KIRKISTOWN: 500MRCI BY IAN LYNAS

There was frustration for Noel Robinson as two non finishes in Northern Ireland Formula Ford 1600 meant his lead was swallowed up by season-long rival Alan Davidson.

Jake Byrne put his Ray on pole for race one and after a troubled qualifying session Robinson managed fourth fastest and row two.

Byrne made a terrible start, finding himself at the tail of the field by the first corner, however, he put in a determined effort and fought through the traffic to challenge Stephen O’connor’s Van Diemen RF90 for the lead while the unlucky Robinson stopped after nine laps. O’connor held on to win.

Davidson sprinted ahead of Byrne at the start of the second race but on lap two Robinson’s Van Diemen was again sidelined.

A race long duel developed between Byrne and Davidson and the latter tried every move to get his Mondiale ahead of Byrne, but to no avail. O’connor took third.

With just two rounds remaining Davidson now has a 10-point cushion over Robinson.

The two Formula Ford races incorporated the Superseries with the honours going to Byrne.

The Roadsports/saloon races attracted the largest grids of the day but it was no great surprise that yet again Jim Larkham set the fastest time in qualifying with his Radical.

Larkham made a slow start to the opener allowing Paul Conn to shoot into the lead with his Crossle with John Benson providing the early challenge. Mark Francis briefly held second in his Locost Honda.

Larkham quickly found his pace and took up his customary position at the head of the field to win from Conn.

Stephen Traub took the honours in his Honda Integra in one of the best Saloon entries of the year. He beat Andrew Armstrong. Traub was to repeat his result in race two as the unlucky Armstrong had to start from the pit lane.

Once again, as in race one, Larkham’s start was far from perfect, but by lap two he was leading never to be headed.

A smaller number of Fiesta Zetecs assembled for their double header and favourite Jonny Forsythe set the pace in qualifying, and in race one he quickly established a four-second lead to break away from the pack disputing second.

Race two was yet another benefit for Forsythe but in the closing laps he faced a strong challenge from Daniel Conlon and Tam Agnew and it finished in that order.

Ivor Greenwood had pole for the first Legends race, but by three-quarter distance he exited in a spectacular fire as Paul O’brien took the chequered flag.

Jonathan Taylor had pole for race two, but it was Ian Conroy who led briefly. However O’brien emerged as the eventual winner again.

With a new engine Greenwood had pole for the final race, but visitor James Holman was the winner after a battle for the lead with O’brien and Taylor.

William Harron triumphed in race one of the Ginetta Juniors with Samuel Harron victorious in race two.