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| Anthony Cross with the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy after winning in Kirkistown today. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
With the autumn days getting into their stride and the long evenings now a distant memory, it also meant that the 2019 Selco.ie Formula Vee championship was drawing to a close. Not before one last outing though, and another trip up north to the popular Kirkistown racing circuit in county Down.
While the championships were all decided at the previous round at Mondello Park two weeks ago, it didn't mean that this last round would be of little significance. This would be the last chance for some to grab their first win of the year or even their first ever win! Anthony Cross who successfully retained his title this season, would be out to finish the year with another victory and the rest would be out to stop him doing just that! Not only was it the final championship meeting, but also a separate race for the all important Emerson Fittipaldi trophy, won last year by Dan Polley.
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| Philip Sheane, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, and Jack Byrne, Sheane, on the opening lap of Formula Vee race one. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
A grid of fifthteen cars lined up on the grid headed by Philip Sheane who impressed at this track in August. He was the man who dominated qualifying and took his maiden pole position by 0.787of a second from Anthony Cross. Joining the grid for the first time this year was UK Formula Vee champion Ben Miloudi. When the lights went out it was Cross who lead the field towards turn one, the infamous Debtors Dip. Cross held his lead as they exited turn two, followed by Philip Sheane, David O'Loughlin, Dan Polley, and Jack Byrne. His lead was short lived as by the second lap it was Sheane who now lead. Building on from his qualifying, Sheane was showing he wasn't going to let Cross have it all his own way. Cross retook the lead on lap five dropping Sheane back towards Dan Polley who by now was up to third.
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| Philip Sheane, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, and Jack Byrne, Sheane, during Formula Vee race one. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
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The race was shaping up to be the one of the closest all year as the lead battle grew into a five car train. Once again Sheane on lap seven took the lead from Cross determined to grab his maiden win. The front began to slightly gap Polley and Byrne in third and fourth, Jimmy Furlong was also putting the pressure on in fifth. It looked like anybody's race and a small mistake could see you drop back down the order in a split second.
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| Philip Sheane, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, during Formula Vee race one. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
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| Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Philip Sheane, Sheane, and Dan Polley, Sheane, during Formula Vee race one. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
Then with only a couple of laps to go Cross made his move on Sheane to retake the lead which he held onto to the chequered flag but by only 0.2 of a second. Polley came home third but by only 0.001 of a second from Byrne. Again it was this years champion who took the win but he was made work hard for it and it shows that next year's championship looks set to be a closely fought one.
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| Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Philip Sheane, Sheane, and Dan Polley, Sheane, on his way to winning Formula Vee race one. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
Speaking afterwards Cross said " That was a tough race, Phil was flying! I looked in my mirrors coming out of the chicane and saw that he got a slide which gave me that edge on the back straight on the final lap and I knew I had it then. I had a great year but I also had a bit of luck too".
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| Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Philip Sheane, Sheane, and Dan Polley, Sheane, on his way to winning Formula Vee race one. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
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| Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Philip Sheane, Sheane, on his way to winning Formula Vee race one. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
Now that the championship was over, it was time for the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy race. Cross was out to take his second win of the meeting boosted in confidence after winning the season finale race earlier in the day. The Fittipaldi Trophy is a trophy all formula vee drivers want their name on. All that has gone on during the season prior to it, be it good or bad goes out the window. The old saying of 'Saving the best for last' certainly couldn't have been more apt for the race to bring the curtain down on the 2019 season. At one point there were six cars battling for the lead with nothing bar a cigarette paper between each of them.
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| Philip Sheane, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, and Anthony Cross, Sheane, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy race. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
It began with Philip Sheane taking the lead from Anthony Cross around the outside going through 'Debtors Dip' followed by David O'Loughlin who was having his best showing of the year in second place with Jack Byrne in third and Cross forced back to fourth place. Going into the chicane on lap two Byrne forced his LOH Motorsport car up the inside of Sheane to briefly lead, but with Sheane having the line for the second part he couldn't make his move stick.
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| Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy race. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg |
In doing so Sheane got out of shape and ended up having a bad run on the exit, giving the rest behind, lead by Cross a better run down the back straight. By turn one on lap four cross was now in the lead taking Sheane on the inside. Setting out to build a lead, proved unsuccessful as he simply could not shake off the pack behind, now lead by Byrne who was determined get by as soon as possible. He did so within a couple of laps and it looked like the front two would have the race to themselves, especially after Sheane got his car very out of shape on the exit of the chicane with only a handful of laps to go.
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| Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Philip Sheane, Sheane, and Jack Byrne, Sheane, on his way to winning the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy race. 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland car races, Kirkistown. Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
On lap eleven Cross got back in front and slowed the pace to bring the pack behind back into play again in efforts to prevent Byrne getting passed. It worked but just, as Sheanes last corner efforts nearly came off but Cross held it to the line to win by 0.021 of a second with Byrne back in third and Jimmy Furlong in fourth. The top four all crossed the finish line within the same second. Furlong grabbed the fastest lap in another strong performance. A second win for Anthony Cross made it a championship and Fittipaldi trophy double and deservedly so. As he was the man to beat all year and won at times by digging deep when other really should have won.
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2019 Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy winner Anthony Cross. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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Two great races to end what has been a season full of action packed races, where we saw the champion retain his title, new contenders emerge strongly, old stalwarts show the young cubs that they can still mix it and win against the best of them and above all great sportsmanship between all competitors off the track where help was always on hand when somebody needed it. Hopefully more people come out next year and those who were out come back again and make the
www.selco.ie Formula Vee Championship bigger and even better in 2020!
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| 2019 Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy winner Anthony Cross. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
Race Results:
Round 11
'A' Championship
1st Anthony Cross
2nd Philip Sheane
3rd Dan Polley
'B' Championship
1st Jack Byrne
2nd David O'Loughlin
3rd Nick Mullhall
'Star of Tomorrow' Championship
1st Philip Sheane
2nd Justin Gray
3rd Sean McCallion
Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy Race
1st Anthony Cross
2nd Philip Sheane
3rd Jack Byrne
4th Jimmy Furlong
5th David O'Loughlin
6th Ben Miloudi
7th Nick Mullhall
8th Justin Gray
9th Ger Byrne
10th Sean McCallion
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