Wednesday 15 September 2021

Richard Kearney Wins Round 10 - Formula Sheane

Richard Kearney, leads Philp Sheane during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

As expected the conditions for round ten of the Formula Sheane championship were perfect the damps patches were now gone and everyone looked forward to another battle between the top three. This time Philip Sheane got the start he wanted and held off Richard Kearney at turn one and again at turn two as Derek Roddy slotted into third. 

Philip Sheane, leads Richard Kearney, during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

With the sun getting low it made it slightly awkward for the drivers as they made their way out to the county. All three up front knew they could'nt afford to let each other get away. Richie Adams again made a good start as he made his way up to fourth. On the way back towards the paddock Sheane kept the tighter line already defending hard from Kearney. 

Derek Roddy, in action after dropping time with a trip to the gravel trap during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

By lap three it was still the same as Sheane soaked up the pressure well which cannot be said this time for Roddy. On the entrance to turn 4 he locked up his rear brakes and spun into the gravel. Luckily for him he didn't get stuck in it and managed to drive his way out of it but all hopes for the win were gone. This let the duo of Sheane and Kearney away to fight it out themselves as they had by now pull well clear of the field.

Richard Kearney, leads Philp Sheane during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

 Tom Foley began to make progress up through the field with claiming fifth and then fourth. Up front Kearney began to pile on the pressure and it worked by passing Sheane for the lead. It had been four months since he had been in this position and this time he wasn't going to let it slip. Sheane tried hard to get back past and looked quicker on the older part of the circuit but the clever Carlow man had all the lines covered. 

Richie Adams, leads Chris Dunne during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Unfortunately Garrett McKenna who had been battling with Tom Foley spun at turn four just as Roddy had done earlier but sadly for him he beached his car and his race was run. With his car in an unsafe place and despite the marshals best efforts the safety car had to be deployed. This allowed Roddy to catch back up to the leaders, but time had run out for himself or Sheane to get past Kearney as it was just a simple run to the line.

Chris Dunne, leads Tom Foley during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Tom Foley, leads Garrett McKenna during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Still all in all it was good to see Kearney take a win as he was hampered by bad luck all season. With the last round taking place on the 25th of September it does not leave much time to get the cars ready for the final and most important round of the season as it has turn out to be. With nine points between Sheane and Roddy in the favour of Sheane, it still is all to play for as one DNF could swing it either way. In the scholarship class Tom Foley came home with the win adding to his win earlier in the year in Kirkistown. 

Results

1st Richard Kearney

2nd Philip Sheane

3rd Derek Roddy

Scholarship

1st Tom Foley

2nd Chris Dunne

3rd Richie Adams

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