Lyons tabbed as future F1 great

UPDATE A young Ulsterman is poised to fill the void left by Eddie Irvine's retirement from Formula One. That's the opinion of the voice of Grand Prix racing Maurice Hamilton – who hails from Bangor and this weekend began his first full season as BBC Radio Five Live's Formula One commentator. Hamilton is tipping Japanese Formula Nippon champion Richard Lyons (25), from Hillsborough, to emerge as a force in the most glamorous sport of the lot. "Richard Lyons is ready to come through but hasn't had the necessary breaks in terms of finance. But he is a big, big hope for the future," Hamilton told Sunday Life. [ Editor's Note: Recall that Lyons was trying to get a Champ Car test but so far no one will test him – see March 1st rumor below.] 11/10/04 (GMM — Nov.10) Formula Nippon champion Richard Lyons may test for BAR-Honda in the upcoming 'winter' period, a source reported Wednesday. The source said the Ulsterman's London-based manager, David Kennedy, first contacted Brackley principal David Richards in August. 25-year-old Lyons returned to his Hillsborough home in suburban England, from Japan, on Tuesday.