SCOTTISH MINIS PROVIDE THE HEAT IN KIRKISTOWN’S SEASON OPENER

Mini Coopers are fun, fast and frantic, particularly those from the Scottish Motor Racing Club contest that visited Kirkistown’s season-opening meeting.

In the cold and occasionally wet weather, the Scots provided some much-needed heat as they battled their way round the 1.5-mile circuit. And they provided three different winners on their three appearances.

Jason Ballantyne took victory in the first race by a whole 0.3 seconds from Chad Little and the ever-competitive Oly Mortimer. This was despite a mid-race stoppage after the only local driver, Jack Irvine, rolled at the hairpin at half distance while in the lead bunch.

Undaunted, Irvine was back in action for race two to claim a fighting fourth spot from Ian Munro, while Mortimer won from the jousting Ballantyne and Little.

And to complete an interesting day, Irvine then in the third race took second spot behind runaway victor Daniel Patterson, with Munro nipping at his heels.

A small field of local Minis provided their own fun, with victories going to Darren Gilmore and Peter Bennett.

Formula Ford’s new star Jason Smyth was in commanding form in his Team Dolan-run

Van Diemen to win both races ahead of team-mates Morgan Quinn, in race one, and Jordan Kelly, in race two. David McCullough completed the podium party both times.

Formula Vee provided a win for Kieran Hannan among the B and C class runners, and in the A-class race Gavin Buckley did the business from Jack Byrne and Colm Blackburn.

Both saloon races were won by Gavin Stanfield’s Subaru, but race two’s pouring rain offered an extra challenge – especially for Stanfield who was on slicks. Despite this, he kept rallyman Stephen Wright’s Seat Supercopa at bay.

Steven Larkham got two unopposed Roadsports wins in his Radical, while Peter Drennan dominated a small Global GT field.

In the Mazda contest, Rob Kennedy won race one while Craig Ewing on his first day at the races – after being runner-up in race one – won a damp race two, pressured by another ‘newbie’, James Crowe. Francie Allen twice got on the podium.