Northern Ireland’s most successful racing driver, Conlig-born Eddie Irvine came within a whisker of becoming the 1999 Formula 1 Champion.
This week he was the Guest Speaker at the Ulster Reform Club, today the most prestigious business, social and dining club in Northern Ireland. Its fine Cubhouse first opened its doors on New Year's Day 1885 and for a century and a quarter has in every sense been at the heart of the city. There were two older clubs in Belfast -the Ulster Club and the Union Club, but mergers in 1953 and 1982 brought all three clubs together as one instiution. I accompanied “Young Edmund” with his manager, my friend Keith Mallin, and Marcus Ward from Queen's to the Club for his Conversation with Mr Jim Neilly.
Having inherited his parents’ love of motor sport, Eddie began competitive racing in Formula Ford in 1983 before moving to Formula Three and then Formula 3000. He moved into the top flight when he signed for Jordan’s Formula 1 team in 1993, scoring a point with a sixth place finish at Suzuka. His impressive, highly competitive and often controversial form prompted a move to Ferrari in 1996 as Michael Schumacher’s partner.
While Schumacher was the senior driver, Eddie, who had failed to record a win in 1996 and 97, and struggled in 1998 with a back problem, excelled in 1999, winning four events and recording several more podium finishes to set up a dramatic climax to the season in Japan. Needing to finish ahead of Mikka Hakkinen, an under-performing Ferrari caused Eddie to finish third while Hakkinen took the race and the Drivers’ Championship. Had the current points system been employed then, Eddie would have won the title with a race to spare!
A move to Jaguar for the 2000-2002 seasons followed with little success in a poor machine, and after a brief return to Jordan, he retired in 2003. A highly successful property developer and businessman, he is in regular demand by the media, and co-produced and narrated a documentary on Irish rugby international and SAS soldier Blair Mayne, a native of Newtownards.
Eddie is also Patron of the Queen's University, Belfast Formula Racing Team.This is made up of students undertaking a Masters degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace at Queen's.This role will see him regularly meeting the Team and joining them during track testing of their cars.
Ed: Thanks, Ian. This is. of course, only part of the story. Ian Adamson and Eddie Irvine both grew up in the village of Conlig, near Bangor. Ian told us in Conlig and its history, Monday, May 24. 2010, how he sponsored Eddie into motor racing. The proper birth name of the former racing ace is 'Edmund', named after his father.