Blog Number 4- Kirkistown Season Opener and Mondello Testing.
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John Downey won the close fought Vee series opener. Pic from cregornews.com
Dan Polley's LOH-modified Leastone. Pic from cregornews.com
Well the motor racing season finally kicked off last week with the Vee and Uno/Punto classes heading North to start their 2011 championships in Kirkistown on the Ards Peninsula. There were various stories of Vees being spotted heading north in the preceeding weeks as many drivers and teams wanted to find out whether the new Avons were quicker than the Dunlops which the Vees have used for the last number of years. Over a pint in the bar on Friday night, (purely for research purposes you understand!) the general opinion was that the Avons were slightly quicker but tended to go off if run over a race distance. Many, though were keeping their cards close to their chest and staying tight lipped! Incredibly, reigning champion Ray Moore’s car was not ready so he was there as a spectator, whilst his wife Paula debuted her brand new Leastone chassis, having upgraded over the winter (the car that is, not the hubbie!). 2010 pacesetter Dan Polley had switched from his Sheane chassis to an old shape Leastone and declared himself happy with his testing pace. His confidence was justified as he qualified on pole on Saturday morning. As ever, his LOH tended car was handling beautifully but it looked nothing like a Leastone- Luke O’Hara having extensively modified the car over the winter months. Perhaps it is really a “LOH01″?! Former Formula Sheane driver Lee Newsome was out in brother Gary’s car and he upheld Sheane honour by completing the front row, just a few hundreths off Polley’s time. When the lights changed though, both bogged down and it was the sinister black Leastone of John Downey who snatched the lead as they headed through Debtors. Unfazed, Polley, threw it down the outside at Colonial and calmly retook the lead. It all went wrong for him a few hundred yards later though; his gearbox, which had been troublesome the previous day in testing, refused to select third and the ensuing moment sent him off the track. Newsome was delayed by this as the pack scattered in avoidance. This left Downey back in the lead from Dave O’Brien and the incredible David Kelly, who has made huge strides since last year. Polley rejoined but was half a lap down on the pack so made very little progress despite entertaining the vocal crowd at the chicane with his lurid slides every lap! Robbie Allen drove superbly to join the lead trio, having started last due to a faulty transponder in the qualifying race. Newsome also recovered and hauled in the lead battle towards the end. This set it up for a grandstand finish but despite the best efforts of the entire lead group, Downey held on for an impressive debut victory, from O’Brien and Allen. Looks like we are set for another cracking Vee season, with Kevin O’Hara and Moore due to join the fray at the next round!
Despite small numbers, the Puntos provided great entertainment. Gary Cunningham led race one but came under huge pressure from John McCormack, the pair swapping the lead on numerous occasions, with McCormack ahead when it mattered. Cunningham made amends in race two, his task made easier when McCormack dropped back early on. He charged back up through the pack though and was within sight of Cunningham at the end. Barry Hallion completed the podium in both, but only just, as he was under attack from a vastly improved Vicky Reilly for the duration, the pair swapping paint on more than one occasion. Vicky briefly ran second in race two, such was her pace and hopefully she can continue this vein of form when the series visits Mondello next month. The Yokohamas were a lot slower in testing than the slicks previously used by the Puntos but as the drivers came to grips with them and played with setup, the times dropped. It was noticeable that the times tailed off considerably towards the latter stages of the race though, Cunninghan lapping over a second off his best as he headed for the flag. Coilin Clinton was first Uno home in both, his only opposition being Gary Owens in his newly acquired ex Anthony Connors championship winning car. Owens had never visited Kirkistown before but closed the gap to Clinton over the weekend, claiming fastest lap in race two. Fiat Motorsport Chairman Barry-John McHenry has promised to return to the Uno class when they return to Mondello in April as he waits for the Abarth Cup to begin, and he should be joined on the grid by two or three others too.
I visited Mondello the following day to check out the pre season testing form and the paddock was quite busy. Barry Rabbitt was out in his Tuning Factory Honda CRX, running Hancook Tyres for the first time, and on my watch he lapped in 58.9! Even taking into account my post Kirkistown bar shakes, that is a mighty impressive time for a saloon car around the National circuit. Barry explained that he has to add a bit of weight to the car due to the new regulations but is confident he will be able to clap consistantly in the mid 59 bracket. It seems we will get to find out how much Martin Treacy’s Westward Engineering Sierra RS500 had in reserve last year after all! Philip Burdock was back out in his Civic and wasn’t far off the magic minute either so it could be a very close season. 16 year old Cian Carey was out in a Civic with sponsorship from his school- Rathoath Community College! Other ITCC newcomers were the Integra pairing of Rob Savage and Norman Fawcett both going well, whilst Keith Campbell’s Honda powered Corrado and Danny Callanan’s Civic both had niggling problems during the day. Ginetta Juniors were also out in force with Andy O’Brien lapping under the lap record with Andrew Watson and Jake Byrne not too far away either. Sean Doyle, no doubt bouyed by his recent maiden rallycross win, was right there too, suggesting that we will enjoy some close Ginetta racing in 2011. Megan Kessie has made progress in recent testing too as her times come down- no doubt she will resume her 2010 battle with Sophie Byrne on track. Martin Daly was also out in another newly imported Formula Renault, lapping in the low 54 second bracket too- enough to be a thorn in the side of some of the bigger cars!
"Gimme that car!" Nolan and McKinley in deep discussion.
Simon McKinley was victorious on both days in round one of the Connaght Engines Hillclimb series. With his Lant suffering engine issues, Simon borrowed Dermot Nolan’s Reynard F3 car and still managed to beat all the regulars to get his championship defence off to the best possible start. Appropriately enough, Nolans car is Connaght powered and McKinley prepared! Matt Dunne was top Historic, his 2010 title winning ASK Racing Midget also bidding for 2 in a row.
Rob Barrable had a fantastic result in West Cork, winning on his first Irish rally in his new Skoda Fabia S2000. It was typical Barrable style, as he settled himself in on the Saturday before beginning to charge before the night halt and continuing this on the Sunday. The gap at the end was less than a second after a hectic battle with Darragh O’Riordan’s Imprezza WRC S12. Across the pond, the Irish have been making quite a name for themselves lately! Peter Dempsey sensationally led on his Indy Lights debut, eventually coming home third- great to see him back in a racecar! Patrick McKenna also shone on his Star Mazda debut, coming home fourth. He reckons a bit more pace on cold tyres would have netted him a podium but I have a feeling he won’t have to wait too long for that one. I hear both Cliff Dempsey and Brendan McKenna are planning trips to support their sons in the coming months, hopefully I’ll have a full report when that happens!
Mondello’s motor racing season kicks off on April 10th, whilst the ever innovative TDC are running a Trial which seems to be along the lines of the recent ALMC Endurance Trial. Regs are available on www.tdcireland.com and as ever, ASK Racing have arrive and drive deals in Cento Challenge cars for this event. (
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That’s it for now folks, keep the news coming in!
Leo
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