Dunboyne driver set for Formula Vee challenge

Challenge of manual drive to be big test

Dunboyne resident Kamto Chukwureh is set to make his Irish motorsport debut after winning a scholarship competition to drive in the Irish Formula Vee Championship.

Chukwureh, who has never raced on an Irish racing track before, was the victor of RTA Virtual Motorsport Formula Vee Scholarship Series.

The competition was a virtual racing competition, with three winners earning themselves a shot at a real motor race.

“I’m at a loss for words,” said Chukwureh when he was announced as the winner. “This (his career) started because of my Dad back in 2017. We tried year after year to find something to get us into a real car.”

Kamto has fulfilled his love for racing through simulation racing, or ‘sim racing.’ Sim racing is online racing that takes place virtually, on platforms that actively attempt to simulate real life motorsport. Sim racing has become extremely popular amongst car enthusiasts in Ireland due to the tiny, in comparison, cost of real racing.

Racing for Maffi Esports, Kamto has become one of Ireland’s top sim racers. He has raced on the global stage, representing Nigeria, as well as placing high in the Ukrainian Esports F4 championship. He has only driven a race car once, at a private test session in France.

Jumping into a race car and handling the physical effects of driving the car isn’t something that comes naturally, and racing drivers spend months preparing for the circuit.

With Kamto’s race happening on 18th April, the pressure is on to get the race ready.

“Probably start tomorrow” was Kamto’s answer to when he plans on beginning his training.

“Going to do probably more physical training, with the simulator as well.”

The Irish Formula Vee championship, the class of racing Kamto will be driving in, is Ireland’s largest single seater category of racing. It began in the mid 1970’s, and races across the island at Mondello Park, Bishopscourt Race Circuit and Kirkistown. The class will also head to the famous Silverstone Circuit in 2026.

A Formula Vee car has a 1600cc Volkswagen engine and a manual four gear gearbox. This is another hurdle Kamto will have to overcome, as he has never driven a car with a manual gearbox before.

“I don’t drive a manual car, so new experience there. Hopefully all goes well and I don’t stall the car.”

It is a dream come true for the Meath resident, who will make his long awaited debut in April in Kildare’s Mondello Park at the second round of the Irish Formula Vee championship.

Speaking to GantryTV, the official broadcasters of RTA Virtual Motorsport, Formula Vee Ireland Committee member, Jonny Hollywood, believes Kamto has an excellent chance at success on his debut.

“I think most of the Formula Vee drivers are watching tonight terrified of who’s coming next. If you can survive a Formula Vee race and be competitive, and do well, you’ve proven yourself. I think the scholarship drivers will do very well.”

RTA Virtual Motorsport would like to thank Gamerfest, GantryTV, Formula Vee Ireland and Bwoah Motorsport for all the support with the scholarship series.