For the penultimate race weekend for the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship drivers went back to Mondello Park for the prestigious Leinster Trophy races. Usually the season finale, this season sees the final round in October at Mondello Park. It would give Dave Reynolds an extra chance to close in on series leader Kevin McGrath with the gap between the top two is just nine points, so neither men could afford to slip up.
McGrath may have the upper hand but as he has all year Reynolds has doggedly stayed within striking distance to him. Returning for this weekend was former series champion Michael Cullen who was the benchmark for the field to catch in races past. It would be interesting to see if the fields pace had increased in his absence.
The weather was miserable for qualifying and the forecast was not looking any better for the day ahead. Cullen stamped his authority straight away by claiming pole position by a massive 4.3 seconds. Colin Kelly also impressed by taking third place on the grid ahead of fast men like Des Bruton and series leader McGrath. Reynolds lined up in second place crucially two places ahead of his rival and that extra confidence boost going into race one.
The longer International layout would give more opportunities to overtake and make up time if any was lost. As the lights went out Cullen got the drop and led the field into turn one. Kelly made a good start and held his third position, keep McGrath at bay. Opening laps saw the front four nose to tail but as it settled down Cullen start to etch a couple of car lengths ahead of Reynolds. Was it going to be a repeat of last October's meeting where he cruised home or could Reynolds stay with him and prove the pace on in Irish Stryker's.
The answer was the latter as by the halfway stage as Cullens lead was cut in half. McGrath was now up to third but was too far away to challenge the front two. Cullen again tried to up his pace and pull clear but Reynolds was not going away and laps running out he was right o the tail of the leader. By the final lap Cullen had to defend every corner as Reynolds tried to find a way by and at the final turn he made his move after a great run up the hill.
He got down the inside and looked to have pulled it off but his momentum carried him wide and Cullen the wise old fox cut back and had a better run to the line to take the win but only just as the gap was 0.054 of a second. One of the closest finishes in the series for some time. McGrath came home in third from Kelly and Roger Welaratne.
That third place was crucial for McGrath as with Cullen winning and taking fastest lap it lessoned the loss of points to Reynolds. Reynolds would have to win race two and get fastest lap to take it to the final round in October. With the top six reversed on the grid for race two it would make it interesting in the opening laps. It was Colin Kelly who lead the field on the opening lap from Weleratne and was looking good and was not for being pushed aside easily as he kept McGrath, Reynolds and Cullen at bay. McGrath and Cullen had slight coming together resulting in rear bodywork damage to McGraths car which began to rub off the tyre. Initially it looked concerning with smoke coming off the back of his car but his pace didn't slow so it wasn't doing anything serious enough to damage the tyre and force a retirement. Once Cullen and Reynolds got by Kelly it was a repeat of race one as they pulled clear.
Again Cullen could not shake off Reynolds who was happy to sit behind but McGrath was closing in by half distance now he too was past Kelly who hung on for as long as head could. Now McGrath had to catch up to the leaders and see if he could make a move himself for a win. Reynolds got a run out of turn one and was past a corner later but then left a gap to big for Cullen to resist at turn three and once again he found himself in second spot. With time running out he had lost his opportunity of a surprise overtake and once again it would have to be a last corner effort. McGrath was right there to take advantage if anything happened between the top two. So once again it came down to the final corner and Reynolds had to go for it, he tried but cruel luck prevented him from another chance of victory. The clutch cable popped out and left him stuck in second gear. He could not change gear and lack of drive down the straight saw both Cullen and McGrath get past. So unlucky and such a shame to what was yet another great drive and effort. He had the consolation of fastest lap but with McGrath coming home in third it secured him the title after the dropped rounds came into account.
Despite the outcome Reynolds was still upbeat about it all, " That was the most enjoyable Stryker race I ever had and I've waited years to get past Michael after he pipped me for the championship in 2021 so I have been waiting years to get past him again. I wasn't even thinking about the championship I just wanted to beat Michael. Then bad luck came into it with the clutch cable at the end but that's the way it goes but it was still enjoyable. It's a pity the title chance is gone but fair play to Kevin He drove well all year and deserves it too."
The double winner was delighted to have come out on top of both races " For sure the absolute tightest two races I ever had in Strykers. I lured myself into a false sense of security after qualifying and thought once I got into the lead I would be fine and do my own thing and get away, but Dave was all over me like a hot blanket. He got me in the last corner but I got ahead towards the line and there was half a tenth in it. In race two I got into the lead and saw Dave down to third but he was catching up quickly and he got by me but left a gap and I got by again on the second last lap and held on. I'm 63 and not getting any faster but these guys are, so it was very enjoyable."
The 2026 Champion was both delighted and relived after the race; " I done a bit of strategic weight loss after colliding with Michael at the start of race two. I saw to two lads up the road battling away so it let me get settled and allow me to catch up in the end but it was unfortunate for Dave running into gearbox problems right at the end. It's great to take the title again after a long battle all year with Dave and Michael today."
