By Sarah Peddie

Kilmaronock racing star Ross Martin clinched the BRSCC National Formula Ford Championship last weekend in impressive fashion.

The Scot, who races for Team Dolan, wrapped up the title with a strong weekend of results at Silverstone.

Ross won the Scottish Formula Ford Series in 2017 and 2018 before making the step up to the National Championship. This title is the third consecutive championship Ross has secured in the space of three years.

Ross knew that if he finished the races then he would have a good chance of securing the title. He said: “Going into the weekend it was all about concentrating and focusing on finishing the races for the Championship.

“I took part in the national two years ago as a guest entry, and there was a guy Luke Williams who won it that year. Luke was so consistent, he was on the podium at every race track out of the three races at least once every weekend, so I knew that was what I had to do.

“When I look at this year I was at the podium at every circuit I went to, so consistency is key.”

He had a solid weekend of results with a fifth place in race one and then two consecutive second places in race two and three. These results were enough for him to win the championship.

Aaron Gillard, Digital Officer for Formula One team SportPesa Racing Point, talks about the significance of a young driver winning a national championship like Formula Ford and said: “It’s important for a driver to be successful in national championships like Formula Ford because it helps with their development as a driver, it creates sponsorship chances and drivers are able to showcase and learn new skills within the grass roots of club and national racing.

“Majority of drivers today start in that area before going into further series within Formula’s or touring cars.”

Alasdair Lindsay, editor of FF1600 website commented on Ross’s 2019 season and said: “Ross won every single race in Scottish Formula Ford last year, so he didn’t really have the choice but to make the next step.

“He went into this year as one of the title favourites. To see the pace that he’s had, the results that he’s got hasn’t surprised anyone. Everyone expected him to be at that level.

“He used all the experience he got with two seasons in Scotland and put it to practise.”

Ross now hopes that winning such a prestigious championship will help kick on his racing career and move on to bigger things.

Ross said: “I’d like to take a step up, coming back and trying to win it again would be even harder, but I feel as though I’m ready to take that step up, it’s just getting that break.”

Alasdair talks about the options Ross has and said: “The first step on the single seaters racing ladder that drivers aim for is Formula 4. The cars are more advanced, and you have big teams like Carlin, who have an IndyCar team.

“I believe Formula Ford is a better development series than Formula 4.

“One of the options that is more likely is from him to move across to GT racing.”