Byrne back on top with third win in four races - Formula Vee Round 5

 Byrne back on top with third win in four races 


Jack Byrne at the front and flying in Bishopscourt | Photos by @RaceDayDori  


The sun returned to the Mourne mountains ahead of Round 5 of the Irish Formula Vee Championship. As per tradition, the grid was set by drivers’ second fastest lap in qualifying. Nothing here was unusual, the irregularity could be found by casting eyes on who the pole sitter was. The returning John O’Hara. 


O’Hara first tackled Formula Vee 29 years ago, winning ‘Most Promising Newcomer.’ His absence from the grid certainly wasn’t one that went unnoticed, as O’Hara found himself in headlines across the world. Inside the cockpit he won various titles across national and global single seater classes, and in the directors office of Pinnacle Motorsport, he won the Macau Grand Prix.


The field may have been surprised at a returning driver taking pole position, but most weren’t perplexed solely due to the resume of the competitor who did it. 


Championship leader Jack Byrne lined up alongside the Kildare man, with Jordan Kelly, race winner earlier in the day, in third. It was time for a duel in Downpatrick. 


First blood was drawn by neither of the three. Colm Blackburn took the lead on the opening lap. Blackburn and Bishopscourt is like a jigsaw, it just clicks. Heading into 2026, he was undefeated in five races at the venue. 


The Dubliner often makes his own luck around here and cleans out the house like it’s his home away from home, but every gambler receives a stark reminder that the dealer counts his cards and Blackburn faced an unfortunate spin on the second lap of proceedings. He would recover to ninth. 


The grid heading down to Turn 1. At the front, Blackburn attacks Byrne | Photos by @RaceDayDori  



O’Hara, Byrne and Kelly continued on, and the gloves slowly came off. O’Hara and Kelly traded blows through each chicane, and were never afraid to go side by side through Bishopscourt’s high speed sweeps. If Kelly spotted a gap, he went for it, but O’Hara’s experience prevailed and he was able to stay in front.


Further back, TIm Murray Racing’s Kieran Hannan found himself outside the top five. Hannan showed excellent pace in Saturday practice and didn’t fancy the trip back down south without demonstrating some of his capabilities to the field. Hannan got past Keogh and sat behind the top four and was a keen spectator of the fight at the front. 


Byrne wrangled his way past Kelly, and set his sights on O’Hara. He set up the pass into the same chicane he made his move on the LOH Motorsport man in the previous race. It was a beauty, and perfectly timed, giving Byrne a moment's breath to build a gap. 


As soon as Kelly and O’Hara became focused on Byrne taking the lead, Kieran ‘Jaws’ Hannan played his cards, mixing it amongst the duo. The nickname may not  stick, but the overtakes certainly did, and Hannan emerged in second place. 


The battle for the podium was exhilarating. It was pristine and perfect Formula Vee racing. Remarkably it wasn’t the only close run affair, with two Tyredoctor.ie B Championship winners fighting behind. Conor Melia and Sean McCallion picked up where they left off in the season opener in Kirkistown. 2026 has been difficult for Melia, and he may feel the results have stagnated in comparison to the lofty heights of 2025. Despite losing the sequel to McCallion, he can vacate Bishopscourt with his head held high after truly leaving everything on the asphalt. 


Conor Melia and Stephen Morrin push the No.56 car back through the paddock | Photos by @RaceDayDori  



Kelly and O’Hara continued on the fight for the final podium position. The Donegal native just managed to out-tussle O’Hara, and claim his second podium finish of the day.


Jordan Kelly chases after John O’Hara| Photos by @RaceDayDori  



With lots of clean air ahead, Byrne was really on fire at the front. He drove off into the emerging sunshine and never looked back. Byrne took the chequered flag over four seconds ahead of Hannan in second.


“It feels great,” said Byrne post race. “I didn’t expect it with the weather and didn’t know where we were.”


“John O’Hara made his car very wide. It was tough to get by.” 


Whether it be the thrill of a race victory, or the knowledge that Bishopscourt misfortune was now put behind him, Byrne’s smile seemed a little bit stronger in ‘Parc Ferme.’ Byrne was the victim of a horror accident at this very circuit in 2023.


“There’s a bit of history here so it’s nice to come away with positive, happy memories,” commented the Wicklow man.


There is no better way to conclude a chapter than with a story of domination. Byrne’s eyes are firmly forward now as he leads the Irish Formula Vee National Championship. 


Jack Byrne is joined on the podium by Kieran Hannan and Jordan Kelly | Photos by @RaceDayDori  



Full Top 10 

  1. Byrne

  2. Hannan

  3. Kelly

  4. O’Hara

  5. Keogh

  6. McCallion

  7. Melia

  8. Lewis

  9. Blackburn

  10. Murray


Fastest Lap : 1.18.901 [Byrne]


Tyredoctor.ie B Championship Podium

  1. Kelly

  2. O’Hara

  3. Keogh


Rookie Championship Podium

  1. Slevin

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