MON DELL O IN REVERSE GIVES DRIVERS A NEW CHALLENGE
There was a new challenge for the Mondello Park racers last weekend as the meeting was run in the anti-clockwise direction for the first time in over 20 years.
But the new layout did not stop Michael Cullen taking another Fiesta ST win in the opener, despite a late-race challenge from Darragh Mcmullen, with reigning champion Dave Maguire in third. On the opening lap of race two, Barry-john Mchenry got out of shape while trying to wrest the lead from Graham Mcdonnell, setting off a chain reaction behind, eliminating Maguire and dropping Cullen well back. Mcdonnell made no mistakes to take a fine win, with Mchenry second and Cullen entertaining with a charge to fourth.
Once early leader Pat Mcbennett dropped out of the Open Endurance
Series’ debut Mondello appearance, the SEAT Leon of Eoin and Niall Murray was unchallenged. Rod Mcgovern gradually tracked down Shane Murphy, annexing second in the final stages, both also Seat-mounted.
Owen Purcell dominated proceedings in the Fiesta Zetec opener despite a heroic challenge from newbie Colin Murray in the opening laps. In the second race, the top six were reversed but Purcell fought through for the double, with early leader William Kellett shadowing him home. Gavin Buckley took the honours in the
Vee B/C race, once Luke O’faolain retired with a broken throttle cable, before O’faolain dominated second time round. In the first final, polesitter Lee Newsome and reigning champion Colm Blackburn battled mightily until Blackburn retired with a few laps to run, handing second to Jimmy Furlong.
At the second time of asking, Newsome stalled on the grid, dropping to the back. Blackburn took the win, but Anthony Cross kept him honest, as Newsome scythed back through the grid to cross the line in fourth, taking fastest lap in the process.
Steve Griffin was the early HRCA leader, until Jackie Cochrane’s rumbling Tiger was up to temperature and he blasted by the Modsport Midget. In race two, it was much of the same, with Michael Doyle third in both contests in his Bdg-engined Lotus Elan.
Cameron Fenton dominated the first Irish Supercar race, crossing the line well ahead of John Cardoo and Alan Watkins. In race two, Fenton once again led away, while a run around the outside at Turn 1 sent Charlie Linnane onto the grass meaning the podium finishers were the same as in race one.
Rob Savage (Honda Integra) took the first Irish Touring Car race on his class return. Eric Carroll drove superbly to climb from fourth and challenged the leader strongly in the latter stages. In race two, Savage once again came out tops, with fellow returnee Gareth Hayden second and Carroll third.
Series leader Greg Kelly won the first Stryker race by a significant margin with Andy Dalton second and Bill Griffin third. A gearbox problem in qualifying meant Nicole Drought could not take up her front-row spot, but with a new ’box fitted she just made it to the grid for race two. Kelly did the double, with Drought chasing Griffin down in the closing stages to complete the podium.
David Parks took Formula Sheane race one with apparent ease, multiple champion Brian Hearty next up with Richard Kearney third. Race two was remarkably similar, save for the fact that Kearney was closer to Hearty, with Parks well clear once again.