Tommy Byrne returns to Formula 1
DUNDALK’S famous racing driver son Tommy Byrne, the 1982 British Formula 3 Champion and five-time Grand Prix competitor, returned to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car recently at Silverstone, after an absence of almost 36 years.
Byrne’s last outing in a Formula 1 car took place in 1982 at the same venue, Silverstone, in a McLaren as part of his prize for winning that year’s Formula 3 title.
The 2018 Silverstone track-layout bears no resemblance whatsoever to how it was the last time Tommy raced there in 1984, so getting laps under his bet was of the utmost importance.
Byrne managed to complete nine laps in the Thursday test session, before mechanical prob- lems intervened d
Friday’s qualifying proved even more troublesome, as another mechanical problem limited him to just thee laps.
So, with a meagre dozen laps under his belt, at a track he was still learning - not to mention his unfamiliarity with the car - he headed into Masters Historic F1 race one on the back foot. But Byrne has never been phased by such disadvantages, and attacked as soon as the lights went green.
The highlight of the race proved to be Tommy’s battle with the car in front of him, only to discover after the race that he’d been fighting with Adrian Newey, who is chief designer at the Red Bull F1 team!
The Sunday morning’s race proved to be somewhat different.
Frustratingly, after Byrne and his technicians had spent hours de-briefing, deciding upon gear ratio changes, seat alterations, plus many more adjustments, the Ensign’s engine refused to run cleanly, resulting in Tommy being forced to retire the car.
When asked whether he’d enjoyed his return to F1, Byrne replied ‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and would welcome other opportunities to compete again in this fantastic Masters Historic F1 series.’
It has yet to be officially confirmed, but it looks like Tommy will be demonstrating the Ensign at Mondello Park as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations
Watch this space!