Current Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Jonny McMullan resumed his BRSCC National Formula Ford 1600 Championship challenge at Brands Hatch.

Carrying his front running pace from Oulton Park into Friday’s test at Brands Hatch, McMullan was confident he could set the pace of the field when racing got underway on Saturday.

Saturday’s started with Qualifying and  McMullan hit the track early and immediately made his intention’s for the weekend clear setting the fastest time to secure pole position for race one. The Antrim based driver quickly followed the lap up with the second fastest time of the session to secure a pole position start for the second and final race of the day also.

McMullan produced a master class in defensive driving, feeling the heat from several drivers for the race lead throughout the 20-minute session. The bunched up pack behind him would eventually end up colliding, bringing the race to an abrupt end with a red flag. However by then, McMullan had opened a 1.3 second lead to win the race and crucially move back into the championship lead.

Starting race two again from pole position, McMullan broke away from the field, by the half way point in the race Jonny had opened up a lead almost five seconds clear of his nearest rival. Crucially for his championship bid, his nearest challenger Patrick Dussault was having a weekend to forget finishing outside the top six in race one and earning a ten second penalty in race two for a start line infringement. Out in front however, McMullan looked fully in control behind the wheel of his Dunlop and Motorsport Ireland supported Van Diemen Formula Ford to take his second win of the day with the bonus of also securing the fastest lap of the race.

Afterwards Jonny McMullan said: “That was an absolutely mega weekend. We had very good pace all day on Friday, and went quickest in every session. It was a perfect weekend. Huge thanks to Motorsport Ireland, Irish Sports Council and Dunlop. Also a big thanks to Bernard Dolan, Morgan Dempsey and dad for a faultless car all weekend.”