Boyd wonder
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Templepatrick’s Wayne Boyd, after winning the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.
THE British Formula Ford Champion, Templepatrick's Wayne Boyd, has won the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.
Wayne dominated the opposition in his class, showing the field exactly why he is the one to beat on the road to the pinnacle of motorsport.
Following a frustrating week of testing due to lack of pace from his Mygale (SJ08), Wayne qualified for the Formula Ford Festival Duratec Heat 2 in a disappointing 5th position.
Starting from the third row on the grid, he made a magnificent move on Adrian Campfield (Spectrum) and Nick Tandy (Mygale M08) ahead of him to take third place in the Heat on lap three. Wayne held his position to the chequered flag to stand on the third step of the podium, ensuring his place in the semi-finals.
On a cool and sunny morning at Brands Hatch, Wayne then dominated his semi-final heat, making a magnificent start to immediately take second position when the green lights went out.
He stormed passed Heat 2 leader Chris Maliepaard (Mygale SJ07) on Hailwood Hill, braking as late as possible into Druids Bend, and from then on it was Wayne's race.
A stunned Maliepaard could only watch as Wayne continued to pull away from the pack as the 18-lap race progressed and he continued to build up a substantial lead.
With three consecutive fastest lap times from the start of the race, Wayne came home to win the heat 2.715 seconds clear of the field, also taking the fastest lap time of 48.240 seconds on lap 11.
After a commanding start, Wayne was safely through to the Final at the end of the day.
In true Festival fashion, Wayne delivered a stunning 25-lap finale and from pole position and blew away the competition to take the 2008 British Formula Ford Festival championship title a staggering 4.369 seconds ahead of runner-up Maliepaard and third placed Blanchard, in addition setting the fastest lap time of 48.009 seconds on lap seven.
Wayne joins a prestigious line up of Formula Ford Festival winners who include Johnny Herbert, Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson, who have all proceeded to Formula One Grand Prix racing - Wayne's ultimate goal.
Wayne said: "Despite a poor result in qualifying, we came third in the first race and won our semi-final heat, so we knew we had a bit of pace.
“We put on new tyres for the final and I got a good start, so from then on I kept my head down and focused. It was not as easy a win as it looked!
“You try to keep focused the whole time you are out there, watching for back markers with no blue flags and incidents with drivers sitting in the barriers or in the middle of the track towards the end. I just tried to keep the quick laps in and a clear head to the end.
“It's a fantastic feeling to win the Formula Ford Festival. I have had a great year so far, and I'd like to thank everyone at Jamun Racing, my dad, my manager and everyone who has supported me - it's been absolutely brilliant!"
