Get ready for more high-speed excitement at Mondello Park with Part 2 of the ICCR race event on 8 June 2025. The competition heats up as drivers push their limits, delivering thrilling battles and expert driving on the track. Whether you’re a seasoned motorsport fan or just tuning in, Part 2 promises plenty of action and unforgettable racing moments.
Rain, Rookies & Rivals: The Fiesta ST Drama Unfolds
The day kicked off with showers and shocks as the Fiesta ST grid rolled onto a slick Mondello Park. Young hotshot David McGuire Jr. wasted no time proving he’s the real deal, fending off a relentless assault from the seasoned Derek Graham. Lap after lap, the pair were locked in a turbocharged chess match, but McGuire held his nerve to take a hard-fought win. Roy White powered through to third after muscling past Darragh McMullen, while Charlie McMillen clawed his way back after slipping down the order early on.
From Spinners to Stunners: BOSS Ireland Turns the Power On
Rain and slicks? A brutal combination. The Formula BOSS Ireland race opened with cars skating across the tarmac, and Michael Connolly was one of the early victims. But as the surface dried, it was Cian Carey who came alive, tearing chunks off his lap time with every pass. Daragh Daly kept him honest with a gritty drive to second, fending off a surging Tony Greenan, who recovered from a tough start. Meanwhile, underdog hero Mark Reade stole the spotlight in his little Leastone, slicing through the field to grab fourth overall and a class win in style.
Tactics, Time Limits, and a Giant-Killing Uno
In the Future Classics, it wasn’t just speed that mattered — it was strategy. With strict barrier times in play, drivers had to be quick but not too quick. Conleth Quinlan got it spot-on, holding off Mark Johnston in a tight and tactical scrap for the win. The pint-sized but fearless Fiat Uno of David Hammond grabbed another podium, while a slew of drivers — including both Stewarts — got nailed for breaking the timing rules. It was part endurance, part mind game, and totally unpredictable.
Fire, Fury & Flying Fords: Modified Madness
The UK’s Modified Ford Series turned the dial up to eleven. Jim Hutchinson stormed into the lead, but it was Jason Davies in his fire-breathing Sierra Cosworth who had the crowd on edge — until his race quite literally went up in smoke. With flames licking from the bonnet, Davies pulled out safely, handing the spotlight to Dave Cockell, who launched a late-race charge on Hutchinson. Behind them, James Owen and Josh Payton were locked in a full-throttle showdown between an Escort and a wide-arched Cortina that had the paddock buzzing. Fast, loud, and ferocious — this was racing at its rawest.
Below is a transcript created automatically from the live commentary of the ICCR event at Mondello Park on 8 June 2025. We’ve done our best to keep it accurate, but please forgive any small errors or oddities that can happen with automated transcription.
(00:00:06):
We had rain on and off all day. So the faster Fiesta are out now. The Alloy Repair Centre, Fiesta ST Championship. Owen Cullen’s, company based in Cookstown Industrial safe sponsor this one and Owen is on the grid. He’s jumped straight into sts. Most people start off with the C Tex and move up. More experienced drivers perhaps in the sts, but he’s jumped straight into the STS and he’s on the grid here. Again, really enjoyed himself at the first round and we’ll go through the grid now and it’s the Young Superstar on pole position. Dave McGuire Junior, David McGuire Jr. So in the ex Michael Cullen car run by LOH Motorsport. He’s already had a win this year and has been the man at the front. Derek Graham incredibly experienced. We love having Derek Graham back down here at Modelo Park. He went missing for a few years, then he was racing at Kirk Centre.
(00:00:50):
His son Michael was racing. Michael was on the grid but unfortunately had an off this morning and won’t make it. They’re confident they’ll have the car ready yet again. That’s Brenda going through shot in the beautifully reli fleet id. Luke Doors and Windows car. So second row, Charlie McMillen. Incredible stuff. We saw Charlie at the end of last year going really, really well. P three is impressive stuff from him. He’s a newbie, he’s a young kid and that is very, very impressive. It’s the rally man, Roy White on the outside of row two. Watch out for Roy if it rains. It’s not raining just yet. Dar McMullen and McMullen and another winner in this last many times. Tim McQuaid, very impressive newcomer, although he’s not really a newcomer anymore. Ross Barnes back in fifth place. He won’t like that one. The reigning champion then it’s Brendan Fitzgerald, Jack Icky.
(00:01:30):
Michael Graham who won’t show Trevor Farrar. Adam o Mahan up. St up from the Z tex I should say. Then Chris Jones, Bobby Turley, Owen Cullen and Chris Grimes. That’s your grid. We’re getting ready to go here at Mandela Park. Who’s it going to be? It’s very close, just a 10th in it. Between the top two here. Derek Graham gets a better start but McGuire goes with ’em as they pull second gear. There’s nothing in it. There is that Barns up the inside. It’s McMullen has got up the inside. In fact the second row got swamped. McMullen and RO White now swapping a little bit of paint and Charlie McMillen’s fallen well back. Ross Barnes has got by him as well. Lot of contact there just out of our view. I think that was McMullen and McMullen and RO White that was just doing a little bit of elbowing there.
(00:02:14):
Turn two McMullen’s. Got it and he’s up to third place. Good first corner for Darren McMullen already closing in on the brakes now to Derek Graham in second place are the first three with a little bit of a gap back to the rest. They look fantastic. These cars streaming through the scrutinous pushed very hard this weekend to have these cars. All absolutely immaculately presented so no marks, no damage allowed. It’s in the regs. You can’t start the races with damage from a previous event and the drivers have responded super early. The cars look absolutely fantastic. They all are repair centre results so the accident repair centre, so they’ll be happy with that one as well. They’re very proud of the way they turn out their cars up in Cooks down as Ross Barnes as they look down the inside of Roy White. Murray Motorsport car at the end of the first lap out onto the main straight now and it is Maguire, Derek Graham, Daryl McMullen, Roy White, Ross Barnes, Charlie McMillen, Tim McQuaid, Jack Conachy, Trevor Farrar, Brendan Fitzgerald, Bobby Turley, Chris Jones, Adam Hanney, Chris Grimes and Owen Colin All absolutely together through Campion Corner.
(00:03:14):
Now turn two out onto the back rai. Dave McGuire trying to get a bit of a lead here but Derek Graham looking to go with them. They’ve eased away a little bit perhaps from McMullen now and third. That’s Barnes in fifth. Look how close they all are. That is Barnes, McMillen, McQuaid, coy and Ferra. Then Fitzgerald Turley and Chris Jones.
(00:03:39):
Nobody really getting away here is there through the S’S left and through the right hander of Nordic Spirit McGuire using the curves and perhaps beginning to get a little bit of a length or two but actually coming back at him on the brakes is Graham who brings that gap back down to nothing as they come through. Set side motor factors corner out onto the main street. Derek Graham really doesn’t want them to get away. McMullen in third place. As we said, a great opening lap for Darren McMullen to get up to third place. Chris Jones gets by Bobby Turley for 11th there. Good battle between Owen Cullen and Chris Grimes as well side by side across the line, all streaming down great drone shots. The modified forward guys telling us at lunchtime they’re getting great messages back from the uk. How about how impressed they are about this drone footage? It’s great to hear because we know how hard they see it. Live team work with this and Katie flying the drone. She’s out there based outside, well not outside the track but on the inside where they are now. You’ll just see a silver van at the top of your screen. That’s where she is and that’s where the drone is based.
(00:04:54):
So big long stream of Fiesta sts now heading up towards the final corner. No moves just yet. They’re all just sizing each other up. Although Tim McQuaid is down the outside of McMillen, Charlie McMillen well back from where he qualified needs to get the head down and use that pace he’s shown. But that’s wrong footage that has wrong foot of Tim McQuaid and Jack Icky gets alongside as they come onto the main street. So it’s still McGuire but only by 0.4 of a second. So certainly not being led away now by Derek Graham. Dar McMullen in there too. Then Roy White, Ross Barnes, Charlie McMillen, Jack Icky, Tim McQuaid, Trevor Farrar, Brendan Fitzgerald, Chris Jones and Bobby Turley missing somebody. Are we in third place perhaps White white’s got by McMullen. Look at that in the background. Roy White has got by McMullen and the first two have made a break, but certainly Derek Graham looks the equal of young David McGuire and this one Northern Ireland man, not letting him away at all. Yeah, there we go. That’s where the change is. Roy White up a place. The third place, so the order now is McGuire and Graham both in the one oh fives. Nobody else in the one oh fives. Then it’s white McMullen Barnes, Charlie McMillan, Jack Connery, Tim McQuaid, Trevor Farrar, Brendan Fitzgerald, Chris Jones, Bobby Charlie, Adam O’Mahony, Owen Cullen and Chris Grimes
(00:06:53):
Down towards the essence again into the off left Bridgestone corner. Third gear if you can get the car turned in some use second if you can get rounded in third it might be Fally quicker. McGuire’s very quick through there and stretches the lead just a little bit on the exit of Nordic Spirit Corner First two definitely getting away. Fastest lap for McGuire that time round 1 0 5 9 1 but 1 0 5 9 4 for Derek Krams are not losing anything. The gap not gone out to over the second just yet. Barnes having to defend now because as we suggested there, Charlie McMillen beginning to get the head down. We know he’s got plenty of pace from qualifying so he’s eased himself back up away from Carnegie and back up to the back end of Ross Barnes’s car. So not a great day for Ross Barnes so far by his lofty standards. Reigning champion, remember
(00:08:14):
Hope they come outside. Motor factor’s corner. Graham looks a little bit closer and if anything Derek Graham always uses his head. I’m sure he’d be minding his tyres here. McGuire right out onto the curb, still pushing very, very hard. This is good stuff from McGuire. We knew from the opening round that David McGuire had all this pace but Derek Graham certainly seems to be able to contain him here. He’s quicker by three-tenths that time around he’s brought the gap down to half a second so no changes down the rest of the grid. It’s intriguing up the front. That battle is just opening and closing so McGuire’s pushing very, very hard visibly and Derek Graham just sitting in his wheel tracks. They’re the only two to dip into the one oh fives so far.
(00:08:58):
Do have to look after these tyres a little bit. The nine cans, same as any of the classes that use ’em. Great tyre. You don’t have to use wets and slicks but certainly on a car like this towards the end of the race they’ll be a little bit tired so if you’re in a battle early on they’ll go off perhaps a little bit earlier. This time Derek Graham is closer than he was but this is watch the aerial shot. This is where we saw the yellow H car getaway and it does a little bit again but he’s not as far ahead as he was. You know something, I think Derek Graham is nearly close enough to have a go. Certainly looks a little bit stronger at this stage of the race out onto the main street. He’s definitely closer. He is right in the wheel tracks. Look at the first two now as they go by us.
(00:09:36):
That’s seven laps completed. Seven minutes to go gap down to 0.4 of a second. Now another 10th or two. Okay, so once again look at the front, look at the lock that McGuire has on the front of the car. A little bit of under steer that’ll slow him down and Derek Graham will love to see that if he’s been minding his tyres a little bit better, he might be able to have a go. But Dave McGuire looks very confident, very strong out front, real fine in saloon guard racing young Dave McGuire, he’s won. He had a one-off race in a Say it last year in Stan. He won it. He very close to winning the championship in the Z tex and one of the quickest drivers when it was an incredibly competitive year and straight away has been the quickest in STS on his introduction to the class this year.
(00:10:14):
Still running with LOH motors but he cocks an inside rear wheel Mc Graham doesn’t and a little bit wide that time perhaps as McGuire. Yeah, look at this Graham closer again. They come out of the S and this is the first time McGuire goes defensive. Holds the centre of the road. It’s game on 76 up the outside of the brakes turning in. Look at the front wheels. Look how much luck they have on Derek Graham has a sniff up the inside McGuire swerves across to the right to defend. It’s going to get a little bit frantic I think Derek Graham just beginning to show him his nose now as they come under the Alpha Mayo Bridge and down towards outside or down towards cast corner I should say. Nice and wide at a late turn in for Derek Graham. Both going quite wide on the exit there.
(00:11:39):
He can help check car still leading but Derek Graham is closer again, he’s right on the back bumper now we don’t need a stopwatch. It was two tenths of a second but they’re absolutely together going across the line now fastest lap is to McGuire early on but certainly the last couple of lap. Derek Graham has been quicker and he’s moving around there hunting down his prey at the front but McGuire not looking rattled at all. The car’s not getting out of shape, he’s not going out over curbs, they’re banging in really quick lap times and they’re just pulling away from everybody else here. Wright White doing nicely in third place and again Graham close enough to have a look right on the back bumper and again equal traction if anything. Graham better traction there on the way up the hill.
(00:12:25):
Good to come back down into the main arena again. Once again, the yellow hitch car just cocking the inside rear wheel this time he stays in tight. He went a little bit wide there last time around which could be dangerous. That might slow you for the second bit, which is flat and third gear just here. But if anything McGuire gets a better run but goes defensive again. He’s not leaving any gaps up the inside. Happy enough to just defend slightly centre of the road. No real attack from Derek Graham. I suspect there’s one coming, although we did see this with Derek last year. He’s very calculating. He’ll know exactly where this will put him in the championship. He’ll know exactly where this will put him for race two so maybe he’d be happy just to sit there but certainly he looks like he’s moving around quite a lot and I think with three minutes 43 to go, the tyres will certainly be getting a little bit too hot a deal in all of these cars towards the end of the race.
(00:13:17):
Well Derek Graham would’ve stab down the inside at turn three. That’s the first attempt we’ve seen there and this is the first time McGuire goes defensive into the second bit. Okay, so Derek Graham knows three minutes, 20 seconds to go if he’s going to have a go now is probably the time to do it better run up the hill, maybe traction from McGuire, although Derek Graham having a go at the first bit may have slowed him there on the exit boat down into the left-hander. Again, very little in it between these two cars. Scrutineers of course, very, very diligent in their checking of these cars. Once again, swerving to the right, the yellow H car, the Beacon Health Check centre of the road. This time Graham goes up the outside and sits around the outside on the brakes. McGuire lets the car run out. Doesn’t give him any room at all, but Derek Graham was already tucked in behind them. All he’s doing is beginning to give him the work over here.
(00:14:14):
Two minutes 31 to run in this one McGuire’s just got himself a happy gap at the perfect time. Let’s see if Derek Graham can close it now. Adam Ney open place there up to 12. The head of Bobby Turley, he’s on his fastest lap of the race as well. He’s actually done a six nine last time around, which is exactly what McGuire and Graham were doing. So Adam Ani would’ve turned a pace there just going by on the top of your screen there. Bit of an eclipse for the beacon cars going nicely and pace on its return dirt Graham has closed that gap down.
(00:14:49):
Those four or five lengths are gone as we come out of the S McGuire this time. Let’s the car run all the way out only slightly heading towards the inside line but nowhere near the centre of the road we saw before first two. Now one minute 37 on the clock, they will get another lap after this one and that’ll be it. Derek Graham will be well aware of that. He’ll have the sums all done. I think they’re both getting a little bit of under here now. So tyres passed their best in all these cars I would imagine just looking at the lap times, they’re so close. Everybody at the 1 0 6 is down there, only the top two have dipped into the fives and they’re well out into the sixes now. Six and a half last time round for both of them back up the hill towards us.
(00:15:44):
Third gear heading back towards the main arena. Slowing them down now, right both right into that apex. Again, Graham quicker to the left-hander, but what McGuire here, he always gets a great run on the way out, just opens that gap a little bit. 2, 3, 4 lengths. So this is it now they’re coming onto the last lap. It’s 43 seconds on the clock and they won’t do a lap in 43 seconds so the next time they come down here they will see the chequered flag being held a loft. Just two kilometres to go. It’s Dave McGuire. He hasn’t put a foot wrong on this one yet. Derek Graham, right with him. Great saloon, car racing. Big big pressure for Dave McGuire but you wouldn’t think that he’s not doing it making any mistakes at all.
(00:16:32):
In fact the happy gap, again, he’s very quick through turn one McGuire. That’s where he gets this gap. Let’s see if Derek Graham can get any way closer. He can at turn three clearly quicker through the first apex. If he can get close again at the ss, maybe able to have a go outside but I don’t know, I think they’re both right on the ragged edge now in the closing stages of this one, this is how they started for information McGuire with a full racing line and full commitment there as he chucks the car in. He’s only think he’s going to be caught here. Graham’s slightly quicker through there but he’s not close enough for a challenge, right? White, not too far away is he As we see the drone footage there, Darren McMullen, Charlie McMillen again with a good recovery drive. He dropped well back in the first portion of this race checker flag is ready and it looks like it’s going to be win number two for McGuire.
(00:17:18):
Absolutely fantastic and Derek Graham delighted with second place flashing the headlights across the line. That’s great stuff. Roy White, great run to third McMullen fourth Charlie McMillan fifth place and Ross Barnes finishes sixth and that will give Ross Barnes whole position for race two. I’m sure that’s a tactical sixth place for Ross Barnes, Adam Oman, he almost claiming another scalp there on a charge as he gets used to his St A man up to 11th place there he got by Chris Jones and he was side by side with Brenda ald across the line there. So great stuff, another great drone shot from above. You can see how plenty of cars on the right hand side. A lot of spectators here today. They’re all very, very welcome. We love having them at an ICCR meeting at Modelo Park. Great entertainment as always from the fiesta sts, they’ll be having their podium presentation after race two so they head back into park firmly for technical checks and then they will go back into the paddock. So next up is going to be the fastest cars of the weekend. The Boss Ireland Cars Formula Boss, Ireland as they call them. That’s Mcil in the yellow car. Soft flashes of pace from McMillen last year. I think we’re going to see more of it this year. The rain is coming once again at Mandela Park. The rain is just starting to come down as the STS file back in. They all look absolutely fantastic. Turned out superbly. Trevor Farrar’s car, always minced the Ferrara Motors car there. Benit girl’s car, just rewrapped
(00:19:19):
So Boss Ireland will be next up but just while they’re getting ready to go we will go to a quick commercial break here on the live footage.
