Niall Breen clinched the 2006 Formula BMW UK Championship title with a fine second place in round 17 at a wet Knockhill in Scotland today. The Dundalk law student has dominated the series with a record eight victories and was crowned after the first of two races.

The delighted 20-year old Fortec Motorsport-run driver, who is in line for the Dunlop Young Driver of the Year, said: 'It's a brilliant feeling to have won. I've been taking it one race at a time but always with the title in mind and it's a dream to win the championship. My sights are set on the move up to Formula 3 next year and I hope that winning the Formula BMW UK title will be the start of things to come.'

The two wet qualifying sessions at Knockhill saw Bar One Racing-backed Breen second and third respectively on the grid for rounds 17 and 18. He was aware that his title rival Ross Curnow was behind him on the grid and as long as that situation remained the same, Niall had the title in the bag.

During the wet first race, polesitter Oliver Turvey led away with Breen moving into second and staying there for the whole race, dropping back slightly towards the end as the spray created visibility problems. In the second race, he was third for the first three laps until he hit a wet patch and let Oliver Oakes through for third, leaving Breen to finish fourth behind Turvey, Euan Hankey and Oakes.

Breen finished on the podium no less that 14 times out of 17 races this year and the former multi-karting champion in only his second season of car racing, has become known for his cool and calm approach to racing.