Mccullough targets hat-trick on Donnelly Trophy Day staged behind closed gates
IT is traditionally the highlight of the Formula Ford season at Kirkistown but in the midst of the coronavirus restrictions it will be different and more lowkey that usual.
But that won’t be of a concern to David Cullough as he bids to become the first driver to win the the trophy – presented in memory of former Lotus F1 driver Martin Donnelly’s father of the same name – three years in a row.
The Ballymena driver edged out his brother Ivor – also a past winner – in a photo finish last year after the race was cut short by a red flag incident.
Ivor is absent this year as are several other previous winners but Mccullough will still have to contend with Alan Davidson who won in 2014 and was back on form with a first victory in his ‘new’ Mondiale at the 500 Club meeting earlier in the month.
Playing a starring role that day was Morgan Quinn, the 18-yearold rising star who came out on top in a blanket finish to the second Formula Ford race.
But he will be missing, too, on Saturday, as he heads for Brands Hatch in preparation for the Festival meeting next month.
However, the entry includes father and son David and Robbie Parks from Ballina who have been among the Kirkistown front-runners this season.
Also making an appearance will be Drew Stewart and Trevor Delany as well as a new youngster Brandon Mcgaughan who makes his Formula Ford debut.
In a change of format, the trophy will be decided on an aggregate scores over two races.
Another famous award up for grabs is Formula Vee’s Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy, bringing a contingent of these Irish championship cars to the County Down track with Anthony Cross, Philip Sheane, Gavin Buckley and the Ulster pair John-benedict Farrell and Seán Mccallion expected to be among the main contenders.
The programme, which also features superkarts, includes GTS, saloons, roadsports, Fiestas and Global Lights.
With rallying still suspended, several drivers more usually seen on special stage events are turning to the track with Kenny Mckinstry down to appear at Kirkistown in his R5 Ford Fiesta and Kieran Graffin bringing out his powerful Carrera Cup GT3 Porsche.
Qualifying is from 9.30am (first race 11am) but again no spectators are permitted at the venue.
Meanwhile, Daniel Harper is gearing up for his first 24-hour race at the demanding Nurburgring-nodschliefe circuit in Germany this weekend.
The Hillsborough teenager joins his BMW Junior teammates Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen to share a GT4 BMW as they continue their two-year scholarship programme with the German manufacturer.
The trio prepared for the marathon with a 12-hour simulated race through the night last weekend.
And Harper, who was the youngest winner of the GB Porsche Carrera Cup last year, was chosen to shakedown the Rowe Racing team’s mighty GT3 M6 ahead of the race.