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(00:22:48):
Back racing at Montello Park and as you can probably hear is the loudest and fastest cars at the ICCR. It’s the top line hardware formula Lobos Ireland championship. Ian will start on all position, hasn’t been racing much lately but had a superb gang in bishop’s court recently and put a very, very late entry into this race. They’re going on two warmup laps areas rain out there now and they all appear to be on slick racing tyres from what I can make out. So they’re furiously trying to get heat into them. You can see Cian Carey inducing understeering in the car. They’re putting on full luck and accelerating hard on the main straight left and right and left and right desperately trying to get heat into those front tyres. Keen will be very experienced at stuff like this. He won the F three cup championship wasn’t it?
(00:23:27):
Twice in the UK and Ram with a top team knew exactly what they were doing in terms of tactics and tyre management and stuff like that. He’s also super fit and very, very quick and a lot of people had to go on pole position this morning when qualifying was on. It was quite exciting but when it matters, king Carey had it on a 49 9 48, 9 sorry but 49 4 is Tony Greenan, 49 5 Darragh Daly. Darragh Daly is always great to watch. The surname would suggest he’s a hard charger and indeed he is. He grabs this as dad’s car by the scruff anytime he gets to go on it and Michael Connolly alongside him. Michael Connolly was on pole position as well. Midway through the session then Gary Graham, Daniel Dy, Mark Reade and Morgan McCourt. The two Lee Stone Selco ie. Lee Stone cars on the for row of the grid absolutely to get a small grid but plenty gets tonne loads of power in this 1 47. Three the lap records so they weren’t near that qualifying but little bit of rain now they certainly won’t get near in the race.
(00:24:29):
I would imagine the only people happy to see the rain here are probably the two boys in the Lee Stones, Mark Reade and Morgan McCort because the Lee Stone might be a little bit easier to manage, certainly would’ve a lot less power than some of the other cars out there. Here’s Michael Connolly in the top line hardware car beautifully turned out and the World Series machine. Keen Carey’s still trying to get heat in the back tyres the poleman as he comes back down towards us. So coming down to form up the grid for their first race of the day, day two of the second ICCR round of the year. Soki and Carrie 19 in the Motown car on pole position. Raining champion alongside him. Tony Greenan and always goes well watch ever the two big engine cars behind. They’d be quicker in a straight line but they won’t have the downforce and grip of these F three cars on the front row.
(00:25:28):
The revs are up, no problems for anyone. Great sound effects. Away they go and Keen Carry gets a blinder just beat green and away away. Mark Reade gets an absolute belter in the little lease down. Look at him go. He’s already got ahead of one of the F three cars, he’s having a sniff and another one down into turn. One Castro corner Curie with a little bit of under steer goes wide. That’s why he was trying to get heat into those front tyres to try and get it to turn in. Oh look at Mark Reade. He doesn’t need heat in the front tyres, he just uses the loud pedal. Somebody gone around. That’s Michael Connolly. A turn two at Campion Corner still quite wet out there and I did say this is going to happen with the Lee Stones. No better man than Mark Reade to grab it by the scruff.
(00:26:06):
That’s his second left three car. He’s already only a turn three and he’s wet out there though isn’t it? These cars all on slick racing cars. Difficult, difficult conditions. So it’s Kerry, it looks like green in next though. It is. That’s Tony Greenan that we’re looking at then it’s Alia, then it’s Mark Reade and the Lee Stone from the back. The local man he’d be loving this one. Always worth watching when Mark Reade climbs into a car, be it a V or one of these lease stones come and he’s thinking of having a look at Darren Daley, isn’t he? That lease stone will be very, very well set up built by Paul Heve. Lives locally raised vs raised carts. Actually gearbox carts Paul ey and then raised Formula vs in his Shane and then developed his own car in the early nineties, the first lease down the JH oh oh one and went on to produce championship winning cars in Ireland and the UK and these little formula one thousands that they built that car there. They’re selco cars, they’ve been massively successful in mono postal racism get way out of shape but Mark E doesn’t care or Mark Reade I should say doesn’t care and just piles on the opposite lock. So it’s Kerry Green and Daily Reed, then Farty Morgan, McCourt, Gary Graham and we’re missing Michael Connolly after that quick rotation at turn two.
(00:27:28):
So very difficult conditions and the lap time’s out by 10 seconds. Fastest lap is 1 0 7 9 to carry and he’s way ahead of anyone else. Dar Daley’s managed to keep the car on the island, which would be a hard thing to do. That car in particular it’s not great around the Twiddly. It’s always great to watch. It was great to watch admission score but Mano national it would probably be tough enough to drive even the dry conditions but he’s doing very well here at Dora daily. Hanging on in third place, six dead now the fastest lap to Keen Kerry,
(00:28:41):
Still king Carry out front two laps down 1 0 6 a battle on never second place because Tony Greenan has been caught by Darren Daley who’s really getting into it here. So that’s Gary Graham in front of them they’re going to put a lap on him and here comes Darragh Daly look at the speed like oh he’s trying to fit between the barrier and Tony Greenan, he gets it done. I did say there was no shortage of commitment from Darragh Daly. That’s impressive stuff. He was not taking no for an answer there. And in fairness to Tony Greenan and he gave him room, but I think Tony Greenan and Scar looks like a bit of a handful there beginning to twitch around and in fact Mark Reade’s Time’s coming down and matching Darragh Daly now and matching the lead are almost within a few 10. So Mark Reade on a big charge now was seven five can carry on a seven, one last time round 10, three for green and seven eight for Darragh Daly. So Mark Reade could still, he’s not finished just yet and here he is, top of the picture. In fact. Tony Greenan scar looking a little bit uncomfortable I think.
(00:29:48):
Yeah he’s definitely hauling in green and now could be on for an overall podium here. Mark Reade and the little 1000 cc Lee Stone. Just seven cars still running round the outside goes Reed and he’s got the place right around the outside. Started that one on the brakes but just sat around the outside of Tony Greenan. Something wrong with Tony Greenan. This guy, you could see it there weaving around in Australia as he’s feeding the gears it shouldn’t be doing that so it’s certainly struggling a lot for traction there down into turn one but incredibly Mark Reade for Lee Stone. He is up to third place overall,
(00:30:42):
So a little bit spread out. It’s carry at the front by 7.8 seconds. The fastest lap has just gone to Dara daily. Maybe it’s drying out just a little bit. It must be drying out there. We’re doing sixes, that’s the four eight for carry but a four one for Dara daily but the gap is at 7.8 seconds. I wonder can Dara daily pull this back? There are nine minutes still to run as Kerry goes through there, but watch the top of your screen here. He comes on a massive charge. He’s obviously got some heat into these tyres. Difficult thing to do. Martin Daley was telling me before it’s actually quite difficult to get heat into the brakes and if you don’t they tend to snatch and lock so it’s very difficult on a relatively low speed circuit to get the brakes worn up. But it’s no problem for Dar Daley because he’s absolutely flying here. Although Kerry puts it to bed there with a 3, 2, 9 tenths quicker that time round. He’s obviously got the signal so there’s diara daily now on the way out to turn three everybody’s times are tumbling so it’s obviously a little bit quicker.
(00:31:54):
So key and carry fast up with three, two last summer around. As we said, he’s about to finish another lap, everyone out onto to the main straight now does it go quicker this time? Oh a minute 0.7. A minute 0.7 so it takes a couple of seconds off as fast as have it’s drying and it’s trying fast here at Mandela Park. He and Carrie the first to get rid of 1 0 1 0.4 for Dar daily. He’s putting the hammer down as well. Let’s see what Mark re can do. It does a two one, it’s not too far away with just one litre of power there and it’s Daniel Faherty next through in the F three car. No it’s green and still in fourth place. Sorry. Then Daniel Faherty, they’ve both gone through then it’s going to be Morgan McCort still on the lead lap And then Gary Graham who I think must be in trouble, he’s down two laps already and got soon to be a third.
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That’s him going across the line but the next card that comes into view here on the main street will be Keen and Kerry started off an ITCC, moved into Boss Ireland. Went very quick with a formula reno and got into an F three card and I went to the UK and won a couple of F three cup championships. Has done some racing out for and I was speaking to him in Bishop court. He was saying to me that it can be huge money to go away and do a round and as he said for what you can come back here and do a round way fraction of the price and himself and his dad and another guy to help can run the card themselves without needing a big team and that’s what they did in bishop’s court when he went so well and that’s obviously given him a bit of a taste for it because he’s back at Mandela Park and with Laddy is he carries a good yard stick to measure the rest of them by because he’s very, very quick and that’s relatively modern machinery he’s in as well. He leaves now by 12 and a half seconds and he’s probably brought it down to 57 2 so times are still tumbling. Derek daily 59 7 Mark Reade goes through now a minute 0.5 for him. Greenham will be next up.
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That’s key. And Carrie we’re looking at down at Castle corner he’s going to put another lap on Gary Graham it looks like great drone shot now is the more modern F three car gobbles up the older car. Fastest lap again to carry a 55.355 so it is coming down every lap. He’s already ahead of Graham and streaking away now six minutes still to run in this one in the Conley’s top line hardware formula Bus Ireland championship. See the back of the S is there very quick in these cars, especially you F three cars loads it down for us. Loads of grip Terry, Dennis ladies, he can be on the brake still pushing hard. Never really takes it easy. Every lap is like a practise lap but he’s this far out in front for ink. Air goes through again faster again 55 3. It doesn’t matter how much he’s leading, Mike E. Carey is not inclined to ease off here as it’s straight out though Tony Greenan and has caught up to Mark Reade.
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They’re at the final corner now and we could get a battle on there. Watch the top of your screen, here we go. Green ands card. Obviously responding a little bit better now that the track is drier and Mark Reade’s podium is going to be in trouble here. 58 2 for Mark Reade that time, but a 57 8 9 7 for Tony Greenan. Look out later he is on the brakes than that little Lee Stone. Far more technology in that car. The F three should be able to get through but certainly you can be sure Mark Reade won’t make it easy for him and he doesn’t hugging the right hand side as they head down towards turn three. You have three cars got power though to just blast by before the first apex of turn three. I wonder now can Tony Greenan close down Dara daily, similar in lap times. Another fastest lap now up front for the leader 53 6 9 9 But Darragh Daly’s just in front of these two on the drone shot. You might see ’em here round the S we go look at the top of your screen there he is up at the final corner and I think visibly Tony Greenan and is catching him. Let’s watch the lap times.
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Tara Daley goes through great soundtrack as he goes by 56 9. Let’s see what green and can do green and does a 56 dead and takes nine tenths away from Dara daily. Only four minutes to go but if he could keep doing that, he might get up to ’em by the end of this one. So green and pushing hard. The Northern Ireland man reigning champion loves racing in these bus cars. That’s him now. He’s on a big, big charge. It’s four minutes to go, three minutes 50 actually to go on this one and he’s just straight away from Mark Reade, but let’s see what the gap’s going to be when he comes up here. Now Darragh Daly’s still pressing hard. You can hear that car as he goes through the yeses. Go by Gary Graham again. There he is and look at the background. That’s Gary Graham and there is our third place man, Tony Greenan.
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Very much on a charge. Let’s see what they do this time well daily down into the 50 fives, 55 4, put a 54 7 for Tony Greenan it gap down to 3.9 seconds. Locked inside front knows what he has to do here he’s got by Gary Graham again, Graham now’s free lap down. I think that’s green. And on onboard there’s the car he’s chasing down. You can see Darragh Daly is trying hard. He’s starting to use the curbs again. They’ll stay away from the curbs when it’s wet because they’re like glass but you need them when it’s dry. If you can use them they’ll give you a little bit of extra runoff, a little bit of extra traction and he’s starting to use them again. But certainly the little left three car beginning to work for Tony Greenan and he looked decidedly uncomfortable in that car. With the rain game it looks a lot better now.
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Not moving around at all. You can see his head moving to the right as he flicks the car in. Stands on the power our daily pushing hard. You can see from the body language he’s into the 50 fours with a 54 1 but a 53 2 for Tony Greenan and that’s good stuff. 52 3 for Cian Carey, but certainly Tony Greenan and is closing this one down. It’s 3.1 seconds now with two minutes, 20 to go. Wonder can he do it? He’s taking a better second. A lap pretty much away but I don’t think Dard Daley’s going to make a mistake And you could see by the body language at Dard. Daley’s got he flying harder every lap. Another you fastest lap for Cian Carey, 51.577. So the track is pretty much full dry and pretty quick as well.
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Here comes daily on the brakes, turning it in green and closer again one minute 47 to go right onto the main street. That’s a good luck for daily I feel. Let’s have a look. Yeah, 52 7 at 52 8 for green. And so yeah, the gap has been balanced. He’s not going to catch ’em now a minute and 30 seconds to go as they come out of Castle Corner through Campion Corner and down towards turn three Mark Reade’s got down to a 56 dead. So he’s still going nicely. Ke Carey goes through 51 2 2 4 for fast lap of the race again. He’s done fast. Love of the race on pretty much every lap. Just gone by Gary Graham again. Gary Graham must have a problem. Poor Gary. Be getting dizzy there. He’s used to seeing Kean Carey’s car in this one. Keen’s completed 14 laps, Gary on 11 but hopefully whatever the issue is, they’ll get that fixed for later on. Here’s Keen Carey. Now great drone shot right into the apex, right out onto the curbs. Still mushing hard as ever.
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Darragh Daly 51 4 both in the 50 ones and very close to Keen Carey’s lap time Clin carrie’s fastest lap of the raise. 51 2 Darragh Daly 51 4 Tony Greenan and 51 8. Great recovery from both of these guys but the clock is at 34. He’ll get another lap. He will indeed. There’s no chequered flag this time. Round, marginal 26 seconds to go and he goes by to take his last lap board under the Al Alpha Romeo Bridge down to Castle Corner and Key and Kerry driving beautifully in the Motown car here. Darragh Daly, just looking at them there on the drone footage is no closer certainly for Tony Greenan because Daley has put the hammer down and it’s almost matching the leader’s times fastest first sector again for Carrie.
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51, 4 for Carrie, 51, 8 for green and last time round they go through again. 51 3 for Darragh Daly. 53 1. A slower lap for Tony Greenan and carry down the inside of, I think that’s Morgan McCourt and this should be it. Indeed it is. Checker flag is up fist in the air. Carrie takes a win, a great win and certainly pushed very, very hard all the way through. And guess what? Fastest lap last lap. K Kerry. 50 points. 3, 9, 8 to fast lap time considering it was wet at the start of this race. As we said, the track is obviously pretty much dry but still that’s impressive stuff.
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Watch the top of your screen. Darragh Daly. Great second half of the race for Darragh Daly really got used to that car, got the head down, managed to fight off that attack from Tony Greenan and he was 51 3 was his quickest. 51 5 pretty much matches it and green and in third place, 52 dead for Tony Greenan and then it’s going to be the local man Mark Reade. Great driver for him in the Lee Stone. He was a hero of the early stages. Had it not dried out, he certainly would’ve been on the podium, but he can be prepare to that drive and so can Paul Heve. Great stuff from Lee Stone Racing. Fourth place overall First boss, three car across the line. Winner of the boss, two classes, key and Kerry Boss one is Darragh Daly and Boss three is Mark Reade that it’s Daniel Faherty, Morgan McCourt and Gary Graham. Great stuff from Boss Ireland. They will be on track again as our last race of the day at five to five this evening. So don’t miss that. We will be going racing again with precision graphics, future classics for their second race of the day. They’re already in assembly.
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That’s
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Let’s just go for a quick commercial break here before we bring the future classics out on track to compete at Mandela Park.
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Sometimes when you get to where nobody is supposed to follow you, people actually start to do it well unless you go too far. The new Jeep Avenger now available in e hybrid for Freedom followers.
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Hello, GSE.
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So we’re back in it’s Precision Tint and graphics, future classics championship. So budget class, a lot of older cars, a lot of variance. Great to see them out there. Cheap enough class to get involved in as well. So a lot of people have great fun in this. They have great community spirit, they all help each other. Sometimes do barbecues in the paddock and stuff like that. There’s a barrier time, two barrier times actually. And if you break the barrier time you get a ten second penalty. Quite a few of them did this morning again and a lot of them at round one. But I think some of the quicker cars that were in this class have moved up to Irish tour cars. So it’s a lot smaller the grid, but certainly there’s less chance of that outright barrier time being broken. The outright one is 1 0 6 0.5 on the national circuit here and the slower class is 1 0 9 0.000.
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Just to clear up confusion, the class is called Future Classics but they’ve named the classes in within that super future classics and future classics. So the super future classics, obviously the quicker cars, they start with a slightly separated grid at the front of the grid. The civic cupe of Gilbert Clancy will start on pole position. That’s the car in shot right now. The giant killing Uno of David Hammond. The car new crash up Airs car will start on the outside of the front row. He’s just given thumbs up to the pit crew there. Watch out for Conleth Quinlan. He was quickest and was first across the line in the first race but smash the barrier time and got a penalty for it. Mark slowed down Mark Johnston, nowhere near where he should be on the grid. He’s giving away a couple of feet to the other cars there.
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Then Alan Sweetman, then it got back to Mark Stewart and then the little mini and Aiden Brennan in the focus and we’re away. It’s Mark Johnston once again who gets the best part despite giving away that little plate on the start where he was parked. He’s managed to blast up alongside the Uno. Can he get it done on the brakes? Surely Hammond will come back at him. I think Johnson’s done enough he, he gets into the apex first and he leads from Hammond and Quinlan. So flat out on the opening lap on coal tyres as quick as he can go as the key here and they’re both side by side, the Sika and the Uno. Surely the Sika should be able to blast by the little Luno. Not so easy though, isn’t it David Hammond still is the inside line, but Quinlan sits around the outside for the first bit of turns three oh in the back of the Sika.
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Gives a big twitch just to let ’em know I’m not over keen on that. And cold tyres get a bit of heat into my cold tyres first as they come through then it’s sweating them. Then it’s the other car’s pretty much in grid order I think as they head through that says Zoe Nicholson and the Little Green Mini just bringing up the rear there. She had a quick off earlier, which she comes from RSA racing hasn’t had much. Mandala Park experience comes from Sligo to race. She’s right in the mix this time and somebody dropping to the back. It looks like no Ony in the red mini there. You’re in our shot. Must be a problem for him.
