Saturday, 24 August 2019

Anthony Cross takes another win as Philip SHeane impresses at Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship Round 8

Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Dan Polley, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
Round 8 of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship brought the drivers back north of the border and to fast and technical Kirkistown race circuit located in the Ards Peninsula in county Down. Qualifying took place on Friday afternoon and again it was current champion Anthony Cross and rival Dan Polley who battled it out for the pole position spot just like the previous round in Mondello Park six weeks earlier.

Just like then there was nothing to seperate them both, and to highlight this they set their fastest times on the same lap. It was Polley who again managed to take pole but by only 0.018 of a second! In fact the top four in qualifying was nearly a carbon copy of the previous round only for Tim Murray to put his car into third position with Gavin Buckley and Trevor Delaney rounding out the the top five. Jack Byrne who currently sits in second position in the championship standings only managed to qualify in eight.

Race day was gifted with fine weather and warmer conditions than in the summer visits earlier this year but also a strong breeze. First up was the 'B' and 'Star of Tomorrow' Championship races. It was Tim Murray starting from pole position that got the drop on Philip Sheane who started alongside him on the front row when the lights went out. Murray lead the field away towards the fast left hand kink Debtor's Dip with Sheane behind in second and Jack Byrne in third.

Tim Murray, Sheane, leads Philip Sheane, Sheane, Jack Byrne, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee 'B' race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
Jordan Kelly, Sheane, takes the sideways approach to the chicance during the Selco.ie Formula Vee 'C' race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

The front three pulled away after the first couple of laps were completed from a second group that battled for fourth position lead by Jordan Kelly. Murray, Sheane and Byrne were nose to tail only getting out of line as Sheane pulled alongside Murray in an out braking maneuver going into turn two each lap. While it almost came off on a couple of occasions, Murray coped admirably with the pressure heaped on him. He had the measure of his rivals on the exit of the chicane where he pulled a car length as he carried his speed through it better. Then on lap eight as he seemed to be starting to pull a gap he spun on oil at the hairpin left down by Owen Kelly, allowing Sheane and Byrne though. All his good work undone, he set about clawing whatever time he could back on them. Sheane however, reeled off the laps and was never troubled and took the win comfortably by 11.159 seconds. Behind him though Jack Byrne while in a safe second place until he hit mechanical trouble and began to slow allowing Murray and then Jordan Kelly by.

Tim Murray, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee 'B' race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
Philip Sheane, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee 'C' race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Even though Sheane is a 'Star of Tomorrow' championship runner he showed his steady progression from the start of the year to move ahead of his 'B' championship compatriots at this meeting. That said he only scored points for his class and not the 'B' class but it bodes well for him for the future.

Tim Murray, Sheane,on his way to finishing in second place during the Selco.ie Formula Vee 'B' race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Philip Sheane, Sheane, impressed many today on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee 'B' race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For the 'A' race Dan Polley and Anthony Cross lined up at the head of the field and it was Polley who got the better start and lead the field into Debtor's Dip for the first time. Cross however had a slightly better top end held his line bravely through the fast left hand kink and took the lead going into turn two. Gavin Buckley got ahead of Tim Murray to go into third place which was the beginning of a race long battle for the final podium spot. Joining them was Trevor Delaney and Philip Sheane who once again was showing everyone he was a future front runner.

Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Dan Polley, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Up front Cross began to open up a slight gap but by lap four Polley was right on his tail and for the next five laps both drivers put on a great show swapping the lead several times and neither able to hold on to it. Polley was able to get a great run out of the hairpin giving him the chance to pass Cross going into Debtor's Dip. Cross on the other hand was stronger going into turn two and retook the lead. Polley changed tactics and chose to go the long way round at turn two and once again took the lead but by lap 10 Cross was in the lead which he held on to despite a late charge from Polley behind.

Dan Polley, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Behind the front two Delaney, Buckley, Murray and Sheane battled it out for third with Buckley losing his nose cone in the process. Murray out braked himself at turn two letting Sheane through. Sadly with a couple of laps to go both Sheane and Buckley retired with mechanical problems leaving Delaney to finish on the final step of the podium. Another race to forget for the man lying second in the championship Jack Byrne, who seemed to suffer from same mechanical problems as he had in the 'B' race earlier in the day. An off course excursion at the chicane did not held him either.

Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Tim Murray, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
Trevor Delaney, Sheane, leads Gavin Buckley, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
Anthony Cross, Sheane, in action on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

With another win today and with only two rounds to go Cross has certainly put one hand on the Championship trophy. Can Polley get back to winning ways in Mondello Park next month at the big Leinster Trophy race meeting, only time will tell.



Results by class:

'A' Championship

1st Anthony Cross

2nd Dan Polley

3rd Trevor Delaney

'B' Championship

1st Tim Murray

2nd Jack Byrne

3rd Robert Fleming

Star of Tomorrow Championship

1st Philip Sheane

2nd Jordan Kelly

3rd JB Farrell


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