Continuing the tradition
Philip Sheane profiled
THERE are many family dynasties in motorsport from grassroots to the pinnacle that is F1. Many are sons of successful drivers, brothers, daughters or nephews that raced together or came up following in their footsteps. Names such as Hill, Stewart, Schumacher, Senna, Verstappen, Dunlop, Haslam, Rea are to name but a few. The same can be said at local level here in Ireland. Families like the Murray’s, Dempseys, Dalys, O’Haras, Duffys and Sheanes have all carried this tradition in motorsport along.
One family who have a long-standing tradition in single seater car racing in Ireland is the Sheanes. Sydney Sheane was one of the founding organisers of the Leinster Trophy Races that were held in county Wicklow from 1950 -1957.
His grandson Philip is the latest of the family to take to the tracks in Ireland. Hailing from Blainroe, just outside Wicklow Town the nineteen-year-old is in his second season of single seater racing and showing seasoned regulars a thing or two.
His cousin David is the creator of the Sheane chassis that has brought many championships and race wins to drivers for over 30 years.
His brother Kevin a successful racer himself, builds and maintains his engine so it is a real family effort the whole way through to get to the grid.
I caught up with Philip at the recent Leinster Trophy meeting at Mondello Park to find out about this new rising talent in single seater racing in Ireland and to learn a little about the family racing tradition.
‘It first started with my grandad Sydney who would have brought the Leinster Trophy races to Wicklow back in the 1950s when it ran through Wicklow town and then my cousin David built his own cars and raced and ran lots of different guys over the years. Then my brother Kevin began racing when I was ten so it became really interesting to me then.’
The tracks were to wait a few more years before Philip got to try them out as his starting point in motor racing was not the usual route via karting.
His beginnings in the sport started off in the fields of his native Wicklow in midget car racing in 2016.
He learned his crafted balancing his 850 Mini over the wet mucky ground which then is always a benefit in car control in wet conditions when competing on tarmac. 2017 and 2018 was much the same, but the interest in racing on tarmac was growing too much and the chance to do the Formula Vee Festival in 2018 in a pre ‘85 car was too hard to turn down.
‘I got to do the festival and loved it so we made a plan to put a car together for the 2019 season and do a full year.
‘For the first half of the year we were going to use it to get the car sorted out and for me to learn the tracks and look towards the end of the year to get a good result. By Bishopscourt though I got a 3rd in race two which was great.’
It may have been a shock but it wasn’t a once off, as by the final round in Kirkistown Philip grabbed pole position for the two races that day and lead for a good chunk of the races. That lack of experience came into play and he just couldn’t hold off Anthony Cross to take his maiden win but he wasn’t far off it and showed he was going to be there again the following year.
‘I should have won at least one race in Kirkistown that day but I guess the lack of experience came into it and held me back to hold on for the win but I got two poles which I think shocked a lot of people.’
He proved in the opening round back in July that he had the pace and only for a slight error on the exit of the final corner he could have won the second race. He made up for that in Kirkistown last month where he won round three of the championship and took his well-deserved maiden Formula Vee win
‘It was great to get my first win and keep me in the hunt for the championship which is my aim but it will be hard to beat Anthony. I am planning to move to Formula Sheane next year for the 20th anniversary of the class. If I don’t win it there is always time to go back and try in years to come.’
Another good haul of points in round four with a third-place finish will certainly help his championship but a DNF in round five will have to be used as a dropped round.
It will be a close fight for the championship when dropped scores come into play and only time will tell but I think he has shown in such a short space of time that he has the talent to take the title this year.
BRAY WANDERERS
There was no jackpot winner in the lotto draw on Sunday, September 27. Numbers drawn were 3, 10, 12 and 29. €30 lucky dip winners were Owen McNicholas c/o BW online, Tony Jones c/o Hibo, Michael Duffy c/o BW online. Next week’s jackpot is €2,950. The lotto can be played online through the club website.
Bray Wanderers are away to UCD on Friday, October 2. Kick off at the Belfield Bowl is 7.45pm. Due to Covid restrictions attendances at matches are limited in the ground on match nights.
The Academy under-19s were defeated 4-2 at home by Shamrock Rovers on Sunday. Goal scorers were Adlane Boulmelh and Cian Maher.
The under-17s were defeated 5-0 at home by Galway United on Saturday.
The under-15s defeated Cabinteely 3-1 at home on Sunday. Goal scorers were an Own Goal, Lewis Temple and Cian Doyle. The under-13s defeated Shamrock Rovers 2-1 on Saturday. Goal scorers were Mason Melia and Matthew Britton. The ladies under-17s were defeated 1-0 away to Cork City on Sunday.
For all the latest club news check our website www.braywanderersfc.ie.