Martin O'connell

Sato san · 24 Aug 2003, 01:53 (Ref:697004)

Anyone know what happened to Martin O'Connell now days ?

I never thought he got a fair chance in single seaters as others around him always seemed to have better budgets yet a lot less talent than he had.....

I think he went into Sportscars , but havent heard his name mentioned much latley !.

El_Gibleto · 24 Aug 2003, 05:06 (Ref:697055)

After racing in the 2001 FIASCC & ELMS, he moved to Ireland and set up a business over there.

Sato san · 24 Aug 2003, 07:55 (Ref:697100)

so he's not racing anymore ?......what a waste of a great talent. It is such a shame when other drivers get big budgets that they dont deserve , yet a talent like O'connell gets pushed to one side in the early days of his career.

BootsOntheSide · 24 Aug 2003, 10:04 (Ref:697164)

It's extrememly unfair really, but its not an unusual situation. His showings in a Scholarship class car were way better than anyone else's at the time, even Sato's.

Motor racing can be a very fickle master indeed, but it seems like British drivers (Western Europeans in general, quite often) aren't getting good funding - Hynes, Davidson, Davies, Paffett and Kerr have all merited much better.

DavidStHubbins · 25 Aug 2003, 12:03 (Ref:698195)

He did finally get a year when he had a nice budget in the main series and he said so himself at the start of that season that if they failed they had no excuses... And they kinda failed! I was surprised that they did as I was a fan of his too. But that's motor-racing.

El_Gibleto · 25 Aug 2003, 19:42 (Ref:698585)

Martin won two races at Oulton Park today, driving Sandy Watson's Lotus 69.

He was the fastest driver in the race despite only having a 1.6litre engine against the 5 litre v8's

JustinDawkins · 26 Aug 2003, 11:11 (Ref:699237)

He was extremely quick in sportscars as well, does anyone remember his giant-killing effort in the ELMS @ Donninton in the rain? He won the SR2 class in an unfacied Pilbeam against Lolas etc.

He didn't do that well in his final year in F3 though, but Rowan racing were a bit over stretched, dispite backing from alpha club.

spearce · 26 Aug 2003, 11:29 (Ref:699259)

Yes what a fantastic drive in both races, especially the second one when he went from 18th to 1st in about 4 laps !!!!

Sato san · 26 Aug 2003, 13:05 (Ref:699397)

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidStHubbins
He did finally get a year when he had a nice budget in the main series and he said so himself at the start of that season that if they failed they had no excuses...

wasnt that the year that he had the TOMS , i thought that deal fell apart after half a season ?

DavidStHubbins · 26 Aug 2003, 14:01 (Ref:699456)

I can't remember! It was ages ago. I don't think it was TOMS though. He had a rich teammate but it did not work out. That's all I remember. After that he left F3 to do sportscars. He can certainly drive though, I wasn't implying he can't.

JustinDawkins · 26 Aug 2003, 14:06 (Ref:699468)

Quote:

Originally posted by Sato san
wasnt that the year that he had the TOMS , i thought that deal fell apart after half a season ?

I think that was early nineties, he used Mugen for his last few seasons. Does anyone remember in 1999 when he was mixing it with Button/Burti in the early season, on his day he could match anyone. Particularly @ Donnington it seams

JustinDawkins · 26 Aug 2003, 14:08 (Ref:699471)

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidStHubbins
I can't remember! It was ages ago. I don't think it was TOMS though. He had a rich teammate but it did not work out. That's all I remember. After that he left F3 to do sportscars. He can certainly drive though, I wasn't implying he can't.

Rich Teammate was Warren Carway, he brought all the alpha club stuff with him, he "raced" the pillbeam with martin too.

Junior Senior · 26 Aug 2003, 20:34 (Ref:699984)

I read somewhere that he is rallying??

Rocktracer · 26 Aug 2003, 20:35 (Ref:699990)

now it clicks in to place... ive still got one of those Alpha Club Hats...

Sato san · 26 Aug 2003, 21:28 (Ref:700041)

they always had nice Alpha club Girls with them too !....

JustinDawkins · 27 Aug 2003, 08:27 (Ref:700364)

yea they were gorgeous, thats where most of there budget went!

Basil · 28 Aug 2003, 22:12 (Ref:702205)

Quote:

Originally posted by Sato san
Anyone know what happened to Martin O'Connell now days ?

I never thought he got a fair chance in single seaters as others around him always seemed to have better budgets yet a lot less talent than he had.....

I think he went into Sportscars , but havent heard his name mentioned much latley !.

AFAIK he has been rallying in Ireland, and I saw him is excellent race form at the Oulton Park Gold Cup last weekend. I am seeing Ray Rowan next week, I'll ask him what he's been doing.

Sato san · 29 Aug 2003, 16:18 (Ref:702823)

that would be good . What id really like to see is O'connell back in a decent competative drive again . Im sure he would out shine most other drivers .

JustinDawkins · 8 Sep 2003, 15:53 (Ref:711993)

Quote:

Originally posted by Basil
AFAIK he has been rallying in Ireland, and I saw him is excellent race form at the Oulton Park Gold Cup last weekend. I am seeing Ray Rowan next week, I'll ask him what he's been doing.

Did yous speak to Ray and find out what hes been upto?

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