Cullen Makes It A Double But McGrath Takes the Title

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."

Eurovision Returns- European Rallycross Championship 2026

Thirty years ago English fans sang " Three Lions " (it's coming home) for the first time in hopes of their teams European glory. Fast forward thirty years and they are still singing it in vein of their original hopes but alas it still hasn't come home. Also thirty years ago the European Rallycross Championship visited Irish shores at Mondello Park. 

The Kildare track hosted round five of the series that year. The County Kildare Motor Club ran the event and some of the local hero's like Tommy Graham and Michael Coyne competing that day are on the entry list all this time later. Ludvig Hunsbedt from Norway ran out the eventual winner on the day in his Ford Escort RS 2000 T16 4x4. Swedish driver Tommy Kristofferson who competed in his Audi S2 Coupe that day made his return to Mondello Park to watch his son Johan, the current leader in this years championship take to the Irish track for the first time. Sadly Dermot Carnegie and John Moloney who were Irish Rallycross royalty back then are no longer with us but still remain in their fans minds, as the big circus rolled into Naas town centre on Thursday evening. 

A parade of cars made their way through the town to give the locals a glimpse of both the sport and the machinery involved. It created a great atmosphere for the event as engines were revved and launch control systems demonstrated before gathering in Lawlors Hotel gardens. It was a chance for the fans to get up close to the cars and drivers and inspect the engineering and debate would our local lads have a chance against their European counterparts. 

The evenings visitors did not disappoint and brought with them stickers and photocards for young and old to get signed. They posed for photographs, answered questions for the curious onlookers and helped created a wonderful event in glorious weather.  

The serious action began on Saturday with the opening qualifying rounds. Andreas Bakkerud Johan Kristofferson and his team-mate Ole Christian Veiby would be the top three to beat. That said the Irish contingent of Derek Tohill, Michael Leonard, Niall Murray, John McCluskey, Patrick O'Donovan, Ollie O'Donovan, Tommy Graham, Gary Donoghue and William Carey would be there to put it up to the professionals.

Speaking to them all over the course of the weekend they all said it was a dream come through to be competing in an event of this stature in their home country. 

It was early drama for Tohill who had an engine problem and only just managed to complete the compulsory 1 lap minimum in practice to take part in the event. His team worked their magic and had the engine out and replaced in time for qualifying one. In the FIA European Championship there are 4 qualifying races followed by 4 quarter finals, 2 semi - finals and then the final. Points are scored in each qualifying races which determine your starting places on the grid for the quarter finals. only the top three make their way to the semi-finals and the same for the final. Its though to make your way through but if you have problems in the qualifying races it still leaves you with a chance to progress albeit a lot hard in the quarter finals. 

The luck of the Irish was missing on Saturday with turbo pipe problems for Graham and Carey, Puncture and a black flag for Leonard dropped him down the field after showing very quick paces early on in qualifying 1.Tohill lacked speed in his Peugeot and worst of all for Murray who went out with engine problems. For the O'Donovan's it there were both highs and lows. Competing in front of their home crowd Patrick while competing at the front when contact ended his great qualifying 1 race. However he bounced back and won his qualifying 2 race to leave him in eight place going into Sunday. His father Ollie had a much better day with victory in both his qualifying races leaving him in fifth.

Up front in was Norwegian Ole Christian Veiby who would sit at the top of the overnight standings. He went into Sunday with a slight advantage over Juha Rytkönen and Andreas Bakkerud.  It was nearly almost over after heavy contact in Qualifying 1, at turn one when his VW Polo's rear window shattered after contact with René Muennich. He fought back brilliantly to recover from the back of the field and win his heat. In Qualifying 2, lining up alongside Kristoffersson, Andreas Bakkerud, Juha Rytkönen and Joni Turpeinen. A brilliant five-car battle kept the large crowd entertained. Veiby used his joker lap perfectly to emerge ahead of Bakkerud in the closing stages to finish second. With Kristoffersson's later recieving a black flag, it elevated the Norwegian to the top of the session classification and, crucially, to the top of the overnight leaderboard.

Bakkerud completed the top three. The Norwegian demonstrated excellent racecraft in Qualifying 1, following Joni Turpeinen throughout before a perfectly judged late joker strategy to snatch victory on the final lap. He lead his Qualifying 2 race, early on which was a five-car fight before losing out to the Kristoffersson and Veiby. Kristoffersson's later exclusion, moved him up to third overnight.

Sunday brought in an even larger crowd with many old faces who were once regulars to the county Kildare circuit. Credit has to go to the Mondello staff who's hard work in the week leading up to the event paid off as the track looked pristine in the glorious weather. The locals flocked to get their pictures, autographs and t-shirts of the visiting professionals with Andreas Bakkerud clearly the fans favourite going by the sales of his t-shirts being worn throughout the weekend. On track it was all change after the two morning qualifying sessions with Kristofferson now topping the leaderboard from Bakkerud and Veiby. For the the Irish fans Patrick O'Donovan remained their highest hope in fifth as Leonard once again punctured and both Honda civic men McCluskey and Donoghue both having first corner excursions. Both Graham and Tohill were driving well but just didn't have the pace to make it higher up the leaderboard. With only the top three making it through to the semi-finals it was going to be tough for the Irish drivers. Sadly Graham, Carey, Donoghue and McCluskey were knocked first but a brilliant drive from the back of the grid to third for Leonard got the crowd cheering on the local man. Tohill and both O'Donovan's got through also adding to the hope of at least one making it to the final. 

