This year’s Martin Donnelly Trophy promised much in the days leading up to it. But a capacity 26-car grid of Formula Ford 1600 machines at Kirkistown last weekend surpassed most expectations, and that was before all 26 lined up to do battle in bright sunshine. With United Championship points available as well as the local Northern Irish ones, there was potential for plenty of action.
Jason Smyth - back home after his truncated GB4 adventure - picked up where he left off last year and, starting from pole, successfully fended off race-long challenges from Ronan Doherty and Niall Murray in the opener, although his pursuers never stopped trying.
