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ust twelve months ago a pair However, he took some time off in mid No surprise then, to discover that, at a driver has to come to Europe. They of young Americans caused a September to take a trip back to his Irish 17 years of age, Conor has plenty of don't go from the States directly to Fl. sensation when they came to roots, and get some Formula Renault test driving talent to go with a ready smile Fl is my dream so I have to do well in a Jthe UK to race for the first time. miles under his belt .. and an easy charm which should stand European series. That's the key to Fl ! Backed by a consortium of high profile Which is why Conor spent several days him in good stead through the years US racing 'Names' the pair had won at Kirkistown with the Douglas team, ahead. Definitely one of the good guys I AND YOU LEARN CIRCUITS AS WELL the chance to contest the Formula Ford upholding a family tradition by setting No less a person than Tommy Byrne, Yeah .... Exactly. There are so many Festival at Brands Hatch and the Walter the blue and yellow machine's fastest- former F1 driver and now best-selling tracks to learn so I might as well start Hayes Trophy at Silverstone as the US's ever lap of the circuit while running on author, has described Conor as now! 'official' representatives. old tyres ! "America's next F1 star." Tommy knows They hoped they would put up a good Tradition? Well, the Daly family was of what he speaks .. DID YOU REALISE WHEN YOU show. always pretty sharp round Kirkistown's So we had to find out more and in CAME OVER LAST YEAR FOR THE But nobody expected the show to be 1.5 miles of tarmac. one of the gaps between driving stints FF FESTIVAL AND WALTER HAYES quite as good as it was. Derek Daly, Conor's dad, was Dublin's and debriefing sessions with team boss TROPHY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO At Brands Hatch it was Josef first native-born F1 driver. He raced Wayne Douglas, we managed to ask BE, NOT ON THE PACE, YOU WERE Newgarden who dominated in his Cliff - and won - at Kirkistown during his the young man from the Midwest some THE PACE! DID THAT SURPRISE YOU? Dempsey-run Ray to win the 'Kent' early racing career before moving up questions .. To be honest, I had no idea what to Festival at a canter. Two weeks later through the single seater ranks to drive expect really. I'd never raced in Europe it was Conor Daly's turn. Driving an for Ensign, Tyrrell and Williams in Grands IT SEEMS, ON THE FACE OF IT, A LITTLE before ... Well, I had done one kart identical car, he triumphed in the WHT to Prix, prior to enjoying a further career in BIT STRANGE THAT, JUST AS LOTS OF race, but that was just a kart race. This give Team USA a clean sweep of the two Indycars and making his home close to YOUNG DRIVERS FROM ENGLAND was the FFFestival and the Walter Formula Ford 'Blue Riband' events. the US motor racing capital, Indianapolis. AND IRELAND ARE HEADING TO Hayes so.... Coming over we were just Since then, both hiwe been busy, And Can or's uncle Vivion was a AMERICA TO FURTHER THEIR RACING expecting to do the best we could, but Newgarden doing FFDuratec in the Kirkistown regular too, and successful CAREERS, YOU APPEAR TO BE GOING as things went on we began to realise UK and Daly back in his native America in both Formula Ford and Formula Opel IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. WHAT'S that we were actually very quick so it where he was been a steadily improving before ill health forced his retirement THE THINKING BEHIND THIS MOVE? was great for us to come over and win presence in the Star Mazda series. from the sport. To be competitive in Fl, or to be in Fl, for the Americans .. CarSport November '09 ::.-- ....c.s. c r:-uE -"-"""'E' -.oc5EpO'l'.OO' ..,. 3 _ iESS aerodynamics so me F3 car has a little bit more grip. But I must admit I'm very curious. Hopefully we'll get the opportunity to test an F3 car soon, just to see what it's like. DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GO RACiNG .... ? Well, I mean I actually got started later than some others. A lot of kids start when they're five years old .... very very young. I started karting when I was 10 ! And it wasn't really because I wanted to or even because my dad wanted me to! I had a cousin who wanted to go racing, and my dad kinda helped him there, but as soon as I went to the track I decided that I wanted to give it a go, so I got onto the kart and it went on from there. My dad focused on me and the rest is history really .. APART FROM PAYING FOR THINGS LIKE ALL DADS DO .... WAS HE MUCH HELP? Well, apart from money ... That all came from my sponsors. My dad has no money but ..... importantly, he knows a lot of people .. Relationships are key and he knows so many people. That's what's been so helpful throughout my career .. Driving-wise he helped me a lot more in my younger years when I was karting. Now he's taking more of a managerial role, dealing with people, dealing with sponsors, the whole other aspect of racing besides the driving. THE US Fl TEAM .... IS THAT THE GOAL? Yeah. I know Peter Windsor, and dad knows him really well. I guess I stirred up a few things in America and Europe with that win last year, and we're in touch .. They're a good team and I'll be very interested to see how it goes. I keep in contact with them and they've been good to us and let us know what's going on. They have mentioned me as a driver for WAS THE STYLE OF RACING A SHOCK. the future ... I'm very thankful to them for PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT AMERICAN even considering me, but we'll see what RACERS ARE NICER TO EACH OTHER happens in the future. There's still a long ON TRACK THAN EUROPEANS? way to go. Yes... Definitely different! I mean .... the rules are different in America too I think. WOULD YOU CONSIDER INDYCARS? If they allowed the things that go on here Well, doing the Indy 500 is another dream in Europe (in the US) it would be just of mine so ..... It depends .... My goal is the same over there! But the European to do Fl but I'd still like to do Indycar at mentality is definitely a lot tougher, some point. rougher, and that makes things very interesting at times .... AND IN THE MEANTIME YOU'LL DRIVE But I enjoyed it. I thought it was very ANYTHING? competitive, very tough, and it was great Yeah .... As long as it's got four wheels and to finish where we did. it's not a NASCAR, I'll race it I WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN A And with a quick smile and a handshake YEAR'S TIME? he's gone, back to the F.Renault for one Well .... 1 certainly want to be over here in more run before heading for the airport Europe. It depends on money, it depends and the first of several flights which will on opportunities, and it depends on take him home to Indiana - just in time to the rest of this season. I'll finish out head for Road Atlanta and the next round my season in America and see what of the Star Mazda series. happens there .... But I hope to be doing It's a busy life with a hectic schedule something. I'm going to do some testing already, and Conor has only just started. of various things and then we'll make a decision. We'!! be hearing more of him.. November '09 CarSporf.

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