Doherty Wins The Leinster Trophy - Again

Ronan Doherty with the Leinster Trophy after the race.

If there was ever a more deserving winner of an event it would have to be county Antrim's Ronan Doherty. One year on from the heartbreak of loosing out on taking the biggest prize in Irish motor racing due to a disqualification on a technical problem with his car, he took victory in the Selco.ie Formula Vee race for the Leinster Trophy. 

Dating back to the early 1930's the who's who of Irish drivers have won the trophy over the years the likes of John Watson, John Pollock, Tommy Reid, Patsy McGarrity, Vivian Daly, Eddie Jordan, to name a only a few. It is not only prestigious for the great drivers from this land that have won it before but the history of international drivers who went on to the very top of the sport, such as Mike Hawthorn, Mauricio Gugelmin, J.J Lehto, Mika Hakkinen, and the most famous of them all Ayrton Senna.

To add your name to those is a great honor and he did it in style. Having moved to Formula Ford this season he decided to return for this weekend to the Formula Vee series to win the Leinster Trophy and prove to all he was the man to beat and lay to rest the disappointment of last year. Come the test day on Friday his times left everyone in the championship know that he had upped his strong pace from last year and qualified on pole position. 

Ronan Doherty leads the field into turn one during the Leinster Trophy race.

The forecast was for heavy rain, however by the time they lined up on the grid for the Leinster Trophy it was cloudy but dry. He already had given himself a certain confidence boost by winning the two Formula Vee races the day before.

Starting from pole position once again he {and everyone else} knew had the pace over the rest. His opposition would have to get ahead of him straight away and hope they could battle it out and not let him break away if he got out on his own. A harder task on the international track at Mondello, which is much longer and if a break is made it is harder to close down. 

Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Tim Murray, Leastone, during the Leinster Trophy race.

Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Jordan Kelly, Sheane, Conor Melia, Sheane, during the Leinster Trophy race.

Tim Murray who was also making a return to the series this year joined him on the front row. As the lights went out Murray was unfortunetley to eager to make a better start and jumped it. Doherty held firm his line towards turn one and held the inside line into turn one to lead the field. From there he got his head down and began to build a lead as he had done in both races on Saturday. By the end of lap one he was five car lengths ahead of Murray who had been given a ten second penalty, with Jordan Kelly and Anthony Cross behind.

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, on his way to winning the Leinster Trophy race.

Lap on lap he increased his lead leaving those behind in his wake and barring any mechanical problem he was not going to be caught. After a safety car period he once again resumed where he left off and again pulled clear. Cross was into second on the road and ahead of Murray and pulled clear of Kelly who scrapped it out for third with Jack Byrne. Doherty just reeled off the laps without any problem and crossed to take victory by a massive 11 seconds from Cross. Kelly began to drop back leaving newly crowned series champion Gavin Buckley to take his place in the battle for third. It all got very close with Byrne, Buckley and Conor Melia with a couple of corners to go. Byrne held on though and took the last podium spot.

Dave Furlong winner of the 1967 race presents Ronan Doherty with the Leinster Trophy

Ronan Doherty lifts the Leinster Trophy

Ronan Doherty gets sprayed with champagne by Anthony Cross, left, and Jack Byrne, right after winning Leinster Trophy race

Ronan Doherty celebrates after winning Leinster Trophy race

A well deserved victory and one that put the nightmare of the year before to bed.  

Speaking after the race the laid back Antrim man said; " it was a perfect weekend with pole position and the two wins yesterday and winning the Leinster Trophy today. I have to thank the lads for giving me a great car it was on rails and had great pace, I had the easy job of driving it."

Doherty Does The Double - Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

Ronan Doherty with his trophy after winning the two Selco.ie Formula Vee races. 

Round 9 and 10 of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship drivers made their way to Mondello Park to take on the international circuit. They would also would be competing for the prestigious Leinster Trophy on Sunday. First though the two final southern rounds of the series would have to be completed first. It also could see the crowning of all three class champions for 2025 if things panned out. 

Its been a close between Gavin Buckley and Conor Melia all year but both have had flaws in their campaign. In Buckley's case he lost points by making mistakes while leading races in Kirkistown and Bisopscourt but has won more races. In Melia's case he has been more consistent but lacked wins. This weekend would see the return of several drivers that have been missing for sometime. Jordan and Owen Kelly, Anthony Cross, Kevin O'Hara, Ronan Doherty and Tim Murray. 

