Jordan Dempsey on the podium in Zhuhai.

Dempsey makes immediate impact in China

Current Motorsport Ireland and Sport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year, Mullingar man Jordan Dempsey, burst onto the China F4 Championship scene last weekend in Zhuhai, instantly making a significant impression on those around him with a double podium finish from the weekend’s three races.
 
Having joined forces with Pinnacle Motorsport, the weekend would mark a series debut for both driver and team. Despite this, both were confident they could instantly make their mark in the series. That they did, in only his second free practice session, Dempsey toped the times before securing a row two start for the opening race of the weekend from qualifying.
 
The euphoria was to be short lived however, a superb start to the opening race of the weekend saw Jordan move up to third before a fuel regulator problem sent him into retirement.
 
Undeterred by the prospect of starting race two from the back of the grid, a determined Dempsey set off in hot pursuit of the front runners when racing got under way on Sunday morning. Moving up the order on every lap, Jordan’s impressive charge rewarded him with a superb China F4 debut podium finish in second position.
 
Using the reversed grid format, Dempsey was set to start from P9 for the final race of the weekend on Sunday afternoon. Once again, Jordan launched his Pinnacle Motorsport F4 off the line and very quickly was back mixing it at the head of the field. 

Locked in an intense battle for the lead, the tussle for position went down to the last couple of laps, where contact would ultimately decide the outcome. Nevertheless, Jordan fought to the end to secure another superb P2 finish along with the fastest lap of the race, making it two podium finishes from three races on his series debut.
 
In addition to his double podium, Jordan was also awarded the Mitime Star Award for his charging drives from the back of the grid.

“I’m absolutely delighted with my first weekend in FIA F4 China. I couldn’t have asked for more out of the Pinnacle boys and the car was really good all weekend!” said Jordan.

“To get two podiums out of two races from the back of the grid while also getting fastest lap in race three is a really great result. 

“I’d like to say a big thanks to Digital Planet, Motorsport Ireland, Sport Ireland, Team Ireland and the guys at DBSM for keeping me on top of my nutrition and fitness to perform to my maximum in the heat and humidity!”

Jordan Dempsey is entering his fifth season racing cars in 2018 and is about to take on the biggest challenge of his career to date. With Championship titles and plenty of race wins to his name, all counting towards being chosen as the 2017 Motorsport Ireland and Sport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year, Dempsey has moved to China for 2018 to take on the China F4 Championship with Pinnacle Motorsport. 

A third generation of the Dempsey family to race in Ireland, Jordan’s father (Morgan Jnr) and grandfather (Morgan Snr) have held distinguished records in Irish motor racing. Their success has fueled Jordan’s ambition to uphold the family honour, and so far he has done just that.

Jordan’s next port of call is on Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, at Goldenport Park Circuit, Beijing.