An Interview with Motorhead
811 Kieron McIvor
Age: 22
Home Town: Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Occupation: Mechanical technician at Michelin tyres in Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Family: My mum and dad also my little brother, my dad used to race and my brother races saloon stock cars,
Racing career: I’ve been racing 11 years now counting my junior career
Congratulations on qualifying for this year’s championship, was you pleased when you heard you had qualified and are you looking forward to this year’s race?
Yes, I was very pleased to receive the letter to say that I had qualified again for the event, looking forward to doing better than last time
You qualified for the maiden staging of the event as an unlimited meeting at Mildenhall back in 2012, how special is it to qualify again in 2014?
It was nice to qualify again as last time I qualified as I’d won the Irish points but I haven’t been able to do all the banger meetings recently so wasn’t able to challenge for the points again since but nice to qualify for wining Shamwreck as its a meeting I’ve been wanting to win
How do you fancy your chances in the championship?
I don’t have the same shale experience as a lot of others on the grid but I’ll be giving it a good go.
Have you given any thought as to what car you will be racing in the championship and why you are using it?
I have a Scorpio sitting built from the end of last year which I’ve not raced. I like them but I’m annoyed with the new rule changes as we’re not allowed to make sliding driveshaft’s as I have done in the past as leaves cars like Scorpios at a disadvantage on the crashing front as there easy to break the standard drives leaving you a sitting target at times unlike Volvos with live axles, so I’m unsure at the minute on the car front as a few rules have been changed for the worse for Scorpios I think so I might bring something else.
In 2012 you became the first Irish driver to ever compete in the championship, was that something special for you and is that still the case?
Yes it was good to say I was the first Irish driver to do the meeting which I think was helped by it being made into an unlimited meeting as I don’t think I would of came over if it was still a 2litre one.
Did you enjoy your previous appearance in the championship and did you learn much which might help you this time around? Also you raced at Axe-tinction at King's Lynn last May, will that shale experience be a help here?
Yes I learned a bit. The car went well last time but only for a few laps as head gaskets went leaving it down on power. Axe-tinction help as well with a bit more shale driving experience but I also did the Saloon Stock car British Championship at King’s Lynn where I was going well on the second day getting an eighth in one race.
What kind of race are you expecting the championship to be and will that benefit you and give you a chance of success?
It should be fast if weather is kind to us, in 2012 it went quite smoothly considering there was over 40 cars on track, although a track blockage would be cool to be involved in
Who do you think are the leading contenders to challenge for the title this year?
That’s a hard one for me to say as don’t race on the mainland as often as I’d like to, there are so many fast people in the race.
Also confirmed for the race is your team mate Steve Bolton. How special is it to have a countryman and team mate in this year's race and how big of a deal is it for Team Buckle to have two drivers in the race?
It’s good to have two of us in the main race, think there might be one or two more thinking of coming over to race as well in the support races which is always good for a road trip having a few people with us to split the costs of travelling
You qualified for the event by winning Shamwreck at Tullyroan. This year is the first time the Irish event has counted for the qualifying system in the Supreme Championship, with drivers qualifying for the Supreme via the Shamwreck final while all those in the Shamwreck final were invited to the last chance race at the Supreme. Do you think it's good to have the Shamwreck event included in the qualifying process?
Yes think it’s a great idea as it gives the Irish drivers more of a chance on qualifying for this event
2013 saw the opening of Tullyroan in Ireland which was a part of the Irish scene generally being on the up. How do you feel the Irish scene is right now and what do you think of Tullyroan and the news that Agadowy is set to reopen in 2014?
The Irish scene is pretty good at the minute, there are a few minor issues but hopefully these will get sorted out. Tullyroan as a track is one of my favourite tarmac tracks now, a lot of time has gone into making it what it is. Now the promotion at Tullyroan (DMC Promotions) are currently working on Aghadowey which will be open again in Easter which is good for me as it is eight mile away. The only problem for me is although it is the home of the NI Saloon Stock cars in my eyes I won’t get to race mine there as current constraints from the SSCA restrict us to two tracks over here due to various politics about where the formula races and I hope this is something which gets sorted out.
You've raced a few times in England, what is it about the racing here which you enjoy and makes you keep coming back?
I like going to England mainly due to more cars being involved in the meetings, the driver base is huge compared to us at home, if boats were cheaper I’d come across more often which might be the case with my Saloon Stockcar. I’m quite unhappy with how things are with the formula in Ireland at the moment so I’m considering registering with GMP instead and just racing at Cowdenbeath as and when I can.
Is there anyone you would like to mention or thank?
I’d like to thank my dad mainly. I probably wouldn’t get to do as much racing as I have over the past years without his help.