Ciaran Denvir 2019 www.techit.ie ITCC Champion

2019 ITCC Champion Ciaran Denvir with his self built Honda Civic at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg

History was made at the weekend as a rookie Ciaran Denvir took the 2019 ITCC Championship and not only that he also was the first man from the North of Ireland to take a race win in the series as well. 2019 has been a fantastic year for who hails from Downpatrick in county Down. From the first race meeting in Kirkistown back in March he has been on the podium in all races and winning five. With that kind of consistency it would have been a tall order for anyone else to take the title away from him. Stephen Potter ran him close in a pretty much identical car, but as it has turned out the mechanical problems in round four cost him dearly.

Working as a mechanic Ciaran like all clubman racers does his racing on a shoestring budget, but after his success in the early part of the season he managed to pick up sponsorship from Lonestar Pizza who supplied him with a couple of sets of tyres. He is only in his first full season of racing after never fully committing to a championship before.

" I only ever did a few meetings here and there up home but I decided to give this year a good go and do the full year."

His mechanical skills also match his driving, as he built and prepared his car himself including the engine and the newest modification since the last meeting - power steering!

" The car has never missed a beat all year and I have done all the work myself as I couldn't afford to pay someone to do it, but after the last race in Mondello I had to put power steering into it, as after a couple of last my arms were hanging off me!"

2019 ITCC Champion Ciaran Denvir with his self built Honda Civic at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg

His first visit to Mondello Park last time out impressed him immensely and came away loving the circuit. " I love Mondello it's such a good circuit with it's undulations and technical parts thrown in too."

Ciaran Denvir, Honda Civic, on his way to winning round one in Kirkistown back in March. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ciaran Denvir, Honda Civic, takes the chequered flag for the second time at the opening race weekend in March. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ciaran Denvir, Honda Civic, leads Keith Campbell, VW Corrado, on his way to winning round three at Bishopscourt in May. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ciaran Denvir, Honda Civic, leads the fields on his way to winning round three at Bishopscourt in May. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ciaran Denvir, Honda Civic, in action during round nine at Mondello Park in September. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ciaran Denvir, Honda Civic, in action during round nine at Mondello Park in September. Photo: Barry Cregg.

The series has been a success with great racing throughout the classes at all tracks during the year. It has at times like all classes in racing, fallen short in numbers at times so what is it like for the drivers?

" I'd love to have more people to race against in my class and the cars are out there just lying in sheds. The regs are spot on and I know the costs involved but they should still try and get out for a few races." It is not easy to get out all the time but with it being a five weekend series it surely is doable to some degree.
It is very expensive coming down here with the entry fee being a lot more than in Kirkistown or Bishopscourt and then the traveling cost etc but its expensive for the southern guys coming up north too, but I think there needs something to be done in that regard for next year."

2019 ITCC Champion Ciaran Denvir with his self built Honda Civic at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg

Now that the season is over and people have loaded up the trailers, vans and trucks for the last time, it will be a few weeks before decisions are being made for next season, so will Ciaran be back to defend his title?

"I'll do the first couple of rounds and if I get a good start like I did this year and also if more come out to race I'll probably do the full season but who knows."

It's been a great year for him, and I am sure that more will be out next year as they will have the whole winter to get their cars ready and hopefully ITCC 2020 will be even better than this year.

2019 ITCC Champion Ciaran Denvir with his self built Honda Civic at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg