RABBITT POUNCES TO CLAIM LEINSTER TROPHY
Barry Rabbitt is ever the opportunist and when poleman for the Leinster Trophy race Stephen Daly stalled on the line, he aimed his Formula Renault car through the gap.
From row three, Rabbitt emerged from the cloud of spray at Turn 1 in second and drove around the outside of Paul O’connell’s World Series Dallara for the lead at Turn 4. Paul Dagg climbed to second but couldn’t make any impression on the leader. Daly meanwhile was on a charge, scything through the pack to second and chasing down Rabbitt before a late safety car neutralised the race. That’s how it finished with a delighted Rabbitt becoming a twotime winner of one of the most famous trophies in Irish Motorsport.
Matthew Nicholl, already crowned as Ginetta Junior champion, took the opening race, but retired in the closing stages of race two, handing Karl O’brien the win.
Dan Polley got the jump on Formula Vee poleman Anthony Cross and got his head down to rebuff a last-corner challenge for the win. In a wet race two, Tim Murray displaced Polley to take an impressive maiden victory.
Brian Hearty took the opening Formula Sheane race as fellow front-row occupant Richard Kearney was swamped by the pack. Kearney’s recovery drive to second clinched him the 2019 title.
In race two, Hearty led away but soon came under pressure from Kearney and Sean Hynes. In one of the races of the weekend, the trio took turns at the front with Kearney finally settling the issue with a switchback at the final corner as Hynes and Hearty touched.
Michael Cullen took pole for the Irish Stryker race in a borrowed car but a broken throttle cable sidelined him early on. This left Stephen Ross clear for the win. In race two, with the rain coming down, Cullen eased away from pole and crossed the line well ahead of Adrian Deasy, with Greg Kelly third.
Jackie Cochrane’s Sunbeam Tiger made its usual tardy start from HRCA pole, with Brendan Keane’s Mallock streaking into the lead. But order was soon restored as Cochrane took his customary pair of victories.
Kevin Doran did the double in the Fiesta ST class with Erik Holstein recovering from a shunt in race one to clinch the championship with fourth in race two, from the back. In the Zetec class, William Kellett tracked down the guesting Peter Barrable before grabbing the lead into Turn 7A and going on for the win. Barrable returned the compliment in race two, with new champion Kellett next across the line.
Paul O’connell launched his WSR Dallara off row two to grab a glorious lead of the opening BOSS race before the F3-mounted front-row occupants Stephen Daly and Paul Dagg elbowed their way through. As predicted, they streaked away from the pack. Daly was on form though and crossed the line almost five seconds ahead of Dagg with O’connell a distant third.
Pat Mcbennett took the shortened first Closed-wheel Libre race, with Shane Murphy retiring and handing Barry English the SEAT Supercup honours. First of the Irish Touring Car Championship contingent was Ciaran Denvir, having overcome the fast-starting Keith Campbell.
In race two, Roger Mcmahon took Libre honours with Campbell the first ITCC car and Alan Watkins the first Supercar home. Murphy made up for his earlier retirement as he took SEAT honours.
Aidan Byrne proved himself master of wet conditions to take two strong Future Classic wins.