Frank Byrnes makes sporting history

Posted: August 15, 2007 2:49 PM

The three times Irish Hillclimb Champion took on a number of new challenges this year following his national title last year. He decided to head north and take on new terriorty, new competitors with a new car.

This was his first year out in his new acquired Pilbeam MP45 Formula 3000 car, this car was build by Pilbeam racing in 1980 and it is the only MP45 ever built. When frank bought the car it was power by a TVR 4.5 litre V8 engine but this was not powerful for him so he fitted a John Eales Rover V8 5.0 Litre putting out 380 bhp. During the year Frank & his team have been tweeking this car to get the most from it and have obivously got it right. The Nexa Autocolor Pilbeam is the car to beat on the Northern & Southern Hills this year.

The name Frank Byrnes is also highly regarded in the crash repair business been the leader in Autobody Repairs in the West. Nexa Autocolor paint company who is Frank’s main paint supplier is also his main sponsor.

Frank has caused consternation in the Northern Championship among the local drivers who have been driving these hills for years and Frank comes along on his first year winning the championship with one round remaining. The competition has been tight with four different drivers winning events.

The Southern championship is not over yet & frank is currently 2nd over all with four rounds to go, even having sacrificed some rounds as they clashed with the northern rounds. For him to win the championship he needs to win the next four rounds & looking at his recent record he as 5 wins & 2 second place out of the last seven events it is possible. His competiton Paul O’Connell only requires two second places to win the championship but as Franks says “If its mathamatical possible its possible” and that’s the type of competitive junky he is.