Seán ain’t over the hill – he’s a hillclimb champion driver!
CAMPILE’S Seán Murray placed second in this year’s national Hillclimb Championship, a feat he has achieved three times in recent years.
Sean, 71, fell in love with the Lotus Formula One car when he was 12 and he got his wish when he bought a blue one in 1985. The car – a Lotus Elan – has brought him much success and taken him all over Europe over the past 22 years.
Sean is well-known in the racing circuit for his passion for cars and for driving, which he does with co-pilot, Eva Kent, his wife.
He said: ‘Owning a Lotus was a dream I had since I saw one in the Sunday Times magazine when I was 12. I bought the car in a scrapyard in Limerick in 1985 and after six months she was ready for the road. ‘
Over a 19 year period Sean participated in Motor Sports Association rallies across Europe. ‘ That took me from Norway to Budapest and to Rome, Valencia and Lisbon. They started off being for five days and ended up eight days long. You would have up to 200 cars, with two people per car and service people also. Then I’d drive back to Campile, which could take a week. We have been to all the big alpine passes.’
Originally from Drogheda, Sean placed second or third in several races during 2017 to achieve the second place title. ‘I was second this year, third last year, second the year before, third the year before and fourth the year before that. The competitions take place over weekends and feature ten different classes of cars from the cheapest to Formula One quality.’
The races take place on roads closed to the public and are generally two miles in length. ‘Some of the Forumla One cars travel at 140 mph, while I go at around 70 to 80 mph.’
Sean, who is just back from a scuba diving trip in Egypt, aims to win the championship next year.
‘I love driving and drive to all the events and back. At 71, I’m not the oldest driver competing, there are a good few more. There is great camaraderie and everyone helps everyone.’