Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship Round 7

Anthony Cross, left, Sheane, passes Dan Polley, right, Sheane, on his way to winning the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg 

Round seven of the Selco Hygiene Supplies Formula Vee championship brought the drivers to Mondello Park for the second time this year. This round saw a welcome boost to grid numbers with twenty-one cars lining up for qualifying, all vying for the important two front row spots at the tight and twisty county Kildare circuit. 

At the previous Mondello Park round series leader and current champion Anthony Cross won from Dan Polley by 0.209 of a second and as both won a race last time out at Anglesea in Wales, both were favourites to lock out the front row. After a good test on Friday Cross was confident of qualifying well. "I had a good day testing and was quickest overall but Dan wasn't here and he always goes well here, so it's hard to tell if it will be good enough today but we will see how it goes." Indeed Polley did go well by topping the time-sheets but only by a meer 0.45 of a second.

Dan Polley, Sheane, in action during qualifying where he claimed pole position. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It was first blood to Polley and by his own admission he needs to finish ahead of Cross to keep himself in this years championship hunt. The biggest surprise though in qualifying was the man heading the second row. Gavin Buckley making his first appearance after recovering from a broken pelvis in a skiing accident earlier this year put in a great time finishing only 0.4 seconds off Polley's pole time.

Polley made the most from his pole position by leading the field into turn one, although Cross himself made a good start, he had to slot in behind Polley on the exit to protect his second position from Trevor Delaney who moved into up third. A mistake under braking into turn four by Robert Fleming caused him to spin his Sheane and in the process collided with the luckless Karl O'Sullivan who had nowhere to go with both cars ending up in the gravel.  With Marshall’s unable to move the cars to safety, race organizers had no option but to bring out the red flags.

Dan Polley, Sheane, leads the field round turn two of the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Dan Polley, Sheane, leads the field out of turn three of the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.   

On the restart Polley again was better off the line and led the opening lap, but only just from Cross who at the beginning of lap two got better drive out of turn one and by the exit of turn two he was passed and into the lead. A well worked move but respect shown by Polley who could have easily squeezed him on to the grass.

Karl O'Sullivan, Sheane, is launched into the air after colliding with Robert Fleming, Sheane, during the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Cross then set upon building a lead, which steadily grew each lap. Behind the front two Trevor Delaney and Gavin Buckley had a race long battle for the final podium spot. Delaney got the jump on Buckley off the line and moved up one place from his qualifying position.

At one point Delaney began to close in on Polley but after getting got caught up with backmarkers it left him too far behind to challenge for second.

Trevor Delaney, Sheane, leads Gavin Buckley, Sheane, on his way to third place during the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

John Farrell had to pull his Sheane over to the pitwall after suffering fuel issues with two laps to go. With the car deemed to be at risk to others once again organizers had to put out the red flags. As the race was past three quarter distance a result was declared, which left Cross as the winner from Polley with Trevor Delaney in third.

In the "B" championship Paul Heavey took the win from Jack Byrne with Tim Murray in third. Heavey a winner at the Bishopscourt round back in May, was somewhat off the pace and never looked like moving up towards the front of the field. Justin Gray took the "C" championship win from Sean McCallion with Michael Killian in third.

Paul Heavey, Leastone, on his way to winning the "B" championship class during the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Justin Gray, Sheane, on his way to winning the "C" championship class during the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Anthony Cross holds up his trophy after winning the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Another good show put on by the Formula Vee drivers and great to see the numbers coming back up again which bodes well for the rest of the year. The next round brings the drivers back up north to the north of Ireland and to Kirkistown in county Down on the 24th of August.