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So there’s Quinlan. So it’s Mark Johnston out front in the 1 7 2 Cleo. He goes through Con Quinlan. Next up then David Hammond in the little Luna. Mark Stewart, Aman, sorry, Alan Sweetman, Mark Stewart, Gilbert Clancy, Paul Stewart, Adrian Brennan just got by Laura Hannon, then Charlie Linnane and Zoe Nicholson. Noel Conachy. The order Ray is shown on the entry list but didn’t take the start so I’m not sure if he’s here. So good battle for third place now as the Sika begins to get away. So the little luno trying to fight off number 55 is Mark Stewart and that’s one of the slower future classic cars. But nobody told him that he’s up messing with the big boys here. He’s got a head of Alan Sweetman and having to go at the back of David Hammond who took the win in the first race. Mark Johnston just trimming away from everybody in the early stages of this and the Cleo 1, 7 2 from fourth on the grid down the outside, got the job done on the brakes, got turned in and has eased away here he comes up the hill of the Cleo.
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Beautifully turned out car. Sika goes defensive there. Hammond having to go defensive too to hold back. Mark Stewart, who’s absolutely charging in the little mini all streaming through there. 1 0 9 0.7 fastest lap was Gilbert Clancy. Gilbert Clancy from Pole has dropped to the back again, but certainly has pace he’s closing these guys and oh look at that. Out of shape and holding on beautifully. 55 Mark Stewart. Not so much for Alan Sweet, but he’s gone around the mini backend. Just got away, almost held it but didn’t quite as though Nicholson goes through. He does a quick turn and gets back going again then it’s Noel Conachy.
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So interesting in Noel. Coy has gone to the back but it’s still going round. It’s still on the pace of the cars in front. I wonder is he using this as a tactic because there were so many certainly the last time out. No icky started from pole after penalties and won after a load of penalties. So maybe he’s just going to sit in the back and take it all in and see if anybody else gets penalties. So Mark Johnston now on the breaks up into the final corner then Quinlan, then a great battle between the little Luna and the mini and down the outside is 55, the mini, these minis somewhere around 120 brake horsepower depending on who you talk to.
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The little luno. Every bit is quick down the straight, in fact quicker, you know 130.1 to the speed trap. Gilbert Clancy fasted through the speed trap that time 1 33 0.3. It’s closing up front now and nine three, they’re not anywhere near the barrier time at nine three for Mark Johnston. I think he did a 13 on a standing start lap. Conna Quinlan look has the gone by it has there it is off in front. So Mark Johnston’s slowing a lot and this one and Quinlan Quinlan’s taken the lead. Johnson second then it’s the Uno of David Hammond and Mark Stewart. So this is a three car battle for second place we’re looking at now. So this is going to be a very slow lap for Mark Johnston. Wonder if you’ve got a problem with the little Leo 1 7 2. No, they’re right back with this league all of a sudden. Again, he was well ahead as they came up out of turn. I’m not sure what there are obviously tactics involved here somehow we watched the times as they go by. Certainly this lead that Sika had out at turn three is long gone. They’ve just cruised up behind them. Yeah, 9, 10, 5 for Quinlan that time. Let’s see what he qualified on. Qualified in a 1 0 7 0.683. So he’s three seconds off his qualifying time.
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Johnson all over him now again. So yeah, I am not sure, certainly Sika leading Cleo up the front anyway. And then it’s David Hammond in third place. Mark Stewart and fourth place Gilbert Clancy in fifth and Paul Stewart, Laura ate and Brennan, Charlie, Nan, Alan Sweetman, Zoe Nicholson and no gie, no con might be gone missing, has he? Yeah, it looks like he has. It’s a shame. Don’t see him anywhere.
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So Quinlan goes through again. Ten five last time around eight dead suddenly, two and a half seconds quicker than his fastest before this. Well Mark Johnston seven, six has found a couple of seconds suddenly as well. There’s a neck and neck now on the way out there. Ika seems to pretty much a match for the Cleo in a straight line. Probably a little bit here, but I’m sure it has more power. No kind, he’s still going, just goes by and clocks up another lap there. But obviously in spot of bother times out to one 20 for him down fifth place is still the fastest, fastest speed through the speed trap looking at it there. So it’s Quinlan Johnson now just six tenths between them as they go through both into the 67 second bracket barrier time broken for somebody, Paul Stewart in the futures again. So it’s number 11, good area shot, the first four, first five together there. And that one let’s Gilbert Clancy the black card, the back of that lead group. Quin just driving away. They were together coming across the line well ahead with the second half of the lap. Now it looks like Mark Johnston is closing them up.
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And Mark Stewart who has a penalty. The first two add onto the main strait. So bolt in the one oh sevens that time round. Johnson tries to get up the inside, that’ll leave him on the outside for Campion corner. Can’t quite get alongside this Ika but keeps the shoe in on the outside. Quinland sees that happening and stays to the right. Paul Stewart and Mark Stewart both receiving penalties now, barrier times broken one 20 back down to the one twelves as fast as lap is to con La Quinlan one 7.340 he still leads this one out front first across the line in race one, but received a penalty which dropped him back this time. He hasn’t broken the barrier time. He’s holding off the close, challenging clear. 1 7 2 of Mark Johnston, seven two for Mark Johnston as fast as lap. So within the barrier time, Hammond on a 7, 8, 7 7 for Gilbert Clancy still battling away. Out front it’s Quinn and Johnson, then it’s Hammond Clancy, Brennan Sweet and Nan Nicholson, Stuart both the penalties. And then Noel Carnegie. It’s a great drone. Shots help to the final corner. Quinlan leaving the door open there. Almost tempting Johnson have a go down the inside if you like, but he doesn’t on that occasion. They’re both through Southside motor factors corner. Just four minutes to go on this one.
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Two litres still coming back towards us around the Lefthander second gear, some of these cars to get them turned in. Then third gear is you change direction. Johnson beginning to crowd the big of Quinn now up to the final corner and then turns in a bit quicker just to keep that inside door closed. Three minutes, 34 on the clock as they go down to start another lap. Seven two and a seven dead that time around. Very close to the barrier. Time for both of them down into turn. 1, 7, 5 for David Hammond. Seven, six for Gilbert Clancy.
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So the leaders coming down at yeses again, two minutes 48 to go. These two well clear of anyone else. Some 4.4 seconds ahead of Hammond last time round. Certainly Johnson almost into the back of the SLE. And now as they head up the head and takes a look down the inside, looks like he could have done it there. Decides to go back to the outside, get a later turn in and try and get a run on the way out. Little bit of undersea from the EK and now we are towards the closing stage of this one and I’m sure that’s not the lightest car out there. Good looking car certainly goes well.
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Hammond goes through in third place. Oh there’s the barrier time broken I think. Maybe not, let’s have a look. No, not quite great drone footage of those two heading down towards turn three a minute. 55. They’ll probably got another lap after this one. I wonder if Johnson got something in the bag. Does look like he’s been trying to get by the last few laps. He’s had a real go up at the final corner, but certainly nothing upsetting. Con Quinlan Paul Stewart to mark the only two showing as the leaders up at the final corner, they will get one more lap. That’s Noel ey just in front of them. And he’s in danger of being lapped in this one, but obviously has a problem somehow. Although let’s back down to the twelves again now seven two metres down to the final corner. The first corner I should say it’s a little bit wide on the exit. Getting back across to the right to get the run through Campion.
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Sika still leading the 1 7 2. The variety of cars, one of the main attractions for a lot of people for this class. Some of the cars we wouldn’t have seen racing for many, many years. The likes of Ham and Zno and some of the Charlie Nan Punto as well. Mark one Punto, we used to have a big class racing for them here, disappeared altogether and we go 24 seconds, they might get another lap. Let’s wait and see. And they come around the final corner, south side motor factor’s corner onto the power right out onto the curb. And a bit of a mistake for Johnson Swerves back to the inside. Certainly cost himself a bit of time there. On the month of the line, there is another lap to go.
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Oy has been laed and a very slow lap for him. One 18 I bet the feeling no is just trying to nurse that car home. So that’s a good lead for Conleth Quinlan over after that mistake from Mark Johnston coming out on the last lap. Just trying a little bit too hard on the exit curb south side and under steer onto it and then it got grip and went back to the right. He hit to swerve away from the curb a little bit. So that’s let the ika well away. Johnson trying hard and close that gap. They clock us down to zero. This will be their final lap. So here they come Now chequered flag should be prepared. Con Quinlan and Mark Johnston been together for duration. The chequered flag has waived in the Sika, takes the win of Quinlan. Mark Johnston in second place and not too far away in the little giant killing Uno was David Hammond in third place as Gilbert Clancy who started from pole position in that Civic cupey. And 55 goes through Mark Stewart.
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So Mark Stewart to Paul Stewart first up in futures. I know they must’ve got a second penalty. They’ve just dropped right back down. So Aiden Brennan going to take futures now, so penalties coming into it quite a lot there in the slower future. Classic class. So the stewards dropping well back in fact to eighth and 10th overall as Zoe Nicholson takes the chequered flag in her little mini. So that’s the second race of the day for precision graphics, future classics championship. I really do think that barrier time probably needs a rethink with the resurfacing here at Mandela Park. There’s certainly a little bit of a stretch maybe in some of those cars. Class is brilliant. The racing is very, very good. But I think another little stretch for them to get to a barrier time would not do any harm at all. That said, some of the really quick cars have gone out of the class into touring cars after the fiasco at the first round, so who knows? But great to see all these different cars there. And they are really well turned out. Mazda MX five Minis Fi, Punto Fi, UNO, Reno, Cleo and Toyota Slic. And there are a lot of other cars eligible for this class lying around. So I’m sure we will see them coming out as the year goes on.
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Rolling, rolling Start. So great shot of the international track corporate event going on there. So you can see the single seater cars in the pit lane and the saloon race cars down there. If you want to come down here, you can buy a voucher if you just want to do it on your own or you can come down with your company or with your friends and book a corporate event here, have conferencing facilities, have lunch, have whatever you want and then get out on track at some of our cars. Almost 50 cars in the fleet here at Mandela Park. 10 singles seat, there’s 10 saloon race cars, fleet of Ferraris, Porsches, all these supercars and more coming to join that fleet soon at Mandela Park. So have a look at Mandela Park, IE if you want to get on track down here. Meanwhile, back at the ICCR, it is our friends from the UK modified forward series for their third and final race of the weekend. They gave us great entertainment in race one and two and they’re back out on track now for another race. So Jason Davies will start on pole position. Jim Hutchinson alongside him. They’re the two quickest. There have been all weekend in this one,
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So car’s weaving around on track. That first card is the year Cos word is Jason Davies. He won race two Hutchinson won race one. Jim Hutchinson on the outside of the front row, the space mark one beautifully turned down car very, very quick and very spectacular. Dave Cockell on the second row with James Owen. Then Josh Payton, David Re, Rob Lewis who we spoke earlier here on the air. Then Steve Piit, Sean Kiernan, Graham. Wait, Colin Claxton and Andy Robinson. I don’t think we’re going to see Colin Claxton. I’m told his gearbox let go of that. It’s such a shame. Beautifully turned out Carnie gave us great racing with Rob Lewis in both of the first two races. If you’re watching from the UK we heard this, a lot of the fans of this class watching. You’re very welcome, great to have you watching. Hope you’re enjoying this footage and we really are enjoying having these UK race cars, the modified Fords here.
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I think everybody got a little bit of a shock on Friday in testing. We saw how quick they were and the pole position time in case they didn’t say earlier was 55 seconds for Jim Hutchinson. It’s very hard to get any kind of a saloon car around here in under a minute, 55 seconds, particularly quick. So we love to see it. Of course, a lot of memories being awoken here with some of these older cars and away they go. Can Hutchinson get it from the outside the front row? No, the big Sierra powers ahead as they go under the Alfa Romeo Bridge. Hutchins going to be later on the brakes, the car’s lighter. Can he get across the bows of the Sierra? Only just, but he does and he takes the lead as they head through turn one then it’s cockle. Next up I think in the escort Cosworth, although he has to back out of it just a little bit.
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Somebody’s got through on the inside. Is that James Owen? I think it is number eight, but certainly that’s Davis we’re looking at there. Now down is a double apex, a right-hander and Hutchson already got up the road a little bit, but this happened the last time. The lightweight car certainly got on the pace quicker, but when the Big Sierra got up and running, it was every bit as quick and then it started closing the gap down and he’s locking brakes already down into the s big commitment from Jason Davies. He knows what happened. He knows he’s got to stay in touch with Hutchinson. He’s going to have a chance but look behind them because staying right with them is Dave. Dave Cockell. Look at that and this escort cousin, I saw him working on that car at lunchtime. I’m working on it this morning and he’s been fiddling around with it just a little bit.
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An upper place goes Josh Payton in the car. Everybody’s talking about this weekend. The wide arch mark two Cortina and he just about gets ahead of James Owen on the breaks into the final corner there. So the order, Hutchinson, Davis, Cockle, Peyton, James Owen, David Guthrie, Sean Kiernan, Rob Lewis, Steve Pri and Graham. Wait and that is your order at the end of lap one. That’s Rob Lewis in the Ford focus we were speaking to earlier. This is a great run from Dave Cockell though in the escort look at this. Not only is he hanging onto the area, he’s closing it down. They’re not letting Jim Hutchinson go away. Hutchson gets a very, very quick first lap. He knows Mandela better than these guys. He’s a very, very experienced and quick driver and he’s certainly quicker on the opening lap. But look at this big commitment from the second and third place visitors Jason Davies and Dave Uck.
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They don’t want to get him away. They know what they have to do here. Vastly improved performance for Dave Cockell as he gets used to the track. He wasn’t staying with these guys in the earlier races. He’s certainly staying with them now in the silver escort Cosworth lifting wheels and laying down rubber Now as they come onto the main strait, Jim Hutchinson blast across the line with a 57 dead to put down the first marker at the end of lap two, but the cap is just 1.4. Back to Jason Davies with 57 1 just a 10th slower and Dave Goggle. Just another couple of tents off that one. So this is great stuff. The first three driving away from everybody else. Josh Payton’s next up on a 60.445. James Owen on a 60.8. James Guty 61 2 Sean Kiernan, 61 6 Rob 63, 4 60, 64 8 and Graham weights it sits one 10.6 7 5 70 points 6 1 5.
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Some twist closing up front isn’t it? That gap is getting smaller. Was 1.4 seconds. I’m not sure it’s the same. Certainly it’s a big, big charge from Davis here and he’s chasing down that lightweight car. Look at this, he’s definitely closer but than trying really, really hard. You can tell from the body language guard just putting a little bit of rubber down as he stands on it. Great last corner though and that opens the gap again, it could be around the same. Let’s see, it’s slightly less. Jason Davies, fastest lap, 56.8 9 0 56, 9 5 4 for Hutchinson 57, 4 for Dave Cockell. Then it’s Peyton goes through with Owen, not too far away from him. Good battle between those two. Then Guthrie and Sean Kiernan pretty much together, not too far away from them with the headlights on is Rob Lewis and then Steve Priman and the beautiful Mark one escort but the first three have driven away from everybody else.
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We can see them now in shot at the double lakes, right apex, right-hand and back up the hill now powering back up the hill towards us here in the main arena. Hutchinson gets the car turned in as away but the gap is pretty stable now. In fact they may be just losing cockle a little bit. There’s that battle we spoke about between Peyton and James. Owen, there’s the leaders again and I do think that gap is it well has it opened a little bit, possibly not much in it but they’re dropping the escort in third place just a little bit fast as lap. Yeah, it is fast as lap for hutches and no it’s not. Davis takes it back both in the 56 sixes but the gap is now at 1.3 seconds. So I think what’s happening there is the gap is ebbing and flowing isn’t it?
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It’s opening and closing at different places on the track, which would make sense. We’re going to lose somebody. There’s that Graham weight. I think that is Graham weight coming in the escape row. That’s a shame. Yeah it is. We’re going to lose one car just running over to make sure he is okay. That’s actually the original Mandela Park track would you believe from 1968 just for one year they used to come straight down. Well it’s not straight is it? It’s like in essence and rejoined just before the final corner. The track was way under one mile at the time as they added on the loop for turn three in the double apex corner in 1969. It’s warming up up front. This is what we saw before. Once he gets heat in his tyres, he starts to really, really push Jason Davies and he’s driving super early.
(01:13:23):
He’s got the headlights of blaze again and Jim Hutchinson will be acutely aware of this massive Sierra cos we closing him down. He takes a lump out of the inside curb again, he loves getting up on the inside curb and that guy, he’s quite hard on it, obviously knows how to drive it, knows how to get it turned in. Oh he gets a little bit out of shape there in the exit of turn too. Not a nice place to get out of shape at Mandela Park but Jason Davies doesn’t care. He didn’t get that memo. Keeps it planted and keeps closing that gap down. He’s got fastest lap at the moment than he is closing down the leader as he lays down some more rubber on the way up the hill out of of turn three. It’s thrilling stuff from the UK modified Ford series. Dunno whose decision that was for them to come over, but it was a great decision. Hopefully they’ll come back to us next year. We’ve had three absolutely cracking races and this one looks like it’s going to be every bit as exciting up to final corner once again Sierra, possibly slightly slower through that corner but quicker most of the way around the rest of the lap. But is invisibly trying now and he puts in a new fastest lap. 56 6 3 oh opens it by four tenths back from 1.10 to 1.4 seconds.
(01:14:31):
Great stuff. So the leaders heading out towards turn three. Just look at this battle now and that’s the one we were talking about, the two forwards having a well they’re all forwards Aren with the two older forwards having a real go because Dave Cockell and the mark two Corina having to keep one eye on the mirrors because number eight, James Owen in the mark one escort has he got by him. I think he has another lockup for Davies into the essence that he tries to close that gap. We just caught that one at the right time. There’s been a change with the Corina. Comes back at the escort now on the run out to turn three. This is fantastic stuff. Two iconic cars battling away so the escort gets turned in beautifully right into the apex. No problems there.
(01:15:15):
David Guthrie not too far from them in the fiestas T as well. If you watch the back of the screen where they turn into the righthander here, just watch in the background there it is not too far away from them so they’re having an incredible battle. So here they come up to the final corner. So number eight, having got through on that lap, James Owen looks quite comfortable hanging the tail out just slightly there as they blast past us. Peyton’s car slightly quicker in a straight line according to our speed shop by about seven or eight kilometres per hour.
