By Evan Dalton for LoveBallymena Local racing drivers Ronan Doherty and Sean McClements have had excellent years competing in the Irish Formula Vee Championship. The two cousins, residing on the outskirts of Ballymena, near Dunloy, both achieved great success racing in Mondello Park and Kirkistown. Doherty was victorious in the category's biggest race, th e‘Leinster Trophy.’ Dohertyt put his name on the famous cup alongside Formula 1 world champions Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen. McClements earned pole position for the final round of the championship, in just his second ever weekend competing. The two drivers first started their racing career racing on their computer, in what’s known as ‘sim racing.’ With thanks to the success of them both, Formula Vee Ireland are looking for more sim racers to join their field! Becoming a racing driver is not easy. From the moment you start in karts at a young age, and progress through low single seater categories, the cost involved is colossal. ...

  By Evan Dalton for Bwoah Motorsport and RTA Virtual Motorsport  After the trials and tribulations of Donington Park, the paddock embarked on an hour trip north to Little Budworth and the famous Oulton Park circuit. Up until 1973, racing was only permitted on Saturdays and bank holidays, but when Ireland’s Tuesday night entertainment calls, there’s only one answer, and the grid lined out for Round 4 of the RTA Virtual Motorsport Formula Vee Ireland Series.  If anyone ever asked you to describe the typical weather on November 11th, tonight’s qualifying session was the perfect example. The eyes of those who favour wet weather were gleaming, and specifically Dylan McClements who set the early pace. The rain was suspected to get lighter, and it did marginally, but the championship leader was able to take pole position for the second time this season, just ahead of his brother.  Just behind the McClements front row, was their cousin. Not exactly a shock in RTA to see. “O...

By Evan Dalton for Bwoah Motorsport and RTA Virtual Motorsport The sun was sweltering upon one of Britain’s popular rock festival venues, but tonight Donington Park was playing host to what it knows best - brilliant budget single seater racing.  The RTA Virtual Motorsport Formula Vee Ireland Series returned for Round 3 of the thrilling championship, with another trifecta of heats on offer. Two time champion Dylan McClements held the top of the standings upon arrival to the paddock, but plenty of drivers were in hot pursuit.  The early qualifying pace was once again set by Shaun McGoldrick, in similar fashion to the season opener, but it was Brandon McCaughan who denied the synchronised slipstream efforts of Conor Melia,  Sean McClements and Peter McCann, to take his first ever RTA pole position late in the session.  Heat 1 With lights out, the lead was immediately lost to Dylan McClements into the ‘Old Hairpin.’ McCaughan fought back and retook his place before the ‘...

  By Evan Dalton for RTA Virtual Motorsport and Bwoah Motorsport  Foreword - This review was wrote solely from the perspective of Peter McCann's onboard  As the stretch in the evenings slowly disappears, and the dark wintery nights loom large, one thing is bound to keep sim racers cosy in the October and November evenings and that is the return of RTA Virtual Motorsport. In a collaborative effort with Formula Vee Ireland, the RTA Formula Vee Ireland Series was born and sim racers across the country flocked to the entry forms in an attempt to impress in the virtual version of Ireland’s budget single seater class.  The virtual paddock arrived at Silverstone for three races at the famous circuit’s National variation. An iconic track in global single seater racing and RTA. Qualifying started in interesting fashion, with a sudden rush out of the pit lane resulting in contact between front runners left right and centre. With a lot of previous champions struggling to get la...

 By Evan Dalton for TheCollegeView Photo : The Journal A new policy announced today by Taoiseach Michael Martin states that the Irish Government will attempt to solve the housing crisis through a new four step plan, known as ‘NOWT.’  The new process, NOWT, which stands for Neglect, Overlook, Withhold Attention and Tune Out aims to address the current property deficit in the country. According to a report by stockbroker Davy prior to the 2024 General Election, Ireland needs at least 93,000 homes built a year, until 2031, to satisfy the current need. Initial figures released by the Department of Housing say that NOWT will fall 93,000 short of this figure in 2025 and 2026.  When asked by TheCollegeView in a press conference outside Leinster House, Martin told TheCollegeView that the inspiration for NOWT was inspired by former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey’s, “inspirational ability to ensure all aspects of policy were accounted for, and all areas of Government were above board.”...

By Evan Dalton for TheCollegeView Photo : Brynn Lennon Under the Singaporean night sky, in sweltering 31 degrees celsius, Zak Brown stood tall, with his chest out with pride, as his team became back-to-back Formula 1 Constructors Champions for the first time since 1991.  Brown took over the team as CEO in 2018, just two years after joining the firm, when Mclaren were near the bottom of the Formula 1 pecking order. Vocal outbursts from Fernando Alonso were more frequent than decent results but since then Brown has done exactly what he set out to do, bring Mclaren back to the top.  However, his personnel don't exactly share the same team spirit.  Current championship leader Oscar Piastri was in quite the opposite mood. So much so that when Brown came over the team radio to congratulate Piastri on his hard work, he pulled the cord out for a bit of post race peace and quiet. The Australian didn’t appear on the podium either for championship celebrations and was missing from t...