Tim Murray left leads Anthony Cross into turn one at the start of race one 

A large grid of 26 cars took to a damp and slippery track for qualifying. The favorites would have to be Doherty and O'Hara. Both very talented drivers and ones the rest would have to step up to challenge. This was proved right as both locked out the front row with Doherty taking pole by a massive 1.6 seconds.     However come race time the sun was out and the track was bone dry. When the lights went out the two front men had bad starts and Tim Murray from row two shot through the middle of them to lead from Anthony Cross into turn one. Things went from bad to worse for O'Hara as he went wide and on to the grass dropping right down the order and any chance of a win gone.

Doherty was back into second as they made their way back in from the country. He wasted no time and took the lead as they started the international loop. Immediately he began to open a gap and by the end of lap one he pulled 3 car lengths clear. Cross and Jordan Kelly were now giving Murray a hard time. Championship contenders Buckley and Melia were having their own battle with Jack Byrne behind that group. Melia trying to put as many between him an Buckley. It was all go in the usual first lap mayhem of Formula Vee.

Top: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, during race one.
Bottom: Colm Blackburn, Leastone leads Niall O'Mara, Leastone, during race one.

Fergal Begley had a coming together with O'Hara in the final corner and ended up spinning but managed to get going again. This slowed O'Hara's progress which was rapid for the next couple corners as he had to re close the gap to those ahead. Doherty increased his lead with ease and the three behind him had no answer to him. In fact they were beginning to spread out themselves. It was all change in the next group as Buckley was now ahead of both Byrne and Melia. The following lap saw Doherty get close to the lap record with a 1.52.9 second lap just a dew tenths off the lap record held by O'Hara. 

Doherty now had a commanding lead over Cross who just couldn't stay with him but then the safety car came out and which would bunch them up again. The problem with the safety car being brought out on the international track it eats into the race time. It was back in after a lap and Doherty resumed the race and made a great re-start not letting those behind get a chance to make a move on him for the lead. Jack Byrnes hard work was undone as a brake problem caused him to take a trip through the gravel trap at turn one. He was saved though as Lee Flynn went off at the final corner on the re-start which brought out the red flags. 

Top: Eamonn Thornton, Leastone, leads Colm Blackburn, Leastone, during race one.
Bottom: Jack Byrne, Sheane, takes a trip to the gravel.

The result was declared from the lap before not that the result was in doubt as Doherty was never going to be caught. It was good to see Cross and Murray back on the podium again though and a shame they haven't been out much this year. In the championship battle Melia came home in sixth and Buckley eight meaning it was still all to play for.

Tim Murray, Leastone, on his way to third place in race one.

For the second race there was no poor starts from the front two who both got away well but Doherty got the better one and lead into turn one from O'Hara. By the end of lap one it was already a two horse race although Doherty once again was beginning to open a gap. Cross and Byrne were right together having a great scrap behind with Murray, Buckley, Keogh and Melia all in toe. It was much the same over the next couple of laps. Championship contenders Buckley and Melia were now separated by a couple of seconds on track but still only one car between them meaning if it stayed that way the championship would not be settled and would go to the final round. 

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Kevin O'Hara, Sheane, during race two.

Up front Doherty extended his lead and ended any hopes O'Hara had on challenging for the win. He was driving superb and just reeling off the laps. Cross was clear in third and had dropped Byrne into the group behind where the race was. He was having to fend off Murray, Buckley, Kelly and Melia in a car that was far from ideal, handling wise. Sadly Kelly pulled out with a mechanical problem a lap later. Once again as the race was near a close the red flags came out. Again the race was result was not in doubt as Doherty had built a lead of over five seconds. It was good to see the Antrim man back out in Formula Vee and showing how his Formula Ford season has brought his driving on even more since this time last year.

Top: Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, during race two.
Bottom: Andy Keogh, Sheane, leads Eamonn Thornton, Leastone, during race two

After the race when dropped rounds came into play the title had been decided and Gavin Buckley took the 2025 series to make it a successful title defence. A very well deserved title too and one where he was pushed all the way by Conor Melia. Melia still had cause to celebrate as he wrapped up the Tyredoctor.ie 'B' Championship. Brian Cowan also had reason to celebrate as he to wrapped up the Precision Works Engineering Ltd Rookie Title.

