Formula Vee Ireland


Sean McClements During The B/C Race | Photo by Jimmy Graham


It was the day of destiny for Sean McClements, who claimed his first Formula Vee National Championship victory in the opening round of the season at Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit. 


The 19 year old from Dunloy, Co.Antrim, took the race win in both Round 1 of the National Championship, and the opening B/C class race of the year with two stellar drives. 


Kirkistown, located on the Ards peninsula, returned as the series opening round after a brief hiatus in 2024. The 1.5 mile circuit boasts high speeds and close slipstream battling, amongst a plethora of tricky corners and the ever difficult ‘John Crossle Chicane.’ 


Rainy showers were appearing throughout the morning, but qualifying ran unaffected and in dry conditions. Two time champion Gavin Buckley, who only vacated the ski slopes on Thursday, was instantly on the pace in his AMAC Racing machine. He qualified on pole position with a 1.05.838, almost five tenths better than the next best effort. 


Despite going faster than his pole position time from the season finale in Kirkistown last season, McClements would line out behind Buckley. The No.47 suffered a misfire during the session in his brand new engine. Kieran Hannan left it late, but snatched third. 


Before the national championship event took place, it was time for the TyreDoctor.ie B Championship and Rookie Championship race. 


McClements and SM Racing’s Niall O’Mara started on the front row, but the fastest starter of the field was Lee Flynn who got ahead of O’Mara before ‘Debtors Dip.’ Aaron Murray also got ahead of the Fethard native. 


The experienced Andy Keogh, in his brand new Leastone chassis, was able to navigate past Murray and O’Mara on the opening lap, with a move on Flynn into ‘Colonial One’ on Lap 2 to follow. 


O’Mara and Flynn, both good friends within the Vee paddock, left all allegiances aside for the remainder of the race as the fight continued for the final podium position. It was almost an early end to the race for Flynn, as he went for the move around the outside of O’Mara through the high speed first corner. His No.43 chassis slid, but cat-like reactions from the 2025 Rookie Championship runner up managed to keep him ahead, and get the overtake completed for good measure. 


Andy Keogh leads Niall O’Mara, Lee Flynn and Aaron Murray down the main straight | Photo by Jimmy Graham


Rotax Senior Max 177 karting champion Harry Fagan was running competitively in his first ever single seater race, when trouble hit and he pulled into the pits after just six laps completed. 


He wouldn’t be the only retiree, as Keogh suffered a mechanical issue and was forced to pull off on the final lap. A disastrous end to a very promising start. 


But it was all smooth sailing for McClements, who claimed his first B/C race win. Lee Flynn pipped a nose cone-less Niall O’Mara for second, who was dead even with Murray on the line for third, but was the benefitting factor of the photo finish. With McClements still in the rookie championship for 2026, Flynn was determined the TyreDoctor.ie B Championship winner, on his first race in the class.


The sun arrived for the opening race of the National Championship, and the pit wall was filled. It was time for a true test of off season preparations, with all competitors looking to lay a marker down ahead of a long year. Buckley and McClements lined up alongside each other for the second time in their careers, this time actually on row one, with Hannan and Sean McCallion behind. 


McClements, having already completed one race start, got the jump on Buckley, and was alongside through the opening corner. Buckley was able to outbrake the youngster, and keep the race lead. It was a dire start for the Tim Murray Racing car of Hannan, who plummeted down the order. 


As if things couldn’t get worse for the Dubliner, he would end up in the wall at ‘Maguire’s Hairpin,’ due to a stuck throttle. The tyre barriers were dislodged, but thankfully Hannan was ok. The race remained under green flag conditions. 


The podium fight became a double act. Buckley vs McClements for first, and a handful of seconds behind was McCallion and the most recent winner of a Vee race, Conor Melia, fighting for third. 


McClements and his chief mechanic, or better known as his father, Niall Doherty, had the car tuned up beautifully, and he was able to use a lot more of the kerb at the chicane to get the run on Buckley. The champion broke last, and took a wide exit out of the hairpin, clipping the grass with his rear wheel and rotating his car round straight into the path of McClements. McClements weaved instantly, nudging the front of Buckley, but remaining pointed in the right direction, with no damage. A gift from the racing gods, for arguably the first time in his short Vee career. 


Buckley rejoined the race behind Melia and McCallion, but quickly dispatched the pair. He settled into a rhythm in second place, consistently lapping in the 1.05’s. 


While all the drama occurred up the front, O’Mara and Flynn revived their fight from earlier on in the day. O’Mara was running a new nose cone, a sparkly white colour as opposed to his black chassis. It didn’t last long however, and was clipped off with a handful of minutes left in the race. 


There wasn’t an ounce of effort that Melia didn’t throw at McCallion, but the James Friel built car just got away when it needed to. McCallion, 2023 B Champion, came home to take his first National Championship podium in third place with one of his best ever drives. 


The attention was on the other Sean Mc however, who weaved his way across the line to win his first ever Formula Vee National Championship race, in just his fourth round. 


“Over the moon with two wins today,” said McClements post race. “It was a great day and an incredible start to the season.” I also set a new lap record with the Toyo tires which I’m also over the moon with.”


McClements became the latest of the Dunloy racing clan to win in Irish Formula Vee, after his cousin Ronan Doherty won the 2025 Leinster Trophy in Mondello Park, as well as 8 championship rounds. Doherty won on his third attempt in the national championship, with McClements taking pole in his third, and a win in his fourth. 


Ronan Doherty and Niall Doherty Speaking With Cousin Sean McClements During Friday Testing. Behind, Christy Morrin speaks with Conor Melia | Photo By Jimmy Graham


Next up for Irish Formula Vee is Mondello Park on April 18th. 


Irish Formula Vee National Championship


1st - Sean McClements


2nd - Gavin Buckley


3rd - Sean McCallion


Fastest Lap : Sean McClements [1.05.359]


Tyredoctor.ie B Championship


1st - Lee Flynn


2nd - Niall O’Mara


3rd - Aaron Murray


Fastest Lap : Niall O’Mara [1.07.819]


Rookie Championship


1st - Sean McClements


Fastest Lap : Sean McClements [1.05.640]


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