After a hugely successful couple of years the 2023 SW Adair Tyres Northern Ireland Sprint Championship was set to get underway at the start of March in County Antrim. The calendar showed a season consisting of nine rounds, with seven of them counting after two drop scores.
Here’s how the season unfolded:
01st March – NUCC, Nutts Corner
Things did not get off to a great start for the championship as due to a double booking at Nutts Corner Circuit, this event didn’t even start.
18th March – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown
Gerard O’Connell brought his Dallara out of winter hibernation and brought home maximum championship points, ahead of Ryan Murray in his Subaru Impreza. Third in the points was Mark McClarnon in his Casmat buggy, with David Kane bringing home a good haul in fourth. Young Ethan Faulkner was to start a stream of steady finishes with points for fifth.
In the categories, it was Crawford Ewing Jr to bring home maximum points in his roadgoing Renault Megane. Ryan Murray brought home the best modified points. Andy Hawthorne bringing top specialist points home in his Westfield. Amy Hawthorne was top of the pops in the Heaslip Ladies Challenge.
01st April – NUCC, Nutts Corner
Ryan McGimpsey bagged maximum championship points ahead of Ethan Faulkner in his Jedi. Third in the points went to the REIS Aero driven by Scott McMullan, with Daniel Campbell in fourth and Andy Hawthorne in fifth.
In the categories, Crawford Ewing Jr once again brought home top points in the roadgoing section. Daniel Campbell brought home top modified points. Top specialist points went to Scott McMullan. Amy Hawthorne extended her Heaslip Ladies Challenge lead.
06th May – Larne MC, Kirkistown
Gerard O’Connell got another top point haul ahead of Alan Cassells, with Scott McMullan bringing home points for third. David Kane brought his 1.0-litre Silvercar home in a position to secure points for fourth in the series, with Brian Fitzmaurice in fifth.
In the categories, it was the Renault Megane of Crawford Ewing Jr still at the top of the roadgoing points. Daniel Campbell took top modified points in his Toyota Starlet. Andy Hawthorne took top specialist points for the second time this season. Amy Hawthorne makes it three in a row in the Heaslip Ladies Challenge.
03rd June – Enniskillen MC, St Angelo
With bonus points on offer, it was important for those chasing the title and the varying classes to be in Fermanagh. The top ten finishers adding five points to the series, with each class finisher gaining three points.
It was a young man in an old car that blew the field out of the water, as Ryan McGimpsey brought home maximum points in his 1980’s Jedi. Alan Cassells got second in his Force HRC, with Gerard O’Connell extending his championship lead with third. Scott McMullan and Ethan Faulkner brought forth and fifth points home respectively.
In the categories, Conor Hamill got top points in his roadgoing BMW M3. Stephen Colbert brought home top points in the family Talbot Sunbeam. David Hawthorne got maximum points in his specialist Westfield. Emma Campbell scored heavily in the Heaslip Ladies Challenge.
08th July – UAC, Kirkistown
Alan Cassells brought home maximum points in this reserve round, ahead of Ethan Faulkner. Scott McMullan got points for third, with George Stevenson and Gerard O’Connell rounding the top five.
In the categories, Aaron Vance got top points in his roadgoing BMW M3. Ryan Murray proved hard to beat in the modifieds. Andy Hawthorne got the best specialist points. In the Heaslip Ladies Challenge, Jenny Pollock claimed the top score.
05th August – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown
Top points went to Alan Cassells in his Force HRC, ahead of Gerard O’Connell with Tim Woodside’s Pilbeam brining home third placed points. Ethan Faulkner and Scott McMullan finished off the top five respectively.
In the categories, it was the BMW M3 of Aaron Vance to claim maximum points. Top modified finisher was Daniel Campbell. David Hawthorne got top specialist points. Amy Hawthorne got another full haul in the Heaslip Ladies Challenge.
23rd September – NUCC, Nutts Corner
The penultimate round was one that showed mental pace at the head of the entry which saw Tim Woodside come out tops, ahead of Alan Cassells with Gerard O’Connell in third. Ethan Faulkner and Ryan McGimpsey finished off the top five.
In the categories, Conor Hamil sealed top point in the roadgoing BMW M3. Stephen Nevin took the points for modified in his Ford Escort MkI. It was a very different MkI that got the modified points as Richard O’Mahoney drove his RSR Escort perfectly. Emma Campbell was top of the pops in the Heaslip Ladies Challenge.
28th October – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown
Mid-way through second practice, the event was halted under safety concerns due to standing water. An hour or two later, the final round was abandoned due to much of the short circuit being under water. A day later, parts of the track were under 12-inches.
Unsure if this round will act as a drop score, since the sprint started, and with no final points available at time of writing, final championship positions are submerged somewhere around Fisherman’s.
Words and Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY
Alan Cassells Amy Hawthorne 
Crawford Ewing 
Daniel Campbell David Hawthorne 
Ethan Faulkner 
Gerard O’Connell
