Murray excited at move into Enduro racing

FIRHOUSE man Niall Murray is poised to embark on an exciting new chapter in his motor racing career, after signing up to race for newly formed Enduro racing team TDF Geva.

The newly-formed team is the product of the coming together of Bedford UK-based TDF Engineering and Dutch racing team Geva.

It is a big step up for the former Formula Ford driver, who blazed a trial in Formula Ford racing last season.

Indeed, as well as the British Formula Ford 1600 Championship, he won the Formula Ford Festival for the second time and lifted the Walter Hayes Trophy at the world-famous Silver-stone race track.

Speaking to The Echo Murray said, “I’m delight-ed at this step-up for me.

“I’ve known this team for a number of years. They have a number of ex-Formula One personnel in their backroom team, and I am excited to be involved in such a professional outfit,” he added.

The car that the new team will be using is the newly built Ginetti G50 GT4.

This was the type of car brand Murray drove while racing as a junior, but this is where the similarities end.

“There is no comparison between the Ginetti car I drove as junior, and the one I am driving now, being honest.

“Back then the car I drove was a 100 horse-power vehicle. The car I am currently driving is up to 450 horsepower. There simply is no comparison between the two, the new car being a completely different car to drive”

Having previously driven in the Formula Ford Championship, Murray knows he will need to increase his level of fitness in order to successfully compete in the Enduro Racing circuit.

“Previously I was used to doing 20-minute races, but now I will be driving for anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours at a time.

“I’ve been doing a lot of training in the gym to build up my stamina in preparation for my first race with my new team,” he added.

As a child Murray would have marvelled at the likes of Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher racing around tracks such as Magny Cours and Spa Francohamp on the television, a feat he soon will achieve himself.

He is clearly aware of the significance of it all, saying “It is a big step up from racing around England and Ireland to racing on tracks famous for Grand Prix racing. This was a factor in me signing for Enduro Racing.”

His first race is on the weekend of April 1/2, and he is raring to go. “I’m looking forward to Silverstone in just three weeks time, where I’ll be sharing the car with Melroy Heemserk, Sven Van Laer and Michael Lyons. Their experience will be very valuable for me to get up to speed quickly.”

Murray is taking one day at a time, and has not given much thought as to what the future may hold, adding “I haven’t made any predictions for the season yet. I am waiting to get the first race over and done with, and then I will be able to give more thought as to what the future might hold for me”