(01:15:55):
Still no change at the front. That’s where the battle is at the moment I think is between those two, but just in with a little bit of traffic but it’s not bothering him. In fact, I think eight beginning to get away. James Owens stretching the legs a little bit and nothing Josh Payton can do about it than the Corina at this stage. Both right into the apex st a little bit closer to my feel on this occasion. Still down into the essence again to the Lefthander. Keep left for as long as you can. Then through the righthander should be pretty much flat. David go through just banging in the times behind them slightly quicker for the last two or three laps. Sean Kiernan going quicker as well in they’re wake wake.
(01:16:45):
That one could close right up as this race goes on. Mark one escort just holding off the drifting mark. Two Cortina, great stuff. More rubber being laid down in the Mandela Park are a big arm full of opposite locks. Spectators love to see that coming out of Castro corner and heading through Campion and it’s the big rundown to turn three and look at that Fiesta st. It is getting closer isn’t it? Let’s have a look at the lap times last time round a minute 0.6, minute 0.7, minute 0.5 10th quicker. Again last time round. He’s trying very hard out over the curbs on the way up. James Gore as he tries to catch the two elderly cars in front. Well relatively st going nicely big back wing on it and a front splitter looks a lot more modified than the artist v sts and behind them Sean Kiernan beginning to get the head down as well. He’s just done a personal best 1 0 1 0.038 and we’re losing one of the cars. That’s a shame just being pulled in five minutes still to go. That’s Jason Davies was pulled into the escape road, that car on fire unfortunately while we were watching that other battle, he’s just going to have a go at that himself. He’s going to open the bonnet, the marshals on the way with fire extinguishers. He should be able to put that out relatively easily. In fact it’s probably gone out but there we go.
(01:18:06):
Okay, so he’ll know where that’s coming from, absolutely fine. Well that’s lucky. That’s a shame from our point of view. That was such a good drive from Jason Davies. He really, really was trying so, so hard closing that gap, locking wheels up over inside curbs. The m and s engineering car being beautifully driven and we got two good races. We’ve got plenty of entertainment in this third race, so he’s having a look at it there himself just to make sure he is happy with that. The Jeep ready to tow ’em back in if needs be. That will all leave Hutchinson way out in front. Still four and a half odd minutes to go. That battle is still racing. That’s going to become a three car battle. I did say that it’s taking a long time but certainly David Gut is chipping away behind them and he’s beginning to close down those cars in front. Mark won escort mark two Cortina and the Fiesta ST one 50 go through almost together now they all move up a place as chasing Davis disappears from our lab charts. Unfortunately it’s Hutchinson going through all alone, not too far away as Dave Cockell. He’s still been going well, hasn’t he? He’s drifted back a little bit. He’s still banging in the times. Well under a minute 58 that time round hutch and slower that time. Round 1 0 1 0.040 probably well aware that Davis is gone but still putting them in. Close the gap by two seconds last time. Round
(01:19:44):
Battle still rages as they come back towards us. In fact the escort or the Cortina, if anything, a little bit closer that time round. Josh Payton. Yeah, he was quicker that time. Round three tenths almost back up under that big back wing in the mark. One escort is in a 1 0 1 jet again in a 58 7. In fact the cap is closing for the lead clap gap is closing for the lead. It’s visibly closing. There we go. Hutchinson is leading but let’s look at his lap time 1 0 2 0.6, Dave Cockell, 58 walnuts. Game on with three minutes to go in this one Hutchinson, I wonder is he in trouble? The car certainly looks fine. We’re not seeing the flames coming from on the overrun we used to see unless he’s just easing off and he doesn’t realise cockle is in the running, but certainly Dave Cockell knows what’s happening.
(01:20:32):
He’s got the hammer down in second place in the gap at just 2.3 seconds now inside the final fuel up while the flames are back, but maybe he does know what’s happening. He’s putting the hammer down now. There we go. What a drive. Dave Cockell really coming into this one in the closing stages, but I think Hutchinson must have just eased off a little bit too much because he certainly looks like he’s back on it again. You can tell by looking at that car, the gap’s opened again straight away. So let’s see if Hutchinson can bang in a big one. That gap is really far open inside one lap. It’s a couple of seconds difference I think. Now he was out to a 1 0 2 the last time around Hutchinson. Let’s see what he does this time round.
(01:21:08):
He’d surely be gone back under a minute. Yeah, 57, 4 7 8. Dave Cockell, 57 9. He’s almost matching him but he’s not going to close that gap but certainly Jim Hutchinson had to wake up there and go again didn’t he? Because Dave Cockell giving him a real run here in the silver escort second place. So it’s Hutchinson, Cockle, James Owen, Josh Payton, Sean Kiernan, Robert Lewis, Steve Cret and that’s it. Just eight cars still running in this one. Here’s Hutchinson again and he will keep pushing now and imagine till the end with two minutes to run in this a lick of flames as Hutchinson comes down through the gears and the paddle shift into the S then keeps it pinned through the righthander. All the track and a little bit of curve on the exit. Carries incredible speed up towards the final corner. 1 8 1 gets right into the apex on the par again the back of the car moving slightly. You can see that he’s trying 57 4 last time round 57 4 this time round 57 8 for Dave Cockell. He’s only a few tenths slower isn’t he? But that gap has gone out to over two three seconds so that’s 15 to get more lap after. Now I would imagine if that either goes through Camp Corner down to turn three
(01:22:44):
Hutchinson. Now down into the yeses again, 14 laps completed. Fastest up on lap. Six of 56, 6 57 4 last time round Still hasn’t given up in the background. Dave Cockell brave effort, still pushing very hard but I don’t think there’s anything you can do at this stage about the space. Fair escort of Jim Hutchinson. 57 58, 0 0 2 57 4 maybe I spoke too soon. That’s a cracking lack from Dave Kolin. It’s six tenths quicker than the leader Dave Cockell and it brings the gap down to 2.6 seconds on the final lap and there’s a bit of traffic really for a little bit of excitement in this one, but I can’t see Jim Hutchinson being rattled. He’s driven superbly all weekend, great shots of the car there just every time he goes down a gear. A little bit of flame coming out of the exhaust, right on the power back up the hill now.
(01:23:36):
So the final time, the clock is at zero for a second win of the weekend. 1 8 1 Jim Hutchinson, that’s 66. David Guthrie, this is Sean Kiernan who’s on Hutchinson’s shopping list, decides not to have a go into the final corner. It’s got plenty of time, gets turned in, gets on the power chequered flag is prepared and it’s going to be win number two for Jim Hutchinson. Great drive in the RSR escort under the Alpha Rome Mayo Bridge and takes another win. What about that Dave? Great drive in second place. He really never gave up there and pushed all the way. Great stuff. Well those two well ahead of anybody else in this will. James Owen, Josh, Peyton and David will be the next one. Rob Lewis. We’ll get next across the line. He’s still improving at times almost into 1 0 2, so 1 0 3 0.012, still doing those times at the end of the race. He goes through there. Rob Lewis finishes in all three races. He’ll be happy with that one.
(01:24:41):
Here’s number eight, James Owen, he’s going to complete the podium and this one great drive from him to get by Josh Payton and just pull away slowly in the end there. So there you go. So Mark one escorts in the top three. James Owen takes third. Josh Payton takes fourth. There’s David Rie, great run from him too. So fantastic stuff from UK modified force. I’m almost sad that that’s their third race of the weekend. Really good to watch. Great guys, lovely to meet them and great to have them and host them here at Mandela Park. Hopefully we get some more UK classes over very, very soon at Mandela. It’s great to see machinery like this racing around Mandela Park. A lot of race fans here today enjoying it. A lot of cars parked around the circuit you can see there at the top of your screen right the way back behind the grandstanding, down towards the circuit offices.
(01:25:32):
So great to see it. They’re coming back in now. They’ll be doing a podium shortly. Meanwhile, we will be going racing with the second race of the day with the biggest class of the day to budget tin tops, it’s the 1250 cc Ford Fiesta Z Tex technical spec, barely any. You can’t do anything to the engine. In fact, you can raise the compression very, very slightly. You run a nine Kang track day tyre. They run a controlled spring and that’s it. Shocks are pretty much forward spec standard KYB is a controlled shock but that’s just a manufacturer. They’re not expensive at all. The shocks control springs about a hundred euro for the four springs they run standard. We run a standard forward wheel, nine tank tyres, a hundred, 110 euro a corner. Not hard on them, whatever brake pads you like but the brakes are standard. Pretty much everything in the car is standard. They don’t give any trouble. They rarely break very last words but they rarely break down. We do a six hour endurance race for them at the end of the year. If any of the modified Ford gentlemen would like to come over and do that race, you’d be very, very welcome. We could probably locate a car for you if you didn’t want to put one together yourself. So we’d love to see some of those guys back. They’ve obviously mastered Mandela Park pretty quickly as they head out.
(01:26:41):
So Neil Murphy leading them out. The biggest enthusiast in the paddock, Stech safety headman. He’s known to us of course from supplying most of the Mandela clothing that you see us wearing. He’s supplied a lot of the bigger companies in the paddock use him as well. So he supplies branded clothing, safety gear, the cones you see around the place, all that sort of stuff. The high-vis jackets. That all comes from Neil Murphy and S CEC Safety. He’s a very good partner of ours here at Mandela Park. He sponsored his CEC class for the last four or five years and he’s very, very much involved in the running of the class. He does an absolutely superb job. Gets on well with everyone, encourages rookies especially. He loves to see them and there he is. There’re a great shot of him and with his arm out the window and it EC safety, high speed delivery.
(01:27:28):
Van loves this van and leading them round. We presented him with this van last year. Complete surprise. Everybody worked on it and we hid it in a garage and I pretended to interview him in the pit lane while the car came up behind him and we did a bit of a silver black surprise surprise, but he didn’t. No tears or anything like that. It just absolute delight. Typical O’Neal Murphy jumped into the car and immediate he did his first lap and I dunno how many people took photos of we were pretty, the best exposure seems like safety has ever had, but safety online, ie. If you want to have a look at that, but give ’em a ring or send ’em an email. You get us details very easily here. That’s a great shot of the fiestas coming down into the S. That’s what I was saying, they’re pretty soft standard shock but a controlled spring.
(01:28:08):
They’re not completely soft but they’re not very stiff and tyre management’s a little bit of an issue, but generally you can grab these cars by discover the neck and if you want those last few tenths of a second as they go through Nordic Spirit Corner, you have to throw them around a little bit. You have to overdrive them. Neil Murphy peels off in the Ctec safety HighSpeed van and the rest of ’em come down towards us. It’s Andy Kavanagh pole position for Miles Plus. It’s Aiden Mul. Really the American Airlines pilot. Delta Airlines pilot who commutes I just you not from America for every one of these races then it’s Alan Dawson on second row it’s Rob Barbell. Watch out for Robin Row two, then Harry McGovern and Sean McGovern, the two brothers beside each other. I’ve heard a little whisper that whoever wins or whoever’s first across the line from either of those two gets to race the family, say at Super Cup car at Oakton Park next week.
(01:28:57):
I am not sure if that’s true or not, but I like the idea of it then. It’s Phil Lawless and Christian Brennan and it’s Kelsey Kirby. She’s been going well. She loves the top 10 finish as Kelsey mad keen to get into the top six and has been eking her weight closer. There’s Neil Murphy in shot now walking up the pit lane, checking his correspondence. Then it’s next up is Samuel Doyle, then it’s Keith Lenahan, it’s Rallycross champion. Then the two rookies together on the next row of the grid. Mikey Mohan and Evan Walsh, Cole McLaughlin, Michael McCardle, Curley McGivney, Sean Personal, Finn Gillespie, Frayer Burns, Garrett Phayres, Tonya Fortune, Marc Mulhern and the rest on. Away we go Mullet Reed against the start. Full second gear to Parable. Going to give him a little bit of help perhaps on the outside. Look at this drone footage,
(01:29:51):
Look at that. Certainly I don’t think that happened to Mulready on his own. I think there might’ve been a bit of a caca. He run down the inside there. He held onto it nicely but he wasn’t leading anymore. So it’s parable, is it leading? We can’t see now as the head towards turn three side by side for the lead. Somebody else down the inside Dawson down it. Hardy McGovern leading this one that Dawson into the back of Harry McGovern twice, but only little taps parable sit around the outside. But typically Dawson gives them notes arm as they head back towards the S that won to turn around Parable I don’t think. Although Dawson gets the door closed now on the way down to the ses all spreading out now we do have a replay of that I’m told in my ear so we’ll have a look at that shortly down into turn one or bearable crowding Alan Dawson who’s gone uber defensive way over to the inside. So Barrels had to go with the outside up the outside now and gets across the back and there’s a territorial dispute behind them between Andy Kavanagh and Mulready and Phil Lawless is going to get the better of Mulready now out onto the main straight gets up the inside of him.
(01:30:55):
I don’t expect him to stay there. The battle of the rookies as they go through and it’s Moynihan leading from Walsh Finn Gillespie, way up, five places up inside a lap. He’s third inside the rookies. So Fin Gillespie going well and the car that they painted this morning night in one of the garages sounds like a joke. It’s not. That car was literally bolted together at five o’clock this morning having been painting Porters with a great drive so far. This Sean McGovern down the inside of Mulready. It really goes back at ’em though round the outside. But McGovern should get that done. Phil Lawless will be next on his list. He’s got to be careful. He’s championship leader here and Dawson I suppose is danger man in the championship. Certainly after round one, maybe not so much this morning. Oh Harry McGovern up front and it’s Dawson.
(01:31:36):
We want to have a look at that replay when I get a chance when it calms down with the problem with these EC safety Fiesta SeaTech races is they don’t calm down or defensive. Defensive defences from Harry McGovern goes right across to the inside, slows them all down. A little bit of contact from Dawson again into the back of him and Dawson pushes him wide coming onto the main straight out a shot, tries to get up the inside, doesn’t manage to do it. It allows bearable to have a go again at Dawon. But Andy Kaon up the inside of Barnable and it’s side by side for third place now as they come down the main street, there’s that drone footage and Sean McGovern’s got a head of Phil Lawless. Now Lawless tries to go back at him on the brakes, manages to get it done.
(01:32:12):
McGovern can’t sit round the outside but he is moving back towards the pointy end here. So McGovern’s going to have to watch out for that. We saw that before. Dawon just unsettling in the back end of his car and if had he gone wide, certainly Dawon would’ve been alongside but he managed to hang onto it. Harry McGovern, he’s massively experienced and very, very quick. Not so much in Z Tex but certainly Cleo Cup say a Super Cup former race winner in that class. So he’s got plenty of speed, plenty of Racecraft, but he’s under big pressure here First four together now Sean McGovern will really have to get going here and get by Phil Lawless. Easier said than done to get by. He’s already fighting back, well really who’s back him but the first four absolutely together now Bernie McGovern watch out for contact from Dawson again. As they come up the hill goes to the inside Dawson right in behind them and into the back of him again. And to Parable trying to sit around the outside. There’s bits coming off one of the cars there.
(01:33:09):
Here they come now Dawson on the inside parable trying to get it go on the outside. I had say Groundhog Day is the exact same, isn’t it? It’s Parable on the outside trying to have a go with Dawson, but Andy Kavanagh gets him and Andy Kavanagh launches it down the inside of Alan Dawson I think. Has he got it done? No. If Dawson contains this one, he’d be doing well. He has and he has done well there. Dawson’s managed to hang on somehow that was a reasonably good move for Andy down the inside. Second gear, there was a gap, got it in there. Doesn’t wound off the lock, didn’t turn in, kept the power down, drown the outside and managed to hang onto to the space. So Andy Kavanagh getting very racy now in the Miles plus car. Phil Lawless coming up to see what’s happening, bringing Sean McGovern with him. It’s very, very good. Racing at the front of the Stech safety PS the D Tech championship race two at Mandela Park. It’s a bit like Formula Ford racing. This isn’t it? There are eight cars going for the lead here.
(01:34:02):
McGovern Dawson Barbell, Kavanaugh Lawless, Sean McGovern and Aidan Mulready altogether. GA back then to Samuel Doyle is going nicely in the rookies. It’s Michael Moynihan, Evan Walsh and Finn Gillespie has got up to the two of them. So Finn Gillespie on an absolute cracking drive here. You might have a look at them shortly, but the action up the front is absolutely incredible. In fact there they are coming through there. Watch out for the black car. That’s Finn Gillespie. He’s right with them. There’s Mehan, there’s Dalton and having to go down the inside, the black car there is Finn Gillespie. So the rookies won two and three absolutely together, but Finn Gillespie will be absolutely loving this one because that car was barely running yesterday. It sounded like a bag of nails and it didn’t look a whole lot better. They’ve done some work on it. Not only is it back out there, it’s absolutely flying the rookies 13th, 14th, and 15th and just half a second separating the three of them as they went across the line that time. So absolutely fantastic stuff is still behind them.
(01:35:10):
Sorry, Barbara Fourth and Lawless, John McGovern. Well there is a trophy purely for bragging rights. McGovern gets up the inside of Phil Lawless and gets it done. That’s a great move there it is the top of your screen and closes the door and the exit. That’s a cracking move. Phil Lawless again gave him racing room not much more. That’s the salute our racing we want to see at Mandela Park. Belter of a move last minute lunge down the inside. So I was just about to say before it kicked off again, there is a trophy for the first of the Mandela cars across the line. There are three Mandela employees out here just for fun. We said we’d put up a trophy for the first of them. It’s really for slagging rights at half 10 tomorrow morning in the canteen. But at the moment that is Finn Gillespie just for Marc Mulhern, but Mulhern is closing them down.
(01:36:08):
He’s just the second back, the two black Mandela cars. Harry McGovern puts a wheel off on the outside there to us and close enough to have a go again. This will be interesting when they get to the final corner and it’s Andy Kavanagh driving Superbly and Rob Barrow the experience of these first four, certainly in second, third, and fourth place, there’s probably, I don’t know how many years of experience there. Alan Dawson certainly started racing back here in 1986 or 87 in a mod sport MG Midget. So massive experience there on again into the back of McGovern at the Apex. McGovern doesn’t bother him, doesn’t trace to get up the inside, doesn’t do it on that occasion. So McGovern knows exactly what’s happening. Experience tin top razor, he’ll know what the plan is there. You probably need to slow it down perhaps at the apex so that will keep happening because if he gets a tap up there and it unsettles and Dustin will get up the inside of the exit. That’s exactly what he doesn’t want to happen. So not making any effort to get away. Happy to back them all up I’d imagine is Harry McGovern and then it’s Allen Dust and Andy Kavanagh, Robert Barrable, Sean McGovern, Phil Lawless, Aidan Mulready, Samuel Doyle, Keith Lenahan and Christian Brennan is the order Marc Mulhern has got by somebody there. Now who are we missing?
