Unfortunately, the weather at Kirkistown Racing Circuit on Saturday 29th March was inclement for the start of the car racing season.
The first race was for the visiting class, Formula Sheane. Richard Kearney, from Nurney, led from start to finish. Behind him Vinny Keogh, from Dublin, and Daniel McDonnell, from Celbridge, had a great battle, with the verdict going to Keogh.
In the second race for this group, it took until the penultimate lap before Kearney got into the lead. This time it was McDonnell who took second and Keogh, third.
With the wet weather prevalent, the bit where the new surface joined the old, on the exit of Debtor’s Dip, seemed to cause many drivers to spin. This is exactly what happened on the opening lap of the first combined Saloons, GTs and Roadsports race. Mike Ward, from Youghal, had been on the front row, during a rolling start. However, his tail end came round as he exited the bend and, amazingly, everyone was able to avoid him, as he fell to the rear of the pack. This left Patrick Corbett, from Ballyward, in the lead in his Seat. However, he also spun in Debtor’s, a few laps later, although he did not lose a place. The close action was happening behind, during a great battle between Newtownards driver, Graham Moore, and Donaghadee driver, Mark Francis. There was little between them, as they negotiated the treacherous surfaces. On lap eight, Corbett went straight on at the John Crosslé Chicane, allowing Moore and Francis through. Three laps later, Francis made a move stick permanently and went on to win, with Moore second and Corbett third.
In the second race for these classes, Corbett led from the off. This time Moore got the better of Francis, after a long battle, to secure second place.
Both Kirkistown Fiesta races provided great examples of how to race closely and cleanly in adverse conditions. Aidan Mulready, a native of New York, came through from last place at the beginning of each race, to win. In Race One it took until the tenth lap before he could relieve Banbridge driver, Neville Anderson, of the lead. Derry girl, Grace McCallion, fought a race long battle with Newtownabbey driver, Conor Mulholland, to secure third place. In Race Two, it took until the final lap for Mulready to get past Anderson. This time, Mulholland got third.
For the first time in a long time the Kirkistown Mini Coopers were combined with the Mazdas of the Modi-5-Cup. Dundonald driver, Craig Ewing, shot off into a lead he would never lose in his MX5. He was followed by Culloville driver, Rob Kennedy, Newry driver, Damian Moran, both in Mazdas and interloper, Taylor Frizzell, in a Mini Cooper! While the Ballyclare driver was troubling the Mazdas, his fellow Cooper drivers were in the wars at Maguire’s Hairpin, resulting in a red flag stoppage and the remaining three Coopers being eliminated! With Moran’s transponder not working, giving him no official times, the official result of a shortened, restarted race was first, Ewing, second, Robert McAlister, from Antrim, and third overall and first in Coopers, Frizell.
In the second outing for these cars, Frizell, again, got right in amongst the Mazdas, finishing second behind a dominant Ewing. This time, Lisnaskea, driver, Darren Gilmore, manoeuvred his Mini into third place overall and second in the Coopers, beating the Mazdas of Moran and McAlister. Ballyhalbert driver, Craig Gilmore, was third in the Coopers and sixth overall.
Formula Ford 1600 provided the largest non-combined grids of the day. In treacherous conditions at the start of race one, Morgan Quinn, from Kildare, shot into the lead and proceeded to give a masterclass of wet weather driving, never being headed. Dave Parks, from Ballina, rose from fourth to second on the first lap and maintained his position throughout. Ballymena driver, David McCullough, who had qualified on Pole, spun from third to ninth on lap five. Californian driver, Ricky Simpson, had never made a standing start in a race, never mind a wet one. He rose from fifth to finish third, while McCullough made a recovery drive back to fourth.
The second race for these cars was also the final race of the day. This time McCullough led from Pole and stayed there. Quinn gave chase but couldn’t overhaul him, crossing the finish line just half a second shy. Andrew Noble, from Dublin, managed to prise third place from Simpson on the final lap.
All in all, there was a good deal of great racing on show, during a fairly wet day. The next meeting on Saturday 26th April will be a much bigger event with a number of visiting classes.
