Make Mine A Double! - Jack Byrne wins latest Formula Vee races.

Jack Byrne, Sheane, on his way to wining the Formula Vee race at Mondello Park.

Annacurragh's Jack Byrne had a Carlsberg weekend at Mondello Park on Saturday by taking pole position, fastest lap and victory in rounds two and three of the Formula Vee Championship. It was a much needed confidence boost after mechanical trouble at the first round at Kirkistown in March which stemmed from late last year. He didn't have it easy though as he was pushed all the way by Gavin Buckley, Conor Melia and Kieran Hannan. 

To add to the mix a restarted race two meant he had to redo all his hard work again. The tight track on Mondello's national layout can make it hard to pass but also if you over defend you can get caught out and get nabbed in corners that aren't usually overtaking areas. Easier said than done though but a clash of wheels in race two with Buckley exiting turn one could have very easily ended in disaster for both drivers. With only fourteen cars out it is a sign of the times compared to a couple of years ago when there was usually twenty-five cars out each weekend. 

Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Gavin Buckley, Sheane, and Sean McClements, Sheane, on his way to wining the Formula Vee race at Mondello Park.

That said those who were out but on a great display not giving an inch but all done in a fair way with no bad driving standards. Buckley came close twice at turn one in taking the lead on the outside line but Byrne held firm. His effort in the last three weeks wasn't going to be wasted in the gravel trap and only a win would do. Buckley's car still has the most speed out of any of the cars on the grid and he put it to good use down the straights but just couldn't find a way by. Cheered on by his biggest supporters his wife Michelle and daughter Eabha he took the chequered flag twice and in doing so but himself right back in contention for the championship.

Above: Jack Byrne, with his daugther Eabha aged 1 and Below: with his new army of fans after winning the Formula Vee race at Mondello Park.

Speaking afterwards the jubilant victor explain how his weekend went; " Its great now to get two wins a start the championship from here. We still have a few things to finish off on the car that we didn't get done in time for this weekend. The engine is strong and thank to Kevin Sheane for all the work he done on the car for us since Kirkistown its made a huge difference. It will be hard to beat Gavin in Bishopscourt and Colm Blackburn will be back too so it could be anyone's but we will give it a try anyway."

Kearney Kicks Off New Season In Style - Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane Championship

Richard Kearney on his way to winning the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park.

The long winter break was finally over for the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane drivers as they headed to Mondello Park for the first two rounds of the 2026 season. The sun was out along with new colour schemes and also a new female driver to Formula Sheane in many years. Mondello Park have now taken over the series led by Leo Nulty and a big promotional push is planned with lots of new interest already in the class by several newcomers. It would be great to see it grow back to a large field once again and keep the late David Sheane's memory and philosophy alive by having an affordable racing class for drivers. 

While Carlow man Kearney was the hot favourite for the win, it was anyone's for the other two places on the podiums. Qualifying backed the bookies odds as Kearney took pole position by a massive 1.9 seconds from Garrett McKenna and Sean Kiernan. With showers floating around and causing some minor headaches for drivers and teams in the morning thankfully they stayed away come race time.

Kevin Igoe leads Tom Foley during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park

 As the light went out for race one Kearney took the lead from the off and lead the field into turn one. His fellow Carlow man Mike Dermody had to start from the back of the grid after problems in qualifying, but his blood was up and drove superbly in the opening laps to cut through the field all the way to second place. He settled into a race long battle with Sean Kiernan, Garret McKenna and Tom Foley. The rookie to the class Roisin Sweeney was showing no signs of first day nerves and her previous Global Light racing experience was paying off as she was in touch with the group battle for second. Giving that she had no testing prior to the weekend and her first taste of formula racing was in qualifying, it was a brilliant display. 

Garrett McKenna leads Sean Kiernan during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park.

Sean Kiernan leads Mike Dermody during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park.

By mid race she had got up to fourth setting very fast times just a half a second off leader Kearney but a spin at the final corner dropped her right back but she had made her point. Kearney did what he does best and puts in quick lap after quick lap and built his lead and was never in trouble. Behind him though McKenna and Foley had gapped Kiernan enough to duke it out in the final laps for the last two podium spots. Dermody who had got up to second couldn't hold on to his early momentum and dropped back to fifth. McKenna put in a quick couple of laps at the end to secure second from Foley. It was Kearney's race however and to show how hard he drove he set a new lap record with a 56.636 second lap.

Roisin Sweeney leads Kevin Igoe during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park.

Tom Foley leads Kevin Igoe during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park

Mike Dermody leads Sean Kiernan during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park

For race two it was again Kearney who lead into turn one from McKenna who locked up his inside wheel and was close to colliding with Kearney but he stopped just in time and also hold on to his place. Sean Kiernan made a better start and got up to third hounding McKenna in the early laps but could not find a way by. Mike Dermody again made a good start and was up to fifth early on and behind him Roisin Sweeney and Kevin Igoe were having a great battle. Foley this time could not match the pace of those in front but still was close enough to pick up the pieces if anything were to go wrong.