(01:37:18):
Oh, Evan Walsh has fallen back a little bit. Finn Gillespie up to second now. And closing down Michael Moynihan with the rookie lead inside rear wheel there. McGovern Morgan Dempsey running these cars, the McGovern cars doing a suit Super job as ever. Great Mullingar Motor Sporting family Dynasty, many, many racers from there. McGovern defensive again, Austin still trying to do the same thing. Not coming off and in fact Austin under a little bit of pressure now from Kavanaugh who gets a good run onto the main strait. Kana knows though if he goes around the outside bearable will be back down the inside so he won’t know what to do. Whichever the two black cars coming towards us now. They’re the two Mandela cars and they’re in the wall. There’s contact there, a Gillespie, Gilles and Mark Mul Hearn that was contact and one of the just rubbing off the Armco. I’m not sure which was which there, but certainly maybe we shouldn’t have put up that trophy for the first Modelo car home. It’s a harder battle than it is up front, but up front it’s Recover and Austin Kavanaugh barbell Sean McGovern and Aiden Muled and Phil Lawless as they crossed the line, Michael Moynihan leads the rookies from Phil Gillespie and Evan Walsh.
(01:38:42):
Again, Marville trying to get alongside. He’s got a good run. They’ve just been joined by Sean McGovern. I’m sure Sean McGovern is doing the points in his head. Alan Dawson certainly will be. Dawson just wants to finish ahead of Sean McGovern. McGovern takes a lunge down the inside of Rob Barbell who comes off the brakes and rolls up alongside Andy Kavanagh. I think McGovern’s going to get up the inside. Here he is. Five minutes still to run an absolute cracking race. But McGovern and Dawson absolutely together and Ka McGovern ahead of barbell as they went by us and he’s on the inside. He’s got it done Or has he? Look at Rob Barbell down the outside the brakes. No, Sean McGovern has it done down the inside of Rob Barbell. You’re doing well If you can get by Rob Barbell around Mandela Park and that’s what he’s just done. So the McGovern’s performing superbly here first and second in qualifying first and second in race one a Dawson will see what’s happening behind. You’ll be acutely aware of the second green car joining this train.
(01:39:43):
We’ll giving each other a little bit of help down at turn three. It’s McGovern, it’s Dawson, it’s Andy Kavanagh, it’s Sean McGovern on a big, big charge who would fastest lap as well at ten seven. That’s not far off the lap record here at Mandela Park. You know ten seven, I think the record is a ten four. It is ten four five nine is the record. Three tenths off the record while he’s charging up. Next on his list is going to be Andy Kavanagh. Not quite close enough to have a go. Just as I say it, he is close enough to have a go and he launches it down the inside of Andy Kavanagh. Sean McGovern going really well here to give you to just enough room on the way out. And I think McGovern’s got it done. He has indeed. Andy Kavanagh’s going to be boxed out here. Kavanaugh, try and get back around the outside into term moment.
(01:40:23):
McGovern is just last of the late breakers into South side Motor factors corner. Kana does try and get back down the outside and in fact there’s nowhere to go for McGovern, but Kana goes wide and McGovern’s got it done. Tonya Fortune there. She stays well out of the way. Her first race, remember does a great job there. Oh look at Parable using an alternative route to get alongside Andy Camp. It almost worked, didn’t it? So somehow Sean McGovern now back up to third place and next on his list is his championship rival. Alan Dawson. Harry McGovern leads. Alan Dustin, second. Alan Dustin. The meat in the McGovern sandwich now as they come back towards the main arena again, fracking race, probably race the day so far. We’ve had brilliant racing today, haven’t we? Here they come back towards us and from way back now Sean McGovern would fastest Lap is up to third place and he’s crawling all over. Alan din for third place. His brother Harry’s in the lead that those three absolutely together.
(01:41:22):
Dawson has a look down the inside of McGovern. He might get up the inside here. We saw him do this before. I think he has got up the inside and here comes Sean McGovern. So Harry on the outside, Alan Dawson on the inside. Sean McGovern. Not sure who to back, he goes with the brother on the outside. Dawson should get it done here. He has done super stuff. Sean McGovern in third place now Harry McGovern trying to have a go back at Alan Dawson gets along side, but he is on the wrong side. A turn two ambient corner. Happy to sit around the outside though. You need to see those cars. He’s gone off on the outside I think can’t really see it there. I thought he had that done. But now Sean McGovern down the outside of both of them goes by Harry and gets level with Alan Dustin.
(01:42:05):
So hurry going to let his brother by. It doesn’t look like it. No, I don’t think so. Maybe this is true. The story that was going around about to say it because Harry is certainly now hurting Sean A. Little bit. Sean McGovern needs to get up to Alan Dawson here. They come up towards the final corner again. Two minutes still to run. Oh, Harry McGovern with a lunge down the inside though and he gets it done. Oh, Dawson turns in on top of this contact. Sean McGovern goes through Alan Dawson into barbell now. So we’ll have to watch that one back as well. I was going to look at the original move, but Sean McGovern there gets through that looked like a carbon copy of the last lap, last corner at the final race meeting at the final race of the last meeting here. Certainly Sean McGovern launched it up the inside. When Dawson turned in, they made contact. They all got a little bit out of shape. It’s getting a bit messy in that group, but not for Sean McGovern. What a drive from way, way back McGovern. Now Sean McGovern out front, it’s fast and lap was down in what, six, seven place. Caught the lead back somehow has got by Andy Kavanagh has done a great drive as well as Super Drive from Andy Kavanagh. Then it’s Harry McGovern, then it’s Alan Dawson.
(01:43:27):
So Harry McGovern now defending coming into the S’s. Here they come. Dawson is next up. There’s 55 seconds to go. They will start another lamp. Dawson is surely going to want to get back up there. He’s trying to get up the inside of Harry McGovern. They come out of the S contact already between Dustin and Harry McGovern. Harry McGovern’s back bumper has gone. It’s happened coming out of the S Dustin trying to get up the inside again. No contact this time and they go back into single file. This is hectic saloon car racing at Mandela Park. It’s what you want to see. This is a lot of very talented drivers here that could run at the front in almost any class and it is so, so close. They’ve got to say the scrutinies do a great job with these cars in terms of eligibility and equality and it’s absolutely fantastic to see.
(01:44:36):
So coming back towards us there, Sean Montgomery’s made good as escape. How did he stay out of all that trouble? How did he get by all these hooligans? They’re not hooligans, but they’re having such a close rate. He picked them all off one by one. Somehow Phil Lawless has caught them. Now let’s look at the rookies. Michael Moynihan, Phil Gillespie and Evan Walsh. But it’s not over yet because Gillespie Walsh very, very close to each other. So this is checker flag time as they come out. Oh, and last minute stab from Rey down the inside of Dawson there doesn’t come off cost himself a lot of time. Mulready. Look at this, flashing the lights. Well he is going to be so happy with that one. Why wouldn’t he be? What a drive from Sean McGovern. Andy Kavanagh, a belter of a drive for to get second place.
(01:45:15):
And Harley McGovern third Alan Dawson. Fourth Rob Barbell fifth Phil, law of sixth. Aidan Mulready. Seventh Samuel Doyle, Christian Brennan ninth Kelsey Kirby, another top 10 finish for her and Keith Lenahan. Great drive from Keith Lenahan. Then it’s Michael Toby McGuire. Then Mikey Moynihan takes the rookies. Marc Mulhern next of good recovery from him. Then Mick Cho from the back. Finn Gillespie gets second place in the rookies and Evan Walsh gets third, but the trophy for the top Mandela car is going to be Marc Mulhern. It was Finn Gillespie for most of it. Mul Hearn’s got by somewhere in the closing stage. So we’ll be plenty of slagging at half 10 tomorrow morning in the Mandela Park canteen. I can tell you that. Well Neil Murphy will be happy with that one. That’s probably racing the day. What great entertainment from these guys. They’re budget tin tops, they’re low powered cars. But it’s absolutely fantastic to see these guys going. Had a lot of experience and a lot of talent there, but absolutely fantastic stuff between all these guys and ladies and they’re coming back in. So Sean McGovern takes the win. Mikey Moin takes another rookie win and absolutely fantastic stuff here at Mandela.
(01:46:25):
Let’s just go back and watch some of the action on this race here with See It live as the drivers have a couple of discussions there. I’ll seem to be getting on fine, which is great to see. We go back and watch some of the action. Okay, here we are down to the first corner. Watch out for this. There’s Andy Kavanagh late in the brakes. Andy locks it up into the back of him, but only slightly. Yeah, it was only very, very light contact Mulready or stood and held it. Well he that’s very well held by Aidan Mulready to just stand on the barrel and get it back cost him a lot of places, but it wasn’t heavy contact from behind. We could see it really well there from the drone footage if you’re watching that from the ground. So it probably looked like a hefty punt in the back, but that drone footage is absolutely fantastic.
(01:47:07):
Well that is entertainment like nowhere else on the planet perhaps Great racing is Finn Gillespie getting out of the car. He’s going to be so happy with that one second place in the rookies. I would’ve bet my house against that at six o’clock yesterday evening. If you saw the state of the car. I’ll put it up on my Instagram later. In fact, have a look at the ICCR Fiesta Instagram story. If you want to see that car pre-PA and post paint and even post paint. It wasn’t ready to go. Well done to everybody involved. That was absolutely fantastic. There’s everybody having great old chats. That’s lo to LolaRose Turley. She didn’t quite get the podium. I think she might’ve got fourth in that time in rookies. But the rookie championship every bit is competitive as the first one. So absolutely fantastic stuff. And Marc Mulhern takes that Mandela Park trophy. Next up will be Chris Ferres back in the room. It must be Formula Fords. It is indeed. It’s formula Shane’s and Formula Fords. So Chris, any news from downstairs?
(01:47:59):
No, no word that it’s going to be same again, the guys are more determined. Jason Smyth got away in that first race this morning and crucially put one of the shades between him and a chasing pack. And so the guys are keen to be a bit more incisive on it here and there mightn’t be just as many manners on them this time around. So here we go. Any cake? No cake. No cake. The cake’s being held back
(01:48:36):
At the after the second race perhaps. Okay, good stuff. So the form of Shane’s out there now, big effort being put on in terms of the presentation of these cars, but the number still slightly disappointing. There’s 26 of these cars, Chris in the country, so it’s a matter of getting them back out of shed. It’s a very hard thing to do when someone’s parked up a car to get them back because you can be talking, nevermind a suit on a hands device, you can be talking an extinguisher and
(01:48:57):
Stuff
(01:48:57):
Like that as well. It can cost quite a lot to bring a car back out if it’s been lying up. A friend of mine said years ago that the bar in Turkistan and the bar in Mandela is full of retired racing drivers in denial. And if you ask them when they have their last licence like showing kryptonite to Superman, you’re looking at one. Yeah, looking two. Two. You’re looking at one.
(01:49:16):
I love to tell you I’m too busy commentary, but I’m retired a long time. Well I do barbecues with Mrs. Ry and they say, when are you coming out Chris? And I’m doing one head gesture. She is doing quite another head gesture. Good stuff. It just boils down to a complete another lack of talent as well. I have. It takes a lot of people though, doesn’t it? Yeah. Time’s a great leveller and I can acknowledge that I was the James May of the great Captain slo. Yeah,
(01:49:52):
Tell us a little bit some of the older formula fours there Chris,
(01:49:54):
What have we got there? We are just looking forward to the these guys. Paul McMorran hasn’t been here at Mandela for a dozen years and he’s a very influential fellow. He can bring guys with him and that’s really what we’re hoping for. He’s brought us a lovely Crosley 20 F. It’s a 1972 car and this car he keeps in the French series and I have to say he does, that’s what pays the bills for him. This French series 1516 cars of the 30 car grids are crossley’s and it’s because he can keep up to speed with the spares for these cars. He does a great sales pitch out there. It’s him and his camper waggon. And so let’s see what he can do for us here in Mandela.
(01:50:49):
I met him in Stan. He’s pushing the car out the paddock on his own and I would’ve assumed he would’ve a man to do that for.
(01:50:53):
Not a bit of it. No. He flies solo weekends
(01:50:58):
There. Proper enthusiast. Five second board is up. This is just the Shanes Chris, remember they go on the lights, the forwards go on the flags. So let’s oh with a jumpstart from McKenna. It all gone wrong from, and Keith Hogg gives it the whole hog from the outside of the front row and he gets ahead on the rung under the bridge and it’s hog. It is Richard Kearney and then it is Garrett McKenna. So Carney with a bit of work to do with this one. If you kept by hog, then it is Sean Kiernan who’s got the back wing back on. It’s a little bit of skew there Chris. It looks a bit still. Yeah, it looks a bit set up for ovals perhaps then it’s Brendan Carr, the Lauren Mayor, Mike Dermody and Aaron Linnane. The Fords are ready to go. Chris
(01:51:31):
Fords are ready. The revs are rising as a superstar from Mark Morgan Quinn. But right again, as soon as they hit second gear, Jason Smyth is right with him. But he’s got the advantage of the inside line as well. All cleanly away. And Jason Smyth, it is from Morgan Quinn. Jordan Kelly right in there as well. Jordan has trailed all the way from in a show in Peninsula, so quite a trek for him. And he’s down here with his dad. His brother also has a car tucked away and he’s a force to be reckoned with in the formula piece. But here come the shades. It’s nice and tight at the front. Leo, big lockup
(01:52:15):
For Kearney. Not often you see that. These are the two quickest guys in the class always at the moment. And that’s Keith Hogg out in front. Whichever one gets in front, the other one really has to make a move because it can’t let them get away. They’re very closely matched. Look at Kearney now Hog runs a garage in Dublin. Very successful, very successful garage in Dunley. He’s been very, very quick in that car. Was tutored by Brian Hardy who had the lap record in this class. Still has actually, unless they a break in this race. They were under qualifying. Richard Connie’s a hard racer and raced in many different classes. He’s Phoenix Park specialist back in the day. Punto a bar, he’s raced loads of different classes and he’s quick in everything and he loves these formula chains. That’s the ex parity rabbit car. He’s in Lester Trophy winning car would you believe? But Keith Hogg doesn’t care about that.
(01:53:00):
He’s gone defensive. So Jordan Kelly up at the seconded in the formula forwards started 20 seconds after the Shanes there. So here we go. It’s hog hugging. The inside lane Kearney. It is looking for the undercut underneath and really it’s, he’s got a nose ship 10 opener and he’s just trying to prize it open. He’s trying on the outside, he’s ducking on the inside. And here come the formula forged Jason Smyth over the line. Jordan Kelly, right in pursuit. Morgan Quinn coming hard at him there and under pressure from Dave Parks from a long way back. Sent it down the inside, Quinn on sideways. Dave gathers it up. Quinn on much more fresher tyres. But here comes Jason Smyth and Kelly is the man who is trying to take the fight to him. Smith is a second and a half up the road. Kelly is the one hanging on to him.
(01:54:14):
So these guys are very, very close to the lap record already. And before the tyres get up to a working temperature before, certainly the track conditions aren’t ideal for, but we are snipping in on our own. The lap record here and fastest time in the class so far is Jordan Kelly, the man in pursuit. He’s got the bit between his teeth and Jason just, he is trying to establish a lead. He’s got it and he’s look at this superb drone shots we’re getting here. This is a magnificent facility. And look at this Dingdong battle for third in the class. Morgan Quinn in the white colours and the blue white and black of Dave Parks in behind.
(01:55:09):
It’s close stuff there, isn’t it? The big squeeze. How giving it the full squeeze. Nevermind the full hog Kearney not backing out. He’s locked the wheel. He’s gone wide. Now’s the chance for hog. He can stop defending, get the head down, try and hammer into quick laps and see who’s quickest they’ve been in. Look at that 0.05 and they went by the start finish line. Nothing when they went by practically side by side and in the arm goes. So Kearney’s got to close that gap quick. That’s what he’s trying to do because if he, lets say Hugg get away, he won’t close him down, but Carney, perhaps Chris is a little bit quicker at this stage
(01:55:35):
In the race. Yes, he just looks as if he has an edge. If he can get past, there goes a new lap record. Jason Smyth sets a new class lap record already that shows the pace of these young chargers. There’s three or four young guys here at the front, Morgan Quinn, Jason Smyth. But look at this battle there right at the front of the field and Shane’s doing us really proud today. Look at the Shane school. There was talk that there would be level, right level and the formula forwards would be through them, but these two guys are really putting on it. Oh, what a display. They’re nip and tuck and thrust and par there Kearney trying absolutely everything. But Keith Hogg is making him work for it. There isn’t no daylight at all. He is the door completely shut and his foot jammed up against it.
(01:56:35):
Kearney is really, really going to have to think his way around this one. He’s been rebuffed once and he’s right in under the wing as they head out into the countryside and here they come again. And another lap record from Jason Smyth. He’s starting at a 57 0 3. They’re all eyes on this battle for the overall lead. Then Hogan is by a whisker from Kearney. Kearney forced onto the outside. He’s looking for the undercut. Can he do it? He draws alongside hogs, slams the door on them. Those are bruised toes on Richard Kearney and he’s trying again. Hawk forces him onto the outside.
(01:57:27):
It was the force that we’re giving all the battles in the first race, but certainly in this one, that’s where the battle is. The Fords are doing an incredible lap time, so they’re spaced out. But almost a 56. I never thought I’d see a 56 round here in a formula. Ford 57.043 is our new lap record for Formula Ford. 1600 for Jason Smyth as dad. Neville is here, his grandfather Dick is here. Both accomplished racing drivers. They’ll be over the moon with that one.
