Jordan Dempsey, the young Mullingar man who won the world’s largest Formula Four motor racing event, the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone this time last year, is to defend his 2019 title in little over a week’s time, and he told Topic on Tuesday “It’s just great to have local businesses giving me this chance, after a really tough year.”
Not only is Jordan defending the Walter Hayes decider he triumphed in last year, but this coming week-end, he will be seeking a win also against last year’s winner of the Formula Ford Festival at Brands-Hatch in 2019, Jonathan Browne. Well placed to challenge for the title there last year, Jordan was driven out of contention in the semi-final due to a collision.
“Last year, it was the motoring fraternity in Mullingar whose full backing let me participate in the UK Formula Ford top two festivals, and they’ve done the same for me this year,” he said. “Its really appreciated.”
“With all the help they’ve given me, it’s an extra bit of hunger to win, having spent so long on the sidelines this year. “I’m like a footballer going out for Westmeath without a game under my belt, but its going to be an interesting week and a half, and I’ll be doing my utmost for all my Mullingar supporters,” he told us.
Topic has learned that Jordan did get in one test run recently, and was impressive, so maybe he’s playing down his chances but has every intention of looking for victories.
The local businesses who came on board this year to help Mullingar’s most successful and youngest ever motor racing success story, include Canore Hygiene Supplies of Zone C in Mullingar Business Park, who are his main sponsors for the British trip; Hamills of Mullinfgar; Fix Auto Westmeath/Sleator Kia and West End Motors. All deserve great credit for giving such practical support in a difficult period to one of the most talented young sportsmen in the country, and hopefully, good fortune will favour them all, particularly the young man who dominated the Walter Hayes Trophy Final last year from pole position, as he won by 5.3 seconds. It was a proud moment for him as he stood on the podium after the Grand Final, and the Irish National anthem was played.
Dempsey, who was Young Racing Driver of the Year award winner at seventeen, has made continued progress. The setbacks in 2020 to international progress, due to Covid, could not be avoided, but Jordan Dempsey is a determined young man, and hail, rain or shine, he’ll be aiming for top spots on the next two week-ends against some of the top Formula Ford drivers around., from Ireland and Britain and much further afield.