Top: Conor Melia, Sheane, leads Eamonn Thornton, Leastone, during race one.
Bottom: Brian Cowan, Sheane, on his way to the Rookie title

So it was Doherty's day and Buckley]s year. Next up was the important Leinster Trophy race.

Gavin Buckley on his way to winning the 2025 Sleco.ie Formula Vee Championship

Speaking afterwards Doherty said " I had a great day, I had the easy job of driving the car but its the lads who set the car up that won us the races as it went very well and it made it easier to win. Lets hope it does the same in the Leinster Trophy race."

Ronan Doherty on his way to winning race two

Cullen Does The Double - Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship

For rounds 9 and 10 of the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship, drivers were once again back in Mondello Park but this time on the International circuit. All year two Kildare men have being battling it out for the series and this weekend saw no difference. Jonathan Taylor from Kildangan and Kevin McGrath from Naas, are no strangers to their local track but with this being the penultimate round both men cant afford to give away points. 

Taylor loves the wet and it showed in qualifying as he took pole position by over a second from McGrath. However former champion Michael Cullen was back out for a spin for only the second time this year. He would be starting from the back in race one and would be hard to hold back. Also in the hunt would be Dave Reynolds and Colin Marnane both showing great pace in qualifying. Taylor made a poor start and the field was lead by McGrath into turn one from Marnane and Reynolds. Cullen already made up a couple of places on the run to turn one. 

The long international layout allows for more overtaking opportunities and this played right into the hands of Cullen. Carving his way through the field like a hot knife through butter he showed why he was so dominant last season. Taylor was also beginning to make up lost ground. By the end of the first lap Cullen had brilliantly took the lead to head the field out onto lap two. McGrath remained in second but Taylor was now up to third and closing in. By the halfway mark Cullen was clear of any danger and as always just reeled off the laps. In saying that, the battle for second behind did help him and provided the spectators with great excitement. 

Taylor hounded McGrath lap after lap but just could not find a way past. Its a credit to his driving all year not panicking while under pressure. Another great drive came from Colin Kelly who made his way to fourth place in his second ever outing. In the end it was an easy win for Cullen who was out for fun and keep his hand in as he is concentrating on rallying more this year. McGrath came home in second with Taylor in third.

For race two the top six on the grid were a reverse of the finishing order in race one. Once again Cullen made light work of those ahead of him and took the lead once again although this time he was in the lead a few corners earlier. Taylor though was in second with  a few cars between him and McGrath. Taylor hung on to Cullen for a few laps but just could not match his pace but also had to think of the championship and not risk something failing on the car. However behind him, his title rival was tearing up his steady form book and making trip to the grass in a couple of corners as he and Reynolds battle for third all race long. 

Kelly again made a good showing in fifth and could be one to watch the next day out and next season. Des Meehan took his custom championship round trip to the gravel but thankfully no damage occurred to the car. The rest of the field became a bit strung out as the laps went by but it didn't matter to Cullen as he took another win and another double.

Taylor came home in second a crucially put another man between himself and rival McGrath. When you take dropped rounds into account it leaves fine margins going into the final two races on the 19th of October once again at Mondello Park.

Speaking after the race Taylor was happy with his day even though he didn't make the top step of the podium this time out. " I had a good day I got maximum points and Kevin did also so I think we are nearly even on points going into the last round. We had a problem with the car in race one but fixed it for race two. We couldn't get near Michael today but that's the way it goes. He is an amazing driver and he has brought us all on. Fingers crossed we can take it the next day but if Kevin does it will be great too as he has never done it but I am sure it will be neck and neck either way."

McGrath was more relieved after it was all over " I had a great battle in race one with Jonathan and came out on top there but in race two I made a couple of mistakes while battling with Dave Reynolds and was on the grass a few times. I thought I was going to loose a load of time at one stage, thankfully I didn't but I may use that a dropped round. It will be tight going for the last round but sure we will give it our best".

Race winner Cullen was happy to get another couple of wins " It was good fun but it would be nice to have had a good battle. I nearly had the car sold but it fell through so I said I'd take it out this weekend instead. Still it was good fun."

Results:

Race 1

1st Michael Cullen

2nd Kevin McGrath

3rd Jonathan Taylor

Race 2

1st Michael Cullen

2nd Jonathan Taylor

3rd Dave Reynolds