Photos from Formula Vee Ireland’s post Jordan Kelly first started racing with us in 2019. Doing a couple of races, getting a feel for the car and the tracks, Jordan was then ready to re-join us for the Motorsport.ie Star of Tomorrow Championship in 2020. And what a season he had!
Finishing 2nd in the Motorsport.ie Star of Tomorrow Championship, and having had multiple Selco.ie National Championship podium finishes, we asked Jordan to tell us how the season went from his point of view.
This is the most comprehensive overview of a season’s racing that we’ve had in a long long time, so huge thanks to Jordan for sharing that with us, and we look forward to seeing him back on the grid in 2021!
“We’ve come to the end of the 2020 season racing and what a year its been. The global pandemic made it a very short season, but a great season nonetheless with some great safe racing between everyone, both on and off the track.
Last year I managed to get my toes wet in Formula Vee. I think I finished maybe 4 or 5 races. There were ups and downs the whole way, as I had an engine blow up in qualifying for the Bishopscourt meeting. That wasn’t ideal, but a month later we went to Anglesey and managed a good 2 results the despite a DQ. The rest of that season was hit and miss, as I raced in my first ever wet race…and I managed to spin off and ended the race with a DNF.
Over the winter we didn’t really do much to the car apart from getting an engine built, as the old one had a few problems. I was also doing a lot of races on the simulator online, which helped me gain valuable knowledge in racecraft, and being able to predict situations a lot better. I was kind of lucky Covid hit in a way, as I wasn’t going to be ready for the first race. So really, it gave us time to get everything done.
We managed to get to a few test days before the first weekend at the end of July so we were well-prepared for the first race of the year.
Unfortunately in qualifying my throttle cable broke, and I was starting 16th in both races. In Round 1 I had a DNF due to an incident which left one of my stacks broken, but we managed to get it fixed. Due to the incidents near the front of the grid for race 2, I climbed to 4th at the finish – not far off 2nd and 3rd, so things were looking promising! I was also 1st in the Motorsport.ie Star of Tomorrow class.
At the end of August we went to Kirkistown for Round 3, and it didn’t take too long for it to end for me, because in qualifying one of my valves decided to drop, and ended up smashing the piston and the head so that weekend was over. Any chance of winning the Motorsport.ie Star of Tomorrow was prett much gone too, as we were only allowed 1 dropped round and I already had 2 dropped at that stage out of 3 races
We managed to get the engine ready to go again for the Leinster Trophy weekend 2 weeks later, and I got a bit of testing beforehand which really helped. After qualifying I was off to a great start, taking pole position for the 2 races. I actually didn’t find that out until later on, as after 4 laps in quali, my car broke a steering arm. Qualifying ended with the car in the barrier at Paddock corner…. so yeah, 2 pole positions was a real shock! Everyone helped out to get the car out after the damage which I thank them for, but we never managed to get the car lined properly. This left my steering at a slight and caused my pace to drop. Despite all of that, I managed to finish in 5th and 6th and gain a few points in the Rookie Championship.
Again we head to Kirkistown 2 weeks after and was starting 7th and 8th in the races as I didn’t really have the speed. However, just before we were due to go out for Race 1 the heavens opened and soaked the track. This left me nervous as the only other wet race I had done didn’t end very well . The opening laps were quite tricky, but I started to gain confidence and knew I was faster than the lads in front. I pushed on, and I began to pick them off, ending up 2nd and catching the leader. He got held up on the penultimate lap, which left me a chance for a move on the last lap. I managed to get the lead, but eventually lose it later in the lap, finishing 2nd which was great as it was my first ever podium but also almost my first win.
Race 2 was dry and didn’t manage to get near the leaders from starting further back, but I had a great battle with Gavin finishing 4th in the end.
Last race of the year we went to Mondello. I started the race in 4th, with my best lap around the National to date. However Jack Byrne had put in a great lap to get pole. I got a good start in the race, getting to 3rd and eventually 2nd after lap 2 – and I was sitting right on the leader’s gearbox. I had an unreal race with Jack throwing every overtaking move at him, nearly pulling some of them off, but I just couldn’t get there in the end. It was great to get another 2nd place, and finally knowing I have a bit of pace as well. I put that down to the sim racing, and also the time Dad puts into the car and teaching me bits. He’s won the National Championship 3 times which is a valuable asset so thanks to him as he’s also the chauffeur!
I ended up finishing just 2 points off the Motorsport.ie Star of Tomorrow Championship win despite my 2 dropped rounds, but Karl put in some great drives and deserved the win, so congratulations to him!
Even through the season is over I am now racing online in the first ever associated Motorsport Ireland Sim Racing championship – my Digital-Motorsports, and it is live streamed every Wednesday on their YouTube. I’m currently leading that championship with 3 rounds done, which is great as it’s up against the top drivers in Ireland and others from various other locations .
So its onwards to 2021 with hopefully normal conditions and a full championship. Huge thanks to anyone who helped me out this year, with John Mahon building the engine which has held up well so far.
Hopefully next year I’ll get a few more podiums and possibly my first race win if I’m lucky.”
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