Glory for Denvir, Campbell and Faherty at www.techit.ie ITCC Rounds 8 and 9

Keith Campbell holds up the Dunboyne Trophy after winning ITCC race two at the Leinster Trophy races. Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare.

Going into this weekend's Leinster Trophy meeting only two men could win this years www.techit.ie ITCC championship. Both county Down men Ciaran Denvir and Stephen Potter, were new to the grid this year having only raced in the Northern Ireland championship in the past. It was Denvir who needed to try and get ahead of his county man as Potter won at Mondello Park last time out. Indeed he did that by claiming pole position over Keith Campbell who won the races outright at Mondello Park by 0.881 of a second. Potter was back in third 1.3 seconds off Denvir. He would have to find some time up in race one of the weekend if he was to threaten for the lead.

Ciaran Denvir in action during qualifying where he claimed pole position. Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It wouldn't all be plain sailing for any of the ITCC drivers as they were mixed in with the Irish Supercars, Seats and Closed Wheeled Libre classes. So getting through the pack could cause problems during the race.

It was Keith Campbell in his Volkswagen Corrado who made the best start and grabbed the lead going into turn one, with Denvir behind. Robert Savage continued his run of good form by taking up third position and having a race long battle with Gareth Hayden in fourth.

Stephen Potter however, got caught up in between  the Irish Supercars and dropped down to fifth in ITCC, not what he wanted. Then by lap four Denvir made his move and got past Campbell but in doing so it was under yellows flags and subsequently the results are provisional. Once past he broke clear and won by 3.8 seconds with Savage in third. Although Potter finished fifth on the road he took second place points in the 'A' class but it would not be enough as his fellow Honda man took the championship and deservedly so as he was the benchmark for others all year. With the 'B' Championship already decided at the last round the only other class to be decided was class 'C' between Tony Gallagher and Daniel Faherty. Gallagher made the best start and managed to gap Faherty as the mixed with the supercars. By the time Faherty got through the gap was too big to close down leaving the final race of the year to decide the championship.

Keith Campbell, VW Corrado, leads the field on the exit of turn two during ITCC race one. Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Organisers decided to separate the starts between classes for race two of the weekend and for the spectators it was a good job they did, as it left it a straight fight between all in each class. Ciaran Denvir knew his road tyres were no good for the wet conditions and immediately dropped down the field as the lights went out. Keith Campbell got the wholeshot and lead the field out of turn one from Gareth Hayden, Jay O'Reilly and Robert Savage. With track conditions wet and cool there was not much grip out there and especially on the international loop. This would come into effect later on, before that though these four men began a race long battle to contest itself as one of the best races of the year.

Keith Campbell, VW Corrado, leads, Gareth Hayden, Honda Civic, and Jay O'Reilly, Honda Civic,
during ITCC race two at Mondello Park, Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Campbell still lead by lap four but by now Savage had got by Hayden and O'Reilly and was push hard to get into the lead. Hayden had dropped back so it left the front three to battle it out for the lead swapping it several times over the course of the race. Savage made his move again on lap seven going into Parabolica but ran wide and let Campbell through. further on the same lap as they went through Birrane's Bends, O'Reilly went wide on to the grass and let the front two gain a slight advantage. By lap nine Savage was again in the lead and looked to have the measure of Campbell.

Then drama, with a lap to go Campbell ran wide at turn 7a and let Savage get up his inside but as he came back across the track he clipped the front left wheel of Savage's Honda and broke the rim and drive shaft. Just as it looked like Savage would take his maiden win he was denied but showed he is now one of the front men for next year. Campbell had enough of an advantage over Jay O'Reilly to make it home to take the win with Gareth Hayden in third.

Keith Campbell, VW Corrado, leads, Robert Savage, Honda Integra, on his way to winning ITCC race two at Mondello Park, Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Robert Savage, Honda Integra, came so close to taking his maiden win during ITCC race two at Mondello Park, Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg

In class 'A' having already won the championship Denvir who only had road tyres to use in the wet knew it was pointless trying to go for glory. Potter was in the same boat but do not let this take away from a great drive from Brent Hughes who brought home his Toyota Auris home to take the win. It is a shame he hasn't been out all year as I am sure he would have brought a good fight to the two Honda drivers.

Brent Hughes, Toyota Auris, on his way to winning ITCC race two at Mondello Park, Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

In what was to be title decider race for the 'C' championship came to nothing, as heartache for Tony Gallagher struck when his Honda Integra refused to start before race two. It was a shame as it would have been great to see it going down to the final race or maybe even the final corner. In the end it was Daniel Faherty who took the win and the championship and a worthy victor he is too.

Daniel Faherty, Honda Civic, on his way to winning class 'C' during ITCC race two at Mondello Park, Leinster Trophy Races, Mondello Park, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

So that is it for another year some great racing throughout the year in all classes at all tracks which bodes well for 2020. Let's hope more cars line up on the grid and more regular as it is a great series which caters for all budgets. Congratulations to all who won their championships and to all who provided the entertainment during the year.

Results by class:

Race 1

Class A 

1st Ciaran Denvir

2nd Stephen Potter

3rd Brent Hughes

Class B

1st Keith Campbell

2nd Robert Savage

3rd Gareth Hayden

Class C

1st Tony Gallagher

2nd Daniel Faherty

3rd Adrian Dunne

Race 2

Class A 

1st Brent Hughes

2nd Stephen Potter

3rd Ciaran Denvir

Class B

1st Keith Campbell

2nd Jay O'Reilly

3rd Gareth Hayden

Class C

1st Daniel Faherty

2nd Adrian Dunne