(01:57:50):
Yep. Super driving from the top three or four guys here in the Fords. The one on your screen there is the 20th of Paul McMoRan. He’s been hunted down by these two leaders. They’re in a class of their own. Garrett McKenna is what? 7, 8, 10 car lengths behind. Really is a two horse race at the moment. Gart could only win it if these two take each other off, but there’s no sign of it. They’re driving within themselves. They know that it’s around about seven minutes and 30 seconds of this race. The skies are seasoned enough to pace themselves. They will, the opportunities are going to open up in front of them because here they are starting to come across the tail enders in the formula forward. And first one up is Paul McMorran. Paul very experienced both eyes in both mirrors and cleanly. Lets the guys throw, oh, look at this Kearneys alongside and he’s got the inside. Yeah, he’s got the inside line side
(01:59:00):
By side as they go by us and downforce term one under the bridge and I think he should get this done. Hog fights back but he doesn’t try and sit around the outside. He’s clever and he gets into the apex. Tries to get on the barrel a bit earlier and get up onto that gearbox as they go by out of term one. You can see them there at the top of your screen. I think Carney potentially a little bit quicker here Chris. He might ease away but who knows?
(01:59:18):
Yep. So we got by the look of it, they’ve got Jist Smith just looking at drone shot there, starting to eat his way into the chains. So you’ve got to say it was the tail ender did it. They kearney really just seized the moment with both hands.
(01:59:37):
Yeah, it’s a difficult thing to do when you’re leading and you catch somebody, you got to get by a back marker and that’s what happened. Kearney saw it all coming high and wide on the way in and the mano switch back did him good and he’s already got a second lead and maybe now might be a good time to go back and have a look at Jason Smyth. I think he’s somewhere around the S now coming into the main arena. He’s broken the formula four 1600 lap record. Let’s see if we can pick him up. There he is. That’s the car now the blue car in shot Jason Smyth right into the inside out of the outside heading up towards the final corner. Now a young man that’s really on form and who’s having Kelly hanging the tail out but the SPC car being driven to perfection by Jason Smyth here. He’s done a superb job in the uk. He won a race in Silver Sun that was over there, but by the time I got to the pits he was gone back the head of ferry to catch and as we said, his grandfather, Dick Smith, was one of the top mini eight 50 racers here back in the day. Won the Dunlop Sexton trophy, which was the overall speed trophy at the time. And his dad, Neville has done many as he won a Walter Hayes I think possibly has certainly loads of winning in front four,
(02:00:35):
1600, a lot of success but young man here from Cellbridge is really putting on a tremendous display. He’s brought plenty of friends and family down here. He’s got to produce the bacon this time around. There’s big pressure on his shoulders, try and move his career forward.
(02:00:55):
Yeah, lovely guy. They were all at the Gordon Bennett yesterday and they met up so I know James Rowe, Stevie Gryphon, David Hall, Sarah McCabe and Dick Smith all down here watching and they’re all top racers here at Mandela Park back in the day so they’ll be really enjoying watching Dick Smith’s grandson now breaking a lap record and streaking away out front as he
(02:01:15):
Completes another lap. Just grid camera shots there of Jason using the curbs and more the rose joints taking an absolute hammering in nut car. Big dilemma. He was going to race a family ray that they still own but blew attention to Smither Rains last week at Stein and so they’re into the uk. This is a band demon. They’ve been saving for the UK
(02:01:40):
Series. I wonder did he dip the clutch and blow it himself just so we could get into this car? I doubted very much, but I’m sure he wasn’t over disappointed when he heard he was going to be driving this car. Here he goes So well on this car to cross the water and to bring it home with your home truck and have your granddad’s mates and some of your mates down and stuff like that. It’s great to see because I said to you earlier Chris, I remember him running around as a really small kid with Alex Dunn in the paddock. So to have him come back and do this, he doesn’t get much of a chance to race here. Look at the balance he’s showing there when he gets on the power. It’s one thing about Formula four, they’re great to watch, they move around beautifully,
(02:02:12):
They move around, but it’s just catching them and each driver seems to have their own individual style. When we hone in on Jordan Kelly, he is completely different to Jason for instance. But here comes Jason coming up to Paul McMorran. Paul Obligingly moves over dreaming of a beach in France, no doubt, but here comes Jason through. Look at the difference in era between the two cars there, 1972 against year 2000 and indeed that Van Damen is quite a trick car. It’s quite heavily modified. So here’s the situation. This is the gentleman who was Tom Foley in front here and presented great overtaking. He’s fully entitled to be wherever he is on the track, but here come the formula forts and there is only two minutes left on the clock. So Tom, he’s, he’s got his skits on, I don’t think it’s going look at the balance of Jason there absolutely smoothly but quite obviously on the edge but he makes it look effortless. Just sliding that end there car beautifully, absolutely beautifully prepared. There’s a lovely shot Bob Scanlon in the 45 F Crosley car from the very late seventies. That’s the
(02:04:05):
Black car. What I can tell you Chris, is that Brian Hardy’s 20-year-old lap record in former Shane has just been beaten fastest lap overall of the whole race. 57.0350
(02:04:16):
Well John Richard
(02:04:18):
Back in 2005, Brian Hardy was a 57. Let’s have a look at this again. I had it there. My former Shane, it’s looking at me somewhere. Former Shane, Brian Hardy, 10th of April, 2005, 57.1 2 6 57 0 3 5. New record for Richard Kearney that took 20 years to break it. Yes,
(02:04:36):
It’s Hardy was sub driver. Unbelievable. Yeah, an fierce combatant as well. All heart of sales. Yeah. Yes. So here comes Jason. He’s closing up on our pre 82 winner. A couple of subcategories on this. Oh and Bob just saw him at the last possible minute there. So Bob scan been lapped and Jason Smyth is away and Morgan Quinn closed slightly up on Jordan Kelly in second place.
(02:05:13):
I thought Bob Scanlon was going to be a bit Bob Scanlon esque there from the old days. He went very late on the brake up in the final. Even Jason Smyth had the thing twice about it there but he didn’t turn in in the end and Jason Smyth got down the inside.
(02:05:25):
Bob’s opposition today is the other older croley. We’ve made a neat subdivide. You’re going to see a whole grid full of these in August there there’s speaking to Nigel Smith there and there’s a royal just about to appear. So this is all boating extremely well for the historic races that Montello put on in the middle of August there. We had a bumper field last year and everybody is just so enthused to see formula forward back with a huge grid. It’s really this Mandela track really lends itself to a tight racing. It’s this brand’s hatch there. It’s a lovely, lovely hold on it. So we’re out of time and the chequered flag is been prepared for on track leader and he is. Yep.
(02:06:30):
So here he is, Richard Kearney now new lap record holder. So he is coming down to take the chequered flag. Fantastic stuff.
(02:06:39):
Takes the flag. No and that is a really well deserved win. Keith Hogg. Once Carney got passed, he just showed what he could do lap record time, that is take your hat off to that bat. That is some drive. So Garrett McKenna over the line and third, fourth on the road and first in the formula Fords is Jason Smyth. He’s taking the lead the flag already. Jordan Kelly, Morgan Quinn, Tom Foley all over the line at once. Dave Parks is next in is the Ray and then Sean Kernan is no over the line. Mike Demote and Andrew Noble in the old black van Demon and the news Stephen O’Connor Stephen missed it but the car hasn’t finished the race in the same state it started. Bob Scanlon, Paul McMorran and a non-starter Sean McNamara. Oh Aaron Nan. Apologies Aaron. Lena in there as well.
(02:07:50):
Well they was such good racing in both the class almost shame we, almost a shame we mixed them but strong enough. If we did it again we could probably, it’s a race to the podium and see who gets that first. Now it they’ll be queuing up. It’s like the funeral sketch was it took Emory years ago when the two, yes, funerals raced to the graveyard, but yeah,
(02:08:06):
Well the fellows are very keen on the drink. There’s an incentive.
(02:08:12):
Well there’s our first three backing in at the Mandela Park podium. Relatively new addition to us at Mandela Park. That one there. So the Shanes will wait their time and slot in just immediately afterwards. It’s Richie Carney. He should have got there first. Shouldn’t he crossed the line first? They must have overtaken him in park for me so they’ll all get going into the track. That Fiesta will be along shortly. Neil Murphy does two podium presentations after race. Two. There’s Jason Smyth taking off his helmet and ballot lava. Great entertainment and great to have Formula Ford back with us here at Mandela Park. So great driving by these guys. Thanks Mike. Ty and another beautifully turned out formula, Shane.
(02:08:47):
Well I’ve got work to do. I’m sure you have speeches to compose. I’ve got 30 seconds in my head to do it. Brilliant. It’s always a pleasure. Thank you very much for welcome. Slightly wayward Nty, great to have you here
(02:09:02):
Chris, great to have you in commentary as well. It’s great to have your
(02:09:06):
Knowledge
(02:09:06):
Of all things falling forward.
(02:09:07):
Yep and thank you very much. Hope to see you in the height of summer depending on the tide up in Donal. We’ll see you. We’ll see in August.
(02:09:15):
Yeah.
(02:09:16):
Any other excuse I can find? Absolutely. Okay, thanks very much Leo. Thanks Chris.
(02:09:35):
There’s Neville Smith. You could just see walking up giving his son a hug. Why wouldn’t you? Absolutely fantastic stuff. New lap record as well. So great to see lap records of both of those classes I had seen in qualifying that we would have a chance of getting that done but I didn’t expect it with a changeable weather. We didn’t get it in race one. We certainly did in race two and both of those classes can be very, very proud formula. Shane’s really quick hard racing at Carney just in a class of his own towards the end, but great to see Keith Hogg making ’em work so hard. Formula four, 1600 Jason Smyth, once he got into the groove there was just absolutely nobody really to get near him. Jason Smyth, a real talent in Formula four 1600 and as we said, it’s great to see these kids back at Mandela Park. We’ll have them back for the historic festival again, but they spend most of their time racing in the uk. Morgan Quinn, the UK Formula Ford champion of course from Rath Cool and Jason Smyth doing most of the winning across there this year. So they’re all getting ready for their podium presentations.
(02:10:51):
So as we’re looking at that shot we can see some of the older generation walking in. There’s Steve Gryphon down there. We could see Trevor Noble, we could see. I think that’s Derek m Daley down there as well and Dick Smith. So great to have these people down there all give us away Derek. Yeah, great to see you here at Mandela Park. Dick Smith, always great to have a chat with Dick as well. So great to see these guys back down to watch not just their grandchildren but of course their fans as well. They love to watch the race today. Formula four is giving us great entertainment and a lot of it there. They’re just walking into the shot there. Derek m Daly and Dick Smith, both two formidable racers back in the day and Steve Gryphon in there too. We’re going back racing though on track with the Irish cars. Great work done by these guys as we said. Really, really impressive stuff and a big, big grid of them, so great to see it. Let’s have a look and see who is where on the grid. Stuart Kern will start on Paul Ken Walch alongside it. Didn’t find out, I don’t think anybody messaged me. I didn’t find out what happened. Evan Walsh because I didn’t get a chance to speak to anybody
(02:12:12):
So they’re weaving around. That’s Stuart Keran. It’s going to be from Ken Walch and Paul Twomey up front and Ian Stryker and David Flynn. Then it’s going to be Patrick O’Malley, Steven Barber, James Mar and Gareth Thompson, bushy Clune, David McIn, David McIn, the back diesel power. Say it,
(02:12:58):
It looks like Clune. I think that is number five has gone off on the warmup lap. That can happen in a salo or it’s desperation. Try and heat the rear tyres. What’ll catch you out? It’s not the fronts, you don’t actually want to heat the fronts in most of these race cylinder cars. So there’s a problem there. Is that fuel something coming from the back of that car? I’m not sure, but generally what you see is you see in the British touring cars the warm block, they close the throttle and flick the car right and they close it, flick it, left stick, get the back moving around. It’s the back of these cars tend to be set up a little bit loose at Mandela Park because it’s hairpin city. We’re having a look at that car. I don’t see anything wrong there but certainly it’s a little bit of smoke as he went through the S’s from the left-hand side or maybe it was either fuel or smoke. I’m not so sure it looks okay there now as we grid up
(02:14:07):
Getting ready to go, there are those sound effects. Watch over the red lights of the Alpha Rome Mayo Bridge. The red lights are out and away we go and it is Keyan Walsh, the cork. Well on the outside of the front row. Kern on the inside though when Kern goes back at ’em as they go under the bridge and down towards ca corner for the first time. It’s got to be a Honda leading but which one? Well Keyan Wal hasn’t given up. He sits right round the outside, nobody rolling the car just grips and he takes the lead before ambient corner. So great stuff as they stream out of Castro through ambient corner and down towards turn three.
(02:14:57):
So Walch has made good as escape whatever the problem was in race one. It looks like he sorted it out. We’ve got to watch out for the white Integra. Of course David Flynn went so well in race one. He’s making his way up, he’s taking a place already there. Somebody going very nicely in one of the hilarious down the inside. Whoa. I said watch out from Kamikaze down the inside, make your own arrangements. I’m coming through 17 David Flynn lasted night breakers but he had nothing he could do. About 2 0 1 there on the main street. Paul Twomey just blasts by him with a great soundtrack but back at him on the brakes on the outside again. Well he’s got some brakes in that car, hasn’t he? He’s right around the outside again. Can he hang on for Camping Corner? He can. Great stuff. The Integra is on a charge that’s three cars in two corners.
(02:15:39):
Here comes the big Nissan though on a straight line again, but he has that cover. It just moves across to the right, says I don’t think so. There’s a corner coming up and then I’ll be gone. 17 going really well here. That is David Flynn car is absolutely immaculate. No sign ready, no sponsorship. Self-funded jet driving really, really well to me. Next up, Ian Stryker so current in second place. Ken Walch out front getting the head down and get in the away. He’s the reigning champion to put a load of work into this car and a load of development into it as well. There’s another lunge down the inside this time it’s Stryker down the inside of to me Ian Stryker, but he’s not going to live with that car in a straight line. It’s incredibly quick. Just drives by again and away Paul Twomey and toy’s car 174 kilometres an hour through the speed trap.
(02:16:30):
The next quickest is 1 63 is Evan Walsh. So that car very quick in a straight line. Oh it’s very sideways though, isn’t it? On the way out of Castro. Needs a bit of a rethink perhaps in the handling department and he goes wide again and Stryker gets by but here it comes back on boost. Then he comes back in on the two red cars together. Now on the rundown to turn 3 4 9 up the three wheel pops the inside rear wheel there. So current it’s two, it’s and they’re closing up a little bit. Actually it is Flynn, sorry, in third place who’s closing up the times will be interesting. Here they go. The two white Eggers are getting a little bit closer at 17. The first of the touring class cars David Flynn closes down Stuart Keran fastest lap 59 4 for Cian Walsh. 1 0 1 0.3 for sure and minute 0.3 for David Flynn.
(02:17:27):
Clearly quicker and he is thinking about a lunge from a mile back down into turn one. He is certainly very confident on the brakes. The two integras, both white with black bonnets. Now just to confuse the commentator heading through Camian corner together and in fact carrying a bit of speed around the outside is Flynn looking to get the job done in the straight line? Not quicker and no quicker. Certainly in a straight line. They’re pretty well matched to the first eight. Here he comes again on the breaks. He does love a good lunge on the breaks. It’s surely going to be the end of and he has a go again. It’s going to be into the final corner, isn’t it? Having to go here. The two Integris slowed himself a little bit with that and there he goes from way back down the inside. Take it out of that 17 again on the brakes.
(02:18:17):
He’s up another place. Up to second place. Oh no, no smoke, smoke, smoke from the car. Oh that’s such a shame. Well he really was the entertainer in that one, wasn’t he? But that does not look healthy. There’s no stripe of oil down below me but there’s certainly quite a lot of smoke coming out of that Integra and that is not very good. But he was on an absolute charge in Stryker’s current Stryker Flynn now, but Flynn was the man. He’s just moving off the line, keeping over to the right, heading back I would imagine down the tunnel as the drivers call it here. That’s where exactly where he is going. This is the original track back in 1968 but it’s now the access road to cut across if you need to during works on the track but it’s also the access road to the paddock for drivers. So he’ll wait here until that gate is opened in front of him. It was a great shot of the marshals on the bank, one of ’em coming down then just check he’s okay. Wave yellows below me here for some reason something’s happened down at turn one, you can see our leader down there. Nothing to see so obviously it just cleared up whatever the issue was. So, so current and Stryker. Now Stryker thinking of a look down the inside
(02:20:04):
So they’re a little bit spaced out around the track so we’ll keep an eye on this one for a couple of laps. This is Stuart Kern and Ian Stryker. Kurt Stryker’s now got ahead and up to second place. Kern back to third place. Nobody touching Key and Walch out front. He’s dipped into the 50 eights, 58.590 was the fastest lap of the race so whatever problem he has has been eradicated. 57 6 is the lap record and it’s Evan Walsh here at the last race meeting. So he’s not near his own lap record. He doesn’t need to be. He’s well down the road. Patrick O’Malley going really nicely up to fifth place and we moved up from future classics. He won that championship last year. Then David McMinn in the Turbo Diesel Safe O Ocean and Clune and the Integra Ross Asbo, Ismail k Bka and then Steven Barber Ian goes through one Wide Wide goes our second place man that caught the place.
(02:21:00):
Little bit of unders turns three and Ian Stryker has to get back on track and that’s all the hard work he’s got to do. Again, Ian Stryker, land Rover specialists, the St Strikers, very well known across the country. They prepare these touring cars absolutely immaculately. There’s never a mark on them, not too far away to me behind them actually. So current gets second place against Stryker back to them. But look at the under steer on Stryker’s car. It’s seven minutes to go. That doesn’t bode well. Certainly looks like front tyres may be crying enough, lot time’s gone out a little bit. Even the leader gone out beyond a minute there.
(02:21:37):
And again, a lot of luck on, a lot of luck on the exit. There’s two cars we’re missing now. 17 of course was our entertainer. That was David Flynn. 7, 7 7 Is Gareth Thompson a problem with that? Sika Striker’s got to do it all again but I think his front tyres, as we said might be by their best. You can see it in the slower corners. He’s having to pile the lock on just a little bit through the yeses back through the right hand. He’s close enough maybe to have a go here, but current spots that close the centre of the road last minute lunge for striker’s a little bit late. No contact though, they give you to the room. Got to say Stuart Curran is using the head. He doesn’t turn in. He stays away from the idea of contractor blocking but he unwinds the lock and gets on the back or he the speed round the outside but certainly on the brakes a bit like 17 David Flynn. Ian Stryker is very late in the brakes that gets him alongside once again Kern gives him room. The next one’s a left-hander. He should get it back. He does get it back but he doesn’t use all the road on the way out. Leaves the gap again on the right-hand side, giving Striker another go. He’s almost tempting him to have a go down the inside here. Gets across him for the first apex. Does he defend for the second one? He does six minutes still to run
(02:23:15):
Off. He goes at the S. Well it’s coming towards I suppose the latter stage of the race but certainly he’s in the bank on the outside. I didn’t say the fronts were going. I’m not sure what happened there on the way in as we begin going through in the Say It, that’s Clune and the Integra number five. So ready to have a look back at that. Let’s see what happened to Stryker there. Coming down into the SES here, they come back towards us now we knew the front tyres were past their best. He was trying to get it turned in, getting a lot of lock on the front and that just makes the under steer worse of course here he comes, tries to get a run down the A locks it inside from now we spoke about that. That’s an off camera corner and if you get out there it’ll just drag you in.
