Driver of the Year is loving life in the fast lane
MOTORSPORT FORMULA SHEANE
AT the age of 65 some motorists are beginning to contemplate selling the car and turning to public transport, but Brian Hearty’s not only still driving, he’s racing single-seaters - and winning trophies!
The Kilcurry haulier has just been named Irish Driver of the Year 2016 on the motorsport.ie website after capturing his fifth Formula Sheane Championship, having won seven Formula Vee titles earlier in his race career. And he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Last April, Brian won the opening two rounds at the home of Irish motorsport - Mondello Park - and he never looked back after that as the series took the racers to various circuits, including north of the border and in Anglesea in Wales.
‘I don’t know myself - I wouldn’t have a notion - but they reckon I’ve won more about 130 races at Mondello in its history - more than anyone else - and I’ve a great affinity with that circuit and know my way round it at this stage,’ he said.
‘It’s just nice to get it [Driver of the Year] and I didn’t know I was in the running for it.’
The title is just the latest in a career that dates back to the 1960s when the then schoolboy began racing on two wheels.
Recalling the early days, Brian said: ‘My neighbours beside me - the Kellys - their older brother Enda was my age and he was one of the founder members of Dundalk Motorbike Club. He started doing motocross at the age of 11 or 12 and that’s how I got involved.
‘I raced bikes for 20 years and I gave it up when I got too old. Motocross is very demanding physically, whereas with the cars you don’t have to be nearly as fit and they’re much safer.
‘Any injuries I have are from the bike days. I’ve had plenty of bad accidents with the car, but nine times out of 10 you just walk away from them.’
Motorsport in general is notoriously expensive to take part in, but the concept of Formula Sheane, which was created in 2001, is that it should be fast, reliable and feature cars that are mechanically identical to put more emphasis on driver skill. Best of all, it succeeds in making single-seater racing affordable to the clubman.
‘I had fabulous local sponsors when I was in Formula Vee and I would love to mention Talk To Me Mobile Phones,’ Brian recalled.
‘I don’t look for sponsorship now, but the cost isn’t too bad [in Formula Sheane]. The cars are all made by the one man in Wicklow, David Sheane, and they are built to the same spec. I have a man called Joe McArdle, who is a panel beater in Dundalk, and he helps me in the pits, but all the engines are sealed up [so they can’t be modified].’
So has the time come for Brian to think about hanging up his helmet in his 66th year? Not a bit of it!
‘I have some parts stripped off because I’m rebuilding the car for this year,’ he responded.
‘This season starts on March 28th in Kirkistown and as long as I am able to do it and competitive, I will continue on.’