It was the visitors however who remained in control as Bakkerud won his semi-final ahead of Joni Turpeinen and Juha Rytkonen. Both O'Donovan's and Tohill were out and in the second semi-final it was the same ending any hopes of an Irish finalist as Leonard who had contact at turn two resulting in him dropping time and taking an early joker lap which was close to paying off but fourth was best he could do. Still it was a great drive after all the problems he had throughout the qualifying races. That left Bakkerud against the VW team-mates of Kristofferson and Veiby. Bakkerud got the best start and lead into the first corner ahead of Veiby as Kristofferson and Turpein made contact. Kristofferson stuck behind both Turpeinen and Rytkonen again made contact into turn two but Turpeinen and Rytkonen kept the power on and managed to hold their places. 

Turpeinen took his joker on lap one which allowed Kristofferson into third and a chance to close the already growing gap to the front two. Veiby now right on Bakkeruds tail was next to joker in the hope the clearer track would allow him to gain enough time to overtake Bakkerud once he went to do his joker lap. Bakkerued now under immense pressure from Kristofferson who had closed the gap right down kept his lines tidy and soaked it up. The VW Polo having edge on the straights and under braking over the Ford just couldn't find a way past. Lap five and it was Kristofferson who went to joker and on the exit he came alongside his team-mate Veiby. They made contact at turns one, two and three which cost both vital time and ending their chances of the win as Bakkerud would have enough in hand when he jokered. Veiby held his place in second and they had enough built up to overtake Turpeinen with ease as he jokered but Bakkerud was home and dry in an excellent drive to take the win and close the gap to Kristofferson in the championship.So after a thirty year wait it was all over but it was well worth it as the large sundrenched crowd went home happy and already looking forward to the European Rallycross circus coming back to town next year.

McGrath Makes It A Double

Kevin McGrath celebrates after winning both Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

For rounds 5&6 of the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship, competitors were back at Mondello Park. The weather was miserable and with oil laid down on the track from a previous race, the already slippery conditions were made even worse. Returning for this round was former champion and wet weather specialist Des Bruton. While not out to do the full series he would out to try a take another win but could take championship points off title contenders Kevin McGrath and Dave Reynolds.  It was Bruton who took pole position showing no signs of being rusty after his long lay off, from Roger Walaratne and Dave Reynolds. It wasn't so good for McGrath only qualifying in 7th and leaving himself with a lot of work to do. From the off it was Bruton in the lead from Reynolds as he lead the field into turn one. It was plain to see the track conditions were poor as everyone struggled for grip and not just from the rain.

Des Bruton leads Dave Reynolds during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

 That said it was the same for everybody but it was Bruton who made the most of it by stretching out an early lead in the opening laps. Reynolds was playing himself in and getting used to the conditions. After the initial laps were completed his pace picked up and began to close the gap. McGrath however did the opposite and carved his way up to third after the first half of the race. He was now on the bumper of Reynolds and had to get past quickly to give himself time to catch the leader Bruton. Just after the halfway mark he was past and already making inroads to Bruton. Try as he might, Reynolds couldn't keep up the same pace. With three laps to go McGrath made his moved to take the lead. Bruton stayed right behind but eventually lost ground. It was a case of bringing her home for the Naas driver. He kept smooth and didn't get out of shape much and took the chequered flag with a nice margin to spare over Bruton and Reynolds. He also took the important fastest lap to gain an extra championship point.

Dave Reynolds leads Roger Walaratne during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Kevin McGrath during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

For race two it was a reverse grid with Colin Kelly on pole from Des Meehan. This time the track was dry but the rain was not far away but there was a strong breeze which pushing the rain away for the start of the race. A dry race makes for better racing and a truer understanding of who was quickest. Kelly and Meehan got away well but a lightning start from McGrath saw him up to third by turn two and by the exit of turn 3 he was in the lead. Roger Walaratne also had a great start and was into second.

Dave Reynolds  was stuck in traffic and in fourth and if he did not get by one or two in the next few laps he was going to loose ground to McGrath. While the conditions remained dry it was at this stage McGrath needed to make ground before his main rival caught up. He put in the times and gapped the three behind over the few laps. By lap four Reynolds was into third and on Walaratne's tail. He couldn't afford to waste two or three laps behind him. He didn't and was into second a lap later. Now with a clear road ahead he carved into the lead McGrath built up. The weather too was changing again and the rain began to fall once more. Understandably being first on the road McGrath was cautious as the rain began to fall albeit not hard enough to wet the track to effect the grip levels.

KevingMcGrath leads the field during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Roger Walaratne leads Des Meehan during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Des Meehan leads Dave Reynolds during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

By now Reynolds was almost on his tail and as the rain blew off again the front two began to battle it as they have all year. Reynolds piled on the pressure every corner, but could not find a way by.. McGrath was on full defence mode and used the inside line all the way round to hold the lead. It was yet another brilliant battle between these two. Behind them though Des Meehan. Roger Walaratne and Des Bruton were also locked into the final podium spot battle. Walaratne defended well with Bruton unable to find a way past. Meehan too had the same problem with Bruton but was having his best run this year so far after mechanical problems in both races at the first two rounds.

Kevin McGrath during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Dave Reynolds leads Des Meehan during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Des Bruton leads Darragh Evans during Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship races. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Up front McGrath brought it home to do the double but it was Reynolds who got the fastest lap in this race to get an extra point. It was some consolation for his hard work in catching and trying to pass McGrath. The happy Naas driver knew he worked for the wins this weekend " Yeah I mad hard work of that today but I am delighted to get the two wins. I got it worng in qualifying and ended up seventh. Got good starts in both races and tried to make it to the front each time which I did. The first race was wet but the oil all over the track made it very hard work. Fair play to Dave he has found a lot of pace this year and pushed me all the way in the second race but I just defended and defended and it was enough to take the win again."