(02:23:58):
It doesn’t usually happen in dry conditions but just couldn’t get it stopped. The gravel doing a great job. It’s well prepared. That gravel’s been raked a number of times during the week and that helps slow the car right down about the see driver’s absolutely fine as well. And he’s out. So Stuart Kern can finally take a deep breath. He’s been under attack all the way through this one. That’s back to our leader number one, the championship car from last year. As we were saying, he stripped that car right back. He changed a couple of things in it. He never stops working on it. He’s a Honda specialist. Evan Walsh. Very, very particular about the car and worked so hard but he was a really, really quick last year and Bishop’s court, Rob Savage managed to give him a run but it’s nobody touching him in terms of pace here today he’s 59 5 now 58 5 his fastest lap but he’s still under a minute.
(02:24:44):
He’s the only one under a minute in this race so far. Four and a half minutes to go, that’s McGinn going by just under the Alpha Bridge there and now a car going down towards term one as we said, turbo diesel car built by a think dark side development in the uk. A lot of work went into that one successful car in the UK and it’s very, very quick here. Qualified really well this morning. It’s the only diesel car in the grid. No surprises there. Grass has all been cut on the inside of Camian Corner turned two as you can see up the top of the bank to make it flat again. It’s a viewing point that a lot of people like to stand on Manela Park. If they’re not in the grandstand you can actually walk all the way down to turn three now on the outside of the circuit you couldn’t do for a while but it’s all been put right back so great place to watch the first part of turn three. It’s a little bit of a walk though it’s current going through to completely left. This just shows you where he is compared to our leader Ian, we nobody touching him. Three and a half minutes to go
(02:25:59):
Steven Barber that is coming towards us now. Beautiful looking Honda Civic and that is Marmie and I think right with him it is Bar and the Sika trying to hang onto to the back of that Civic as they come out onto the main strait. It’s leader right with them just blast by them but they’re not in his class of course he’s in super tour and they’re in national. So Marmie now trying to close down on the brakes and he does gets right up to the back of the Civic at the apex there. Sika really looking to have a go now with Steven Barber in that Civic. Oh he tries to get up the inside of Campion corner, almost contact there at the flat out Lefthander Civic, perhaps a small bit quicker or is it as they head to turn three, that battle resumes they’re in ninth and 10th and again down the inside, not quite a gap there.
(02:26:44):
Ends up launching it up onto the curb to avoid it as it comes down to the inside. But certainly James Mar and having a really good go at Steven Barber here in the closing stages of this one Race. Two for the precision tint and graphics touring our championship Precision Tinto gra with some new signage up at Nordic Spirit corners on the right hand side of the track, double sided. You can see them from inside and outside the circuit. You see them there. The yellow signs at the bottom of your screen. So in fact, just watching this battle, again, that’s the leader, probably two, maybe three more laps to go. That’s Karine Boku going through Barbara and Mar as well. So those three almost together, they’re closing him down. That’s him in the big back wing in the Civic and Barbara’s certainly getting a little bit closer to him and lapping a full second quicker than him last time round and indeed barian and matching him as well.
(02:27:34):
So that’s eighth, ninth and Ken’s place closing up there. Maybe he’s getting away just a little bit now as Barbara has to go to fence and Mar and with a look down the inside or brave stuff to go down the inside there. He gets the job done and moves up a place but he goes a little bit wide, doesn’t get near an apex as a result and that allows the civic to drag up alongside him as they grab third gear and come back up the hill. Mar shut of the inside line here now and he does down the inside, take that place away. It took him a few laps. He’s done a good job there.
(02:28:05):
Absolutely together. This is the only battle on track at the minute. It’s a good one. This the leak has now got ahead of the Honda as they head up towards Southside Motor Factors. Now it’s Mar and starting to go slightly defensive. Barbara gets into the apex, gets a good run. Oh mar and too defensive I would’ve said there. Scrubbed off a little bit of speed and that should allow the city to get up to him. But the Slic has every bit as quick if not quicker in a straight line as they go by us. Let’s have a look. It is quicker in a straight line by four kilometres an hour that time in a big lockup and Barbara goes straight on. He gets it stopped and stays out of the kitty litter though, but he’s not going to get back up there now 30 seconds to go.
(02:28:37):
Let’s see where our leader is. You were looking for Evan Walsh. He should be Jew round here. That’s Patrick O’Malley going nicely. Our graduate Evan Walsh I think is where is he’s at a turns three. There he is at the S. He’ll be coming into this shot shortly. The black car there. Watch the top of your screen. Absolute dominance for the champion running car number one, leading from early on outside of the front row. Great stuff from Kia one to be very happy with this one. Be a little bit disappointed and to celebrate he ramps it up onto the two wheels at Southside Motor Factors corner. Gives him the gears and here he comes. Full sound effects popping and banging as he changes his gear blasts across the line and that’s a great performance from our reigning champion. Evan Walsh on the live stream. Great to see it.
(02:29:21):
Well done to him. Second place is going to be Stuart Kern. There’s the battle we spoke about Maree and gets the battle of that better. That one Barbara still recovering from the big lockup top of your screen now. Second place going to be Stuart Kern has driven a great race under attack for most of it, but very cool and calm and he’s going to take second place in the Integra then it’s going to be Paul Twomey gave us all the entertainment early on. And that’s 1, 2, 3 also in super touring. So the first finisher in national will be Patrick O’Malley. You should be coming across the line now in the red EP three. Here he comes. That’s him. A little bit of damage from race one, but he’ll be delighted with this one. A class win just moved up from future classics. Blast across the line, great stuff from him.
(02:30:08):
Then it’s McIn from all the way near the back in the diesel sets. Then Usin Clune, just the head of Rush as bull. Then it’s Ismail, James Mar and Steven Barber. And we’re missing Stryker. David Flynn and Gareth Thompson. And that is it for ITCC for the second race of the day. Absolutely Fantastic stuff. Well done to Kim Walsh. Well done to J O’Reilly and everybody else involved because you’ve done a great job getting that last back up, getting the numbers back up and we’re looking forward to more races like that from them in 2025 here at Mandela Park.
(02:31:00):
Send me this car. This car goes from 60, no sorry. Oh ah. Send me this car.
(02:31:14):
You should try it.
(02:31:17):
We all knew Alfa Romeo Jr. Learn to love again
(02:31:52):
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(02:34:32):
ELA Park. So much more than just a racetrack. We’re back. What a day’s entertainment, what a weekend’s entertainment at Mandela Park. Absolutely fantastic Racing all day. The rain that has annoyed us all weekend may be coming back. I’m not so sure it’s a little bit foggy out over turn three and I can see the flags beginning to blow very strongly outside the bar. The wind is picking up so it definitely could get wet here shortly. Let’s keep an eye on that one. Reigning champion Ross Barnes on Pope position for this one. A tactical I would imagine six plays finish for him in race. One could have a danger man alongside him. Young Charlie McMillen has been really impressive on his debut last year, last race last year. Came into the class last year and very quick at the final race of last year. Very quick this morning in qualifying and did well on race one.
(02:35:30):
Let’s see, he does from a front row start then at Star McMullen and Roy White, then the two danger men. Derek Graham in the plain red car, no sign running. And David McGuire in the Beacon Hospital Health Check car. Then Jack Conachy and Tim McQuaid, Trevor Farrar, Brendan Fitzgerald, Chris Jones, Adam O Manney, Bobby Turley, Owen Cullen, Chris Grimes and Michael Graham. Michael Graham won’t be out there unfortunately the car is too badly damaged after qualifying shunt. And that is your allied repair centre grid for race two. Watch out for Adam o Manny very quick at the end of race. One in his first race and if fiesta st.
(02:36:28):
So Russ Barn’s being directed up to his grid spot but not so young. McMillen and he’s well back from it. And that’s going to give Ross Barnes an advantage. 35, just about a foot or two back from where he needs to be. McMullen right on his marks on row two. White, white, pretty much there too. Actually David McGuire well back from his. I’m sure the yellow hay squad will be having words on him after that. You can see it there and they shot in the third row. Maybe doesn’t need it. Let’s see what happens when this one gets going Good. Start from McMullen from row two, but it is Ross Barnes who leads away. McMullen gets up the inside of McMillan as they head onto the Honda Bridge. McMillan has to pull out and let him go. So he’s going to try going later on the breaks. That’s what he does. Oh, McMullen into the back of barns and McMillen round the outside of both of them. McMillen could possibly lead this one.
(02:37:21):
We might have to have a look back at that one. Definitely contact down into turn one. Can’t quite see who it is leading now as they head away from us. It’s Barns and McMillen I think side by side. Oh McMillen, round the outside. That’s exactly what it is. McMillen round the outside for the lead at turns three. That is incredibly impressive from that young man. I did say he’d soho Sparks of brilliance. That was a cracking manoeuvre. Full commitment. Cold rear tyres down the outside of everyone but you’re the champion. I don’t care. Down the outside. McMullen and Barnes now with a bit of 50 cuffs and second and third and more of it. There is contact between Derek Graham and Roy White that was. And McGuire now eases around the outside of Roy White. But MCN leads and leads well up into south side for the first time.
(02:38:06):
Looks a little bit physical behind them as the big boys try to get through. So Charlie McMillen leads at the end of lap one. Incredible stuff. Four tenths ahead of Darren McMullen doesn’t defend, he’s confident. This young man down into turn one gastro corner Barnes in third place, then it’s McQuaid, then it’s Derek Graham. And right on his back bumper is the Beacon Health Check car of David McGuire. Junior McGuire over curb using more curb than anyone else there. Trying to get a bit of extra speed. This is great stuff, but what about that from Charlie McMillen? We’ll have to go back and have a look at that and the first stop. But the door is open and McMullen launches it down the inside. No contact. Oh until the way out. I was going to say he gave McMullen room but Mullen didn’t really reciprocate there on the exit. A little bit of contact sent McKinnon just out over the curbs. Nothing too nasty but certainly elbows out there. McMullen takes the lead. Now Derek Graham, very much a danger man. He eases by Tim McQuaid into the ses. He’s up to fourth place and next on his list will be Ross Barnes. Ross Barnes not showing the as we’d normally see McGuire trying to get by McQuaid now. No gap there just yet.
(02:39:15):
So it’s McMullen, McMillen, Barnes Graham, McQuaid McGuire, icky Ferra, Adam Ooma driving so well up a few places. Then Roy White be Chris Jones, Bobby Turley, Owen Cullen and Chris Grimes. Great shot there down at the first corner, cast corner through turn two Campion Corner and out towards turn three. Now MCM Mullen’s still leading fastest lap is the Derek Graham though watch out for the red car. Burns into the back of McMillan there. Just upsets him. That’s just going to slow him down and allow McMullen to get away. Although he gets a good run off that corner, maybe using the Impt he received to get a better run up the hill because he’s closing down McMullen. If anything else, barn’s going to have to look at the rear view mirror I think because Derek Graham right with them now. Closing. Closing. Fastest lap already a five nine for Derek Graham as they come towards us. A Graham tries to slice down the inside. Barnes has it covered.
(02:40:20):
So none of this bothering McMullen out front. Dar McMullen a bit of an expert at taking wins and race. Two, he’s very strategic at getting a good grid position. He’s had pole a few times, keeps the head down and gets away. He’s very experienced, no problems for him. Now down into turn, one Mcil in second place and Barnes, Graham McQuaid, slightly subdued McGuire for some reason. Just one driver in the one oh fives. That was that early lap from Derek Graham. Derek Graham just sitting on potato. That group there now McQuaid, in fact perhaps closing them down just a little bit. Two 10th quicker last time around. In fact McQuaid quicker than all the cars in front of him on that previous lap. It was nowhere near over yet. And there’s nobody going to pull away in this one. If you look at the laptop, they’re nearly all in the 1 0 6 s.
(02:41:23):
Another look down the inside by Derek Qua but doesn’t get it done. McGuire a little bit quicker perhaps on this lap. Yeah, he is surely McQuaid pulls up alongside Derek Graham, no problem driving up alongside him there as they go by. McQuaid would’ve six dead faster than anyone else on track. McGuire is six two. So both of those cars, both of the yellow H cars quicker than anybody in front of them on that lap. In fact, Graham, I wonder, is Graham in trouble there? Certainly in a straight line. McQuaid was able to just drag up alongside him. That said, I didn’t see his exit from the final corner. So it could be something to do with that.
(02:42:04):
Ross Barnes, not for the first time into the quarter panel again of young Charlie McMillen. Second apex of turn three mc Killen just keeps on the power and pulls it back straight. Tends to upset the car but it doesn’t upset Charlie, he’s into him again now with the first bit of the S’s not bothering at all. It goes a little bit defensive there in case it happens again. I think it probably will. Who stays away from him this time? In fact, that’s allowed Derek Graham ride up to them. Graham now beginning to crowd Ross Barnes and Young McGuire now beginning to have a look at his teammate, Tim McQuaid. Two yellow H cars. Bumper to bumper going by I But McMullen will be absolutely loving this one. Nobody bothering him out front. He hasn’t put a wheel wrong.
(02:42:58):
Personal best 1 0 6 0.5 from Adam o Manny in ninth place that is quicker than the leader. It’s quicker than Darren McMullen went that time. So Adam o Manny again getting the hang of these fiestas Ts. They stay apart this time. So McMullen’s got the head that nobody has a performance advantage but McMullen’s not making any mistakes at all. He’s just hammering in the laps hoping that they hold each other up behind. They’re not really holding each other up. Cap has only had a second and it’s been not that for a couple of laps. If they stayed apart, maybe they could close it. Here’s Ross Barnes again up the inside of McMillen.
(02:43:40):
A little bit of contact again, they’re side by side on the eggs exit. McMillen just about holds it back. And once again that will cost some time and that will increase the gap for the leader Dar McMullen only by a tent. They must have caught up to him a little bit there. Contact again Barnes into McMillen at the apex of Caswell corner. It’s only light contact but keeps happening. That gives Derek Graham a run that slows Barnes slightly and Graham gets a run at Barnes. Now Graham, happy enough to have a look at the outside here. Tim McQuaid not too far away behind them, no gaps for anybody there. Lifting an inside rear wheel just flips that inside. Curve Barn’s, auto house, car, last year’s champion as we said.
(02:44:29):
And if he s together, it’s Mcil Barnes Graham McQuaid McGuire Gap back then to Jack Conachy and it’s Trevor Farrar. Adam Oman, still going nicely. Oh man, he actually closing down Ferr now. Oh and there it is. Well I think that was coming for a few laps. That’s Charlie McMillen just punted off there at the final corner by Ross Barnes. That’s such a shame that young man had been doing so well. He had the back of his car upset quite a few times and managed to hang on to, but he had no chance there. Look at the front of Barnes car after that one. It’s completely askew. So that’s just punted McMillan out of the equation. There we’re killing, I should say, out of the equation. So now it’s Derek Graham trying to get alongside Ross Barnes or what’s left of Ross Barnes car on the rundown to turn 3 76. Warren 44 chuckling away watching this in the rear view mirror. He just keeps getting away. Not one mistake from Daron, just head down and away.
(02:45:50):
Barnes goes defensive high and wide for Derek Graham. And in fact in the background, McGuire’s got by. It’s going to be a quick lap I think for McGuire. He’s got by McQuaid on that lap and he’s already all over the back. Yeah, it is a six nine for McGuire. Not that quick actually in terms of the second half of the lap. He would looked quick when he closed the gap, but certainly the move on McQuaid must’ve slowed him slightly, but he’s got ahead of his teammate so it’s now McMullen Barnes, Graham McGuire, Tim McQuaid, Jack Conachy, then it’s Trevor Farrar. Adam Ooma, right White Bevi shed all the rest coming through. So McMullen in the lead, but second place is still Barnes with the front of his car. A little bit, a little bit of skew there.
(02:46:43):
So fast as Lap is to Derek Graham still that early one and lap two of five nine. But he’s going to have to be inventive here. He’s going to get by Ross Barnes uses his head Eric Ra. He’s not won for a kamikaze manoeuvre ever. We saw that in race one. He was happy to sit there in second place. Take all the points. He’s won multiple championships, not by chance. McGuire younger, will he be a little bit wilder? Certainly I think McGuire will have a look at this Half a gap anywhere. Graham now has to have a look at that in his rear view. America’s third year coming along the strait down there. Richie Carney joined us in the commentary box. Richie new lap record holder. 20 years it took you to break that formula. Shane lap record.
(02:47:21):
Yes. 20 years in the making I suppose. Listen, I’m chuffed, I’m delighted. It’s sort of, it’s been my mission for the last couple of years since I’ve started to go really quick in these cars and I’m sure Brian won’t be disappointed. In fairness, he likes to see younger guys or guys coming through, taking records and stuff and it just goes to show the development of the cars and the work we’ve done to get them up to that pace. And I dunno what I broke it by. You did it.
(02:47:50):
I’ll tell you now. No, what was it? Fifties. What was it? Have it here somewhere. I wrote it down. I don’t know. I better commentate on this race, but either way it’s a crack in the ST race. You should be out in this as well. You were a good man at tin tops. Anyway, congratulations, great to have you up here and great to have you as a new lap record holder at Modelo Park. Richie Carney, the rebuttals flying tonight in Lachland Bridge. No doubt. So hopefully we’ll see him before he goes. There’s our leader going through now for another lap. There’s Ross Barnes. Next up then it’s Derek Graham, Dave McGuire, all the rest coming through McGuire Fancies a run down the outside in the Beacon Hospital car. Graham on the inside. Oh he’s gone wide, wide, wide. Ross Barnes would just come straight back across the bows of Derek Graham who doesn’t keep it pinned by the look of it.
