Motorsport: Murray misses scholarship but won’t give up dreams

Dublin racing driver Niall Murray is determined to race in next season’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda Championship even though he lost out in his bid to win a $200,000 scholarship for the series.

Murray, who made it to the final six from the original panel of 18 for the Mazda Road to Indy Shootout at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca missed out as Oliver Askew grabbed the win, with Murray fifth.

Nevertheless the Dubliner has enjoyed a tremendous season, on board the Bernard Dolan Racing run Van Diemen RF99, he won 12 of his 16 races as he wrapped up the British National FF1600 title and all three of the world famous Blue-Riband Formula Ford 1600 Trophy races — the Martin Donnelly Trophy at Kirkistown, the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone. Ironically, in the Walter Hayes event Murray beat Askew.