HOLSTEIN WINS AFTER DENNING RUES LOST POLE

The 2019 Ford Fiesta ST season has been a battle between multiple Mondello champion

Erik Holstein and impressive karting debutant Alex Denning.

Denning annexed pole this time out but unfortunately retired on the warmup lap. That handed Holstein a relatively easy victory once he had shaken off the charging Michael Cullen. Barry-john Mchenry was an impressive third.

In race two, Brendan Fitzgerald led before coming under pressure from Holstein, up from sixth. After a few doorhandle-to-doorhandle moments, the red flags flew, courtesy of Denning coming together with David Kidd. That left Fitzgerald to take a well-deserved victory, with Holstein moving one step closer to the title with second.

Paul O’brien won the first Legends race, with Ian Conroy snatching second when Geoff Richardson’s last-corner attempt to wrest the lead came to nought. O’brien also took races two and three and continued his form on day two by winning a further three races with apparent ease.

Matthew Nicholl scored his fifth win of the season in the Ginetta Junior opener, finishing well clear of a cracking battle for second. That was topped by Chris Grimes courtesy of an inspired move at Turn 3 on the final tour. Nicholl repeated his form in race two, easing away for win number six.

William Kellett netted Fiesta Zetec pole in just three laps, and sat in the pitlane for the remainder of the session.

His dominance continued into the races, crossing the line well ahead of reigning champion Owen Purcell in race one. In race two, Aimee Woods led away but a mid race mistake at Turn 1 allowed Collie Barrable through. Kellett closed him down but, perhaps wary of his title aspirations, was unable to penetrate Barrable’s defences.

Karl Leonard blitzed the Closed Wheel Libre race in his Porsche Carrera Cup machine, with Shane Murphy holding off Rod Mcgovern for SEAT Supercup honours.

Keith Campbell headed the Irish Touring Car contingent from Stephen Potter and Ciaran Denvir. In race two, with Leonard not starting, Brian Berry led away on his return to the SEAT class. Murphy piled the pressure on before running wide at the Esses, allowing Barry English through.

After a mid-race safety car, Berry hung on to take the flag but was adjudged to have jumped the start and received a 10-second penalty, giving English the win. In the ITCC section, Campbell relieved Potter of the lead to do the double and appeared to be easing clear. A late race charge from Denvir meant he closed in the final stages, with Potter completing the podium.

Brian Flanagan and Mchenry took the honours in a highly entertaining charity Fiesta Team race, with Daniel Keelan and William Kellett next up, from Shane Mcbride and Gordon Kellett. Holstein was first ST home but team-mate Sean Woods, who had been a hugely popular leader of the Zetec group for most of the race, was forced out with a puncture.

Greg Kelly came out top of a fantastic battle with Stephen Ross to take the Stryker win, and a new lap record to boot. Ross took revenge in race two, just holding Kelly at bay to retain his series lead. Roger Welaratne drove superbly to net third in both races.

Barry Rabbitt was in giant-killing form as ever, grabbing BOSS Ireland pole in his newly acquired Formula Renault. Eamonn Matheson got his usual lightning start though, to grab the lead from row three. But Fergus Faherty soon eased past and pulled away. Paul O’connell also got by and set about closing the gap. With a few minutes to go. Matheson rotated at the Esses to bring out the red flags. A result was declared and a delighted Faherty became the first person to defeat O’connell in 2019.

In race two, Rabbitt got the jump and pushed hard but O’connell was on an inspired charge, blasting by on the main straight and easing away for an impressive victory. Rabbitt was second with Faherty completing the podium.

Andy Southcott’s rapid Midget took all three Special Saloons and Modsports wins, despite the best efforts of Ian Hall and Thomas Carey, both of whom ran at the front on occasion.

Anthony Cross relieved polesitter

Dan Polley of the Formula Vee lead with an impressive move into Turn 1, and was unchallenged from then on. Class returnee Trevor Delaney was third, in what was an uncharacteristically tame affair.

Victory and a second place for Holstein

Porsche Carrera Cup GB regular Karl Leonard also deals in the Stuttgart marque’s race cars.for a little bit of fun, he brought one of his cars – a 997 Gen 2 911 – to Mondello Park for the weekend.he ran with the SEAT Supercup and Irish Touring Cars, with the Irish Punto Abarth champion scoring an easy victory at his home circuit.brother Michael had hoped to join Karl on the grid, but a driveshaft failure during Friday testing meant he never appeared.

The Classic Sports Car Club’s Special Saloons and Modsports were welcome visitors to Mondello Park over the two days.andy Southcott was incredibly quick, taking three wins in his 2.2-litre MG Midget.but Tim Cairns, in particular, was great to watch as he chased down Neil Duke’s beautiful Ford Anglia 105E, hanging the tail out and evoking memories of the Modsports era for many at the Kildare venue.there was plenty of paddock chat about resurrecting some of the Irish GT cars for a return to the track, should the CSCC decide to return in 2019.

Erik Holstein was as entertaining as ever in the Fiesta ST races.the champion showjumper won the opener from pole. In race two, he charged from sixth to second before a red flag halted play.with just two rounds to go, he looks like a good bet for the 2019 title to add to his Punto Abarth, Irishtouring Car Championship and SEAT Supercup titles. The meeting also raised almost €10,000 for the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association with a mixed Fiesta fun race and an auction. Predictably, Holstein was first across the line in that one too.