(02:48:30):
That could have been nasty. It looks like Barnes. I wouldn’t be surprised if Barnes front tyres are given out, but he’s doing a good defensive job here on the way down to turn three this time. Derek Graham’s gone right round the outside. He’s not backing out of it. Tries to sit right round the outside. This might leave a gap for McGuire as they all get to the second apex, second gear and back up the hill at the third gear. Brings McGuire right back up to them again though. Great shot coming down into the SA long, long. We never thought it was that long. You see it on a drone chef looks incredible. So Barnes has three minutes to go and that’s all to hang on to this second place.
(02:49:07):
Anyone down the inside here comes Graham with a lunge down the inside. This managed to get it completed though. Can you get the nose up the inside? He can. I think the big squeeze and barns. Oh dear, dear. Yeah, I don’t know about that now. Certainly. Yeah, I think it was a liftoff or you were in the wall there for Derek. He’s flashing the lights to show he is not happy and that’s allowed Graham down the outside. But certainly well robust tactics being used by the champion certainly today at Mandela Park. So Barnes in second place, Derek Graham in third place.
(02:49:43):
Going to have another go down the outside here. Perhaps that he is going to have another go down the outside thinks the better of it. Is he going to go back to the inside? No, certainly won’t put the bumper in. Derek Graham. He’s not a physical driver in saloon car racing. He’s got to be careful taking a move here because Dave McGuire right with him. Another quick man, this is slowing them all right down. It’s allowed coy to catch up to the group as well. So one minute. 52. They’re not at the checker flag just yet. All the battle here, the hall, the action is for second place. I can’t help but think there’ll be people called to race control after this one, but that’s not my department, thankfully it’s one floor below me. So the battered Barnes Auto House car now is still in second place somehow. Mc Mullen way up the road, he’s done a great job, as we said, very consistent down. They come once again. Barnes a little bit wide, but the rest of ’em not close enough to capitalise on it. Carnegie’s dropped back just again now as they stay apart from each other.
(02:50:51):
So Barnes, Derek Graham is thinking about another go there. It’s going to be last corner again, isn’t it? You slow them right down there and then get on the par. Graham looking for a look at the right hand side. He’s great to take that with McGuire all around. And McGuire thinks about it but there’s nobody right behind him so he can move around the track wherever he wants. He’s got a length or two back to Tim McQuaid McGuire looking very racy now on the back of Graham as they head up the hill. Which Graham has to go defensive here, which he does that might allow Barnes away.
(02:51:30):
And I think McGuire’s got up the inside of Graham. He has starting the final lap. Yep, this is wrong. Footed them. Nicely done by David McGuire there that puts him up. A place not quite just yet. Derek Graham goes down the outside, he’s later on the brakes. Tries to sit around the outside but can’t quite do it. Just about slots in between him and Tim McQuaid now just four corners to see if David McGuire can do anything about Ross Barnes. I think he can. He’s on a late race charge. He was famous for these in ZECs. Has a look down the inside. Barnes isn’t having any of it. GUI would love to get another place here right into the apex. Gets a cleaner run surely on the way up the hill. He does. Last corner’s going to be interesting in this one. Now the Beacon medical car coming back towards us.
(02:52:17):
One wheel in the air for superbly prepared by LOH Motorsport as ever. Cars always immaculate. Third gear for all these guys through the final corner on McGuire now. Definitely getting a run on the way up the hill and it’s uber defensive stuff for Ross Barnes McGuire. Looking to get back up the inside of him on the way out. Doesn’t quite manage it. And again going for the pit wall is Ross Barnes. So McMullen takes the win. And just about in the drag race to the line, the battered card of Barnes takes second place. McGuire and third, Derek Graham, Tim McQuay, Jack Icky, Trevor Fer. Our Adam Oman. Great run again from Adam o Manny. Then Roy, white Brenda, Chris Jones. It’s going to be Bobby Turley and Owen Cullen. Close race between those two. Bobby Turley just holds off. Owen Cullen on the run of the line and then it’s Charlie mcn. What a shame. Charlie McMillen starred early on in that one. I don’t think he will be one bit happy about what happened there Up at the final corner. So next up is going to be the last race of the day. It will be Bus Ireland. Those cars will be released in the pit lane shortly.
(02:54:02):
So if vsts coming back into park for me, Ross Barnes getting out of the car might be better off staying in it. The accident Repair centre will be getting that car. No Doubtly, no doubt on Monday morning. But McMullen with a great run and that one did it all correct, got to the front and as we said, made no mistakes at all. Just reeled off the laps and took another win. He’s not his first though. He had plenty of wins of SSTs. Here’s Charlie McKillen the name. We’ll be watching out for the rest of this season. Very impressive run from him. Boss Ireland for their race. Two being released to the pit lane. Great sound effects. King Cl Head to wait, Tara Daily. So Carrie Dar Daley, Tony Greenan and Michael Connolly. Gary Graham, Daniel Faherty, mark Rita Morgan McCourt Court. It’s a little bit hazy out over turn three but I don’t think there’s going to be any rain coming just yet. So the lease zones might have to stay where they are in terms of track position.
(02:55:52):
So St is still in park firm mate, Neil Murphy’s down there. He’s going to do their podium presentations for both races as soon as they come out of Park firm. Mate, we’re back on track with Top Line Hardware Formula Boss Ireland. Very potent machines. What it lacks in numbers, it certainly makes up for and sound and break. Horsepower and atmosphere. Keen and Kerry, unlikely to see Keenan being beaten. He was dominant in the first race here today. Comes down weaving his tyres. Two warmup Blos for Boss cars. Tara Daley. It’d be great to watch on this one. Fully dry conditions towards the end of the first race when he really started to get going, he was matching the times of Key and Kerry. So let’s keep an eye on that one and see how it goes.
(02:58:09):
Getting ready to go now Fastest cars here this weekend. Watch out Key and Kerry, he won’t make any mistakes but Darren Daley will give him a real good run. Surely if he can get traction in the World Series currently outside of the front row. Watch the lights. They’re on, they’re off. Oh and is Dar Daley who gets an absolute belger of a start and he nods his head as he grabs second gear there going by me and he just blast into the lead. So Key and Kerry with a little bit of work to do there. Big lock up from somebody that’s green and as he has a look down the inside as well. That’s a Michael Connolly in there too. Connolly gets by green and it was Connolly, I think he locked up down into turn one. So Tony Greenanham won’t want this. He’d want to try and stay with the guys in front.
(02:58:48):
Look at Dara daily on coal tyres. Absolutely flinging that car around. Clue the surname. They’ve always very committed to Daily and Martin Daily. Really impressive in the car. He’s put Dara into it now and it’s always great to watch. And look at this. Michael Connolly giving Ke and Kerry the workover. Keenan will be going. This is not supposed to happen, but I think once Kean gets his tyres warmed up, it might be a different story here. Darragh Daly doesn’t have to defend or late in the breaks, turns it in. Tony Greenan and in looking for a go here as well. But Key and Kerry beginning to settle in already. Great sound effects to our daily blast by a standing star of 56 dead not to be sniffed at.
(02:59:39):
So we’ll put away all the rest of the paperwork. Just look at about the lap record to see what the Boss Ireland lap record is. But it’s 47 3 8 0 30 Mullin 2023. So I’m not sure if we can get near that today, but let’s have a look. It’s dry and it’s skiing Kerry in second place and he’s getting the head down. But I tell you something, the key Gary’s not streaking away because this is sub drive by Mike and Connolly in third place to hang on to Kean. And in fact, Tony Greenan’s not far away either. First four cars are not far apart as We come down to complete lap two in the Connolly’s top line hardware Formula, boss Ireland race. Wow, 50.3 for Darragh Daly. 50.3 Also for Keenan Carey, 50.8 for Michael Connolly. Big lock up there for Tony Greenan and who had done a 51 3 that time round.
(03:00:25):
Darragh Daly, not at all phased by this. Wouldn’t have massive mileage in this car but certainly driving it. So well turn three, the double Apex Righthander gets it right in there. I would’ve expected King Gary to be harassing him and looking for a way by already so much. I’m sure the F three guard is ultimately quick around here, but Ken’s going to maybe take his time. Darragh Daly, not so much. He’s pushing so hard out front. It’s great to watch cars so quick on the way up to the last corner and hard on the brakes at South Side King Carry a little bit closer but not much as they go through the final corner. Certainly the world a bit quicker in a straight line. 50.2 for daily, 49 8 for Carrie in second place and closes the gap down again.
(03:01:25):
He’s too easing away a little bit from Michael Connolly. He did a 50.2 last time. In fact that’s the same laptop that Tara Daley did, but a 49.8 fastest lap now to key and carry in second place as he just closes up on the bigger car. Certainly more power on Darragh Daly’s car. You can see the grip that King Carey’s car has through the S modern generation F three car. It’s got downpours and grip and abundance compared to the car in front. Certainly in a straight line there’s nothing he’ll be able to do about Darragh Daly. So Dara’s certainly not going to throw this one away without a fight. The bit of power in a straight line certainly saves him down into term one. It doesn’t make any mistakes, gets it stops getting into the apex on the power again and here we go. Look at the lead stretching and stretching as we come through there, but watch to the first apex here. The F three car should be quicker and it clearly is quicker and then on the brakes down into the second bit, Terry takes two or three lengths back. But Darragh Daly with a great exit as long as he doesn’t make mistakes, it’s going to be very hard for Keen Kerry to get by. Darragh Daly, I feel here still 11 minutes to go though Long, long way to go. Keen Kerry will be well aware of that.
(03:02:31):
Close them down on the brakes again, but good exits is what Darren daily needs. He gets another one there using a little bit of curve, no problem to him. Oh he is into the 40 nines. A new fastest slap of the race for Dara daily. 49.6 5 2 200 kilometres an hour through the speed drop. Have we ever seen that? 200 kilometres an hour through the speed trap for Darragh Daly. 183 for King Carry but most interesting is fastest lap of the race. Darragh Daly, 49.652 great stuff from him, so great stuff, a great sound effect. We can hear it here in the Cory Rocks as they blast around the back of the paddock there through the left and right. Once again, key Kerry doesn’t, at least at this stage of the race, he doesn’t appear to have an answer for Tara Daley. There is a long way to go though. Darren Daley, 49.5. 49.5 also for Key and Kerry, so just matching him. 50 dead for Michael Connolly’s going nicely in third place. Tony Greenan and 50.3 0.5. I beg your pardon.
(03:04:05):
I believe he’s coming through the essence one more time using all the track a little bit more. Oh, and it’s a big late lunge from Key and Kerry, but Derek daily not having any of that. If he defends, he could be in trouble but he’s not defending taking a full racing line, getting a good run on the way out. Using that straight line speed of the Big World Series by Reno car down into the first corner now down through the gears and Ken gets into the apex. One mistake and Kerry will be alongside or come, but there isn’t one mistake. It just look like there’s going to be one mistake with eight minutes to go with this almost at the halfway mark. In fact, he’s opening that gap out. Well he does certain places on the track. Here comes Kerry, closing it down again but not staying with him all the way around the lap, both in the 40 nines last time, round boat, 49, 6 last time round.
(03:04:55):
Caught one of the Lee Stones now and in fact he’s had to lift on the way up the hill Dara daily and that could be a change to the lead. It’s going to be a change to the lead, isn’t it? Just slowed slightly coming out of the essence. Can he get it back on the main street? He’s going to have a go here. He comes down the outside and he just blasts like he and Gary. Well if I sounded a little bit disappointed when he Kean C got by, I just thought that might be the end of this scrap. Dar Daley said, that’s all right Leo. I don’t think so. And blast by him on the Strai. Again, two really good drivers having a go at the front of this one. A Kean Carey worked that one well. He knew what was happening. He got the run through the S and when there was a fraction of a list from Lift from Dar Daley so that he wasn’t baulked by the Lee Stone, Keith kept a pin, got down the inside, but Terry daily let ’em go.
(03:05:37):
Lined them up and blasted passed them and he’ll be able to do that again if it’s a sprint to the line. A drag race to the line at the end of this one. So it’s daily. Kerry Cony Green and Farty, Gary Graham, Mark Reade and Morgan McCort and that is the order. And again, Kerry has to go up the inside. Once again, Dar just gives him room, but once he gets on the loud pedal, see you later goes through again. The Time’s coming out a little bit. They’re not coming out a little bit. They’re both done 40 nines that time round even with that, so Dar Daley really pushing hard. Andre and Kerry’s going to have to have a think about this one. Sit back and have a think because it’s going to take something a little bit different to get by here and it’s going to take him maybe half a lap to work at, isn’t it? He’s going to find out where he is quick and then just blast up alongside them. Not so sure anywhere he’s quicker leads onto a spray as we saw when he gets the job done and Daley just uses the power to perfection to get back past him. Six minutes, 50 to go in this last race of the day here at Mandela Park.
(03:07:05):
Another back marker coming into it now it looks like, is it Gary Graham? Oh, and that’s going to hold him up. He had got a good lead. Oh, and the back marker turns in across his bows. That’s held him up badly and that’s got Ken Gary right with him. He’s done a good lapse work there getting going. Not sure who that is. It is Gary Graham. Just turn in across the leader down at turn three or Habi. Didn’t see him coming, but that’s certainly any advantage that Darren Daily had is gone now as they come up to Hill. Carey knows it and has a go down the inside. That’s the first time we’ve had to see do anything defensive up there and he gets a little bit out of shape as a result, standing on the power but with five minutes, 43 to go daily. Looks quite comfortable out front. They’d expected carry to as the race went on to get closer to him, but not so much intriguing race Black flag for 29. I’m not sure why that is. A blacked orange flag. Sorry, a warning flag for number 29. It’s for Michael Connolly, even third place. Not sure what he’s done wrong.
(03:08:21):
Up to the final corner.
(03:08:39):
Oh, Michael Clune’s come into the pits. It was just a warning flag, but he’s come in, he’s being stopped. Someone going to have a quick chat. What do I think at the end of the pit lane and it’s our daily slicing. Then on the inside of Daniel Far, who knows exactly what’s happening. Stayed well out of the way of the two litres there, but no advantage gained or lost as Michael Connolly blast out of the pit lane. Again, the leaders as close as ever. Four minutes to go. He can carry closer now this is what we spoke about. He was sitting back wondering what he was going to do. I wonder, has he got a plan now as he draws in that little bit closer in the Motown car, four laps to run by the look of it in this one, just over four minutes. If they went across the line, they’re lapping in 49, still last lap 49 7 for Dara daily, 49 7 for King Carey, Tony Greenan, and now elevated to third place because of Michael Connolly’s in forced pit stop.
(03:09:43):
Darragh Daly. I think it’d be easing away if anything here. It’s very, very impressive drive. We know how quick King Kerry is in that little left three car and to beat him on the national track would be an incredible feat. But Dar Daley is beginning to ease away here. I think this is going to be a quicker lap for Dar Daley than Key and Kerry, they boat get turned in daily again with the back of the car moving around 49 4. Yes, half a second quicker and fastest First sector overall that time round was there daily. It was the first two corners where he is getting his advantage and the run to turn three here, just under three minutes to run. Now that cab is opening up. It’s at 1.298 seconds. That is as big as it has been. Oh, and down the inside the go of one of the Lee Stones there at the final corner. That’s Morgan McCourt because we’re missing Mark Reade. Somehow we’re missing on lap seven. Certainly Keith, Gary doesn’t seem to be closing that one 50 dead for both drivers that time round, two minutes, 14 seconds to run. The time is running out here,
(03:11:39):
1 45 to go and they come down to finish another lap. They have 15 laps done. It’ll be 16 laps. They crossed the line this time that cap is getting slightly bigger every lap. 49.3 for Dara daily, 49 6 for Key and Carry and the gap stretches to 1.581 seconds. Now a couple of laps to run. Two Campion corner up through the gears down to turn three. This great drone shot on the Beacon Hospital coverage here at Modelo Park Beacon Hospital of course allowing us to get the guys from see it live in to give us this fantastic footage. The drone really being worked overtime today. It’s giving us great coverage at Mandela Park.
(03:12:29):
Derek Daley still moving around in the car and the brakes there as he turned in, he doesn’t stop pushing at all. So this I think is probably going to be it 48 seconds as they went across the line. He’s lapping at 49 6. I would imagine it’ll be checker flag next time round. Let’s wait and see. Nothing keen Kerry can do if we thought he was saving up for an attack. I don’t think so. So what a drive from Darragh Daly. The boat’s still trying quite obviously out of turn three. Look at Daley into the apex. No mistakes at all. It’s a hard car to drive around the national and it’s so quick. It’d be hard not to make a mistake and he hasn’t got much mileage in it, but this is an incredible performance from Darragh Daly. Really, really impressive stuff. Great to see it.
(03:13:14):
Martin Daley is here. He’d be delighted with this one as they head up for what I think is the final time. Five seconds to go. Four will be the final time here. He comes out onto the main strai, possibly driving the day for me. Darragh Daly, brilliant drive for him. Well, no chequered flag. Well there was a chequered flag. Apologies. Can’t see it all the time from here. It’s come up on the screen. There it is now. So Darragh Daly takes a very, very impressive win Ana fast of 49.194 to take the boss. Ireland win. King Carey in second, Tony Greenan and takes the chequered flag in third place. Next up, Michael Connolly, I think has gone through and Gary Graham Conley takes the chequered flag and he still gets fourth place overall. So it’s daily. Carrie Green and Connolly, farty Graham Morgan McCourt. And we’re missing Mark Reade from that one. Well, there we go ladies and gents. That brings us to the end of the live coverage
(03:14:56):
With,
(03:15:02):
I hope you enjoyed it if you were here, I can see Spectators heading home there. Great to have so many spectators down here. Great to have so many viewers with us on live tv, sending in comments, sending in WhatsApp messages, calling us, letting us knowing what’s happening. They drop. Well done. That’s mainly what people are messaging us about. It’s a new addition to this Beacon Hospital footage from See It Live and it’s absolutely incredible to our marshals. Thank you so much to Ian b and his team downstairs. That was a stressful weekend for them. Well done. And thank you to the UK modified Fords. Absolutely fantastic stuff from them. Hopefully they’ll come back and race with us here again. Wonderful weekend. Thank you to everybody and safe home from everybody here at Montello Park.
