Rory Smith wins Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch after battle with Niall Murray

Rory Smith scored his second Formula Ford Festival victory in a thrilling "boxing match" battle with Niall Murray at Brands Hatch.

The B-M Racing driver, from Hampton, London, locked horns with his Irish rival in an uninterrupted 20-lap final on Sunday.

Murray, who was targeting his third Festival victory, was leading Smith on lap 18 when a suspected misfire forced him into retirement.

The pair had enjoyed an intense scrap up to that point, with both enjoying spells in the lead as they tussled for position.

Smith, who last won the event in 2020, said Murray's woe was a "sad way to end" the 52nd running of the event.

"Conking out from the lead is not really fair on anyone; I feel really sorry for him," the Medina racer, 24, said.

"Up until that point the race was amazing. There was sheer respect between both of us - we were right on the edge, our wheels were within absolute milimetres of each other - but there was very, very little contact.

"Both myself and Niall were the two guys to beat - we broke away and it was a boxing match.

"It was great racing and I am absolutely ecstatic to win it again, it's amazing."

Smith, who handles a Ralt RT4 in historic Formula Atlantic races, led home team-mate Jamie Sharp - the 2021 Festival winner - and Murray's stablemate Chris Middlehurst.

Sharp had started the final from second but lost out to Murray in the early stages, allowing the Dubliner to chase Smith, who had made a good start from pole position.

In the support races, Aylesford's Aaron Smith won all three Mini 7 Winter Series contests following entertaining battles with Mini Miglia rival Rupert Deeth.

The pair collided at Druids in the third encounter - an incident that Smith said "put a dampener" on his final triumph.

"It was