Richard Kearney on his way to winning the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race at Mondello Park

Try as he might Kiernan could not get past McKenna and now Dermody was on his tail as well as Sweeney and on top of that his engine began to loose power. By half distance once again barring mechanical trouble Kearney had it in the bag. Though not setting lap records this time he once again showed why he is the reigning champion. It was hotting up behind him though now the race was drawing to a close, as Dermody had moved into third and Sweeney into fourth. Sweeney was again putting in the times faster than those ahead but just couldn't find a way past McKenna and Dermody. McKenna was up to the challenge despite several lock ups into turn one and held firm. Both second and third placed men stayed at the same pace ensuring neither would pull away or close in anymore. As Kearney crossed the line eight seconds clear he lay down the marker for those to match next time out. McKenna came home in second another good result with Dermody third, Sweeney fourth and Foley fifth.

  

The next round will bring a different challenge to the drivers at the fast Bishopscourt Racing Circuit in county Down.

Reynolds and McGrath Share The Spoils At Season Opener - 2026 Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship

Dave Reynolds leads Kevin McGrath and Roger Welaratne during the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park. 

Mondello Park hosted the opening rounds of the 2026 Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship at the weekend. Last season came right down to the wire with Kevin McGrath taking the title at a dramatic  last race decider. This season's opening round was as equally exciting with McGrath once again in the thick of it. His rival this time was Baltinglass  man Dave Reynolds. Sadly the grid has lost some of the regular drivers due to retirement but nonetheless the series will grow again in the coming rounds again with new drivers due to make their debuts next time out. 

The weather was fine but there were slight showers around which damped the track in places but that only added a challenge for the drivers as the took to qualifying. It was Reynolds who took first blood and an extra point for taking pole position. Qualifying was tight with the first three covered by less than a second. Reynolds lined up on pole with McGrath beside him. Richie Byrne and Roger Welaratne lined up on row two. 

As the lights went out it was the men from row two who got the better starts as Byrne and Welaratne lead the field into turn one. McGrath was third and Reynolds fourth and both were quickly trying to find a way by the men ahead to gap the other. After a hectic opening lap Reynolds had made his way to the front and his car sounded better than last year and it was visably quicker in a straight line too. He had Byrne between him and McGrath for the next couple of laps, giving him a chance to build up a lead. Byrne was in top form however and was not letting McGrath past without a fight. McGrath didn't want to drop time though and once past he began to chase down Reynolds. 

Richie Byrne leads Des Meehan during the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park.

Over the next laps the leader had been caught and the front two had a comfortable gap to the battle for third between Welaratne and Byrne. It was a game of cat and mouse as both had better pace than the other in different sectors of the track. As the race drew nearer to the end Reynolds upped his pace and had enough of a gap to take the win by 0.3 of a second. Welaratne cam home in third ahead of Des Meehan who was back out after his big off at the final round last year. After purchasing the ex Jonathan Taylor car which finished runner up in the championship last year. He showed no loss of talent finishing in fourth and promised to be " higher up next time out once he has the car setup the way he likes it and more testing done."

For race two the grid was reversed and again Byrne and Welaratne lead the field into turn one. This time though Reynolds was a bit too eager and a while trying to pass McGrath in turn two he spun and dropped right down to last. Surely McGrath who now had got into the lead would run away with this one. Byrne and Welaratne once again battled  it out with Meehan in the mix too, for the first half of the race. Reynolds now with his car pointing in the right direction set about catching whoever he could. His pace was a lot faster and he began to close in on the field quickly. Luckily for him time was on his side. He picked them off one by one and without getting held up he could possibly catch the leader. He set the fastest lap of the race with a 1.01.1 lap which was six tenths quicker than McGrath in the lead. 

Dave Reynolds leads Kevin McGrath during the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park.

Roger Welaratne during the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park.

As the laps began to run out he was just on his tail. Welaratne was now comfortable in third ahead of Byrne but the first two positions still were not set in stone. With a lap to go Reynolds made his move into turn one and took the lead in a brilliant drive but the man from Naas was not going to lie down. Last year proved he could fight to the end and by turn three he made his move down the inside of Reynolds to retake the lead. Once he used the defending line on the final corners the win was his. He did and it was and it was fitting both men came away with a win. 

Des Meehan during the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park.

Aaron Evans during the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park.

Speaking afterwards McGrath was both happy and relived to have won. " Me and Dave a great battle all weekend with Dave getting an extra point for pole and fastest lap to my one fastest lap so it will be all to play for as we go up north next time out. We had two great race and that last one he got me into turn one but I made a move into turn three and thankfully was able to hold it to the line to take the win. Hopefully it will be like that all season long."

Reynolds was as happy to but annoyed with himself after coming all the way back to take the lead and loose it again" The car was flying, we did a lot of work over the winter, a lot of research, time in the gym so I'm delighted how it went today. We are now down to the 1.01's which we weren't at last year so that is a big step forward. Looking forward to Bishopscourt now and see if we can get a win there too and push the class on social media and build it up and get more cars out.

Kevin McGrath, centre, with his son Jack aged 2, and Dave Reynolds, left, and Roger Welaratne after Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park.

Dave Reynolds, centre, with Kevin McGrath, left, and Roger Welaratne after Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker race at Mondello Park.