Cross Wins Thrilling Opener At Mondello Park. - Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

After the titanic battle in the opening round in Kirkistown two weeks previous, the second round of the Selco.ie Formula Vee championship brought the drivers to Mondello Park. Many were looking for the same again this weekend. 

09-04-2022: Members of Sheane Family together with Formula Vee and Formula Sheane drivers take part in a minutes round of applause in memory of the late David Sheane who was laid to rest on Wednesday. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Sadly the Formula Vee and Irish motorsport community lost one of its most loved stalwarts and characters of the sport in David Sheane. The man who brought circuit car racing to the ordinary man by bringing Formula Vee to Ireland and building his own chassis for the class. In the following 40 years his designs have enabled hundreds of drivers both in Ireland and the UK race cars at a very much reduced cost and also brought a one make class to Ireland twenty years ago in Formula Sheane. 

09-04-2022: Members of Sheane Family together with Formula Vee and Formula Sheane drivers take part in a minutes round of applause in memory of the late David Sheane who was laid to rest on Wednesday. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

While hearts were heavy, everyone in Formula Vee were determind to put on a good show and pay tribute to David Sheane. Drivers from both Formula Vee and Formula Sheane gathered together on the grid for a minutes applause ahead of the opening race. It was a touching moment for the Sheane family who were present, to see how much people thought of the David.

09-04-2022: Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Sean Newsome, Sheane, on his way to taking pole position for the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

If qualifying was anything to go by the race looked like it was going to be another hell for leather battle. the top 7 were covered by the same second. Anthony Cross lapped the quickest to take pole position by 0.199 of a second over Sean Newsome with Jordan Kelly in third. With the race being held on the tight national layout qualifying well would be key to a good result. 

09-04-2022: Sean Newsome, Sheane, leads Lee Newsome, Sheane, during the Formula Vee race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It was Newsome however to go the jump at the start. He led the field round turn one with Cross and Kelly close behind. His lead only lasted a further corner though, as he became the filling in the sandwich  of Kelly and Cross going into the esses, where one tried to get by on the outside and the other on the inside. The inside line which Kelly took was the correct line and gave him the lead. Cross also made ground taking second only for a late lunge by Newsome into the final corner to take it back. All this and only one lap completed! With the cars so evenly matched the field held together in one big train as they began lap two. 

The battle for fourth heated up as Jack Byrne and Lee Newsome swapped places behind the front three. by lap five the first three began to gap each other with Kelly settling into a rythm and begin to control the pace. However by mid distance Cross had began his own charge, dropping Newsome and closed in on Kelly. Newsome found himself on his own clear of Byrne in fourth who had now to deal with Gavin Buckley after Leee Newsome retired. 

09-04-2022: Lee Newsome, Sheane, leads Jack Bynre, Sheane, during the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Cross made his first move by trying to take the lead on the outside of turn three, a move that nearly came off but Kelly held firm and still lead. Again Cross attacked at turn three a lap later and a better drive out of the final corner gave him more speed down the straight and into turn one. Kelly though knew what he had to do and just held his line and forced Cross to keep on the outside. A lap later, again a better exit out of the final corner gave Cross more speed down the main straight but this time he cut across the front of Kelly to take the lead going into turn one.

09-04-2022: Jordan Kelly, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

09-04-2022: Jordan Kelly, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Try as he might Kelly just could not find away by Cross. He was glued to the back of the Tallaght mans car. Cross hasn't won four straight titles in a row for nothing though and he was in this position many times before and knew what to do. Once the attack from Kelly eased off after the Donegal man ran wide at turn three due to his rear suspension becoming loose and allowing Newsome to get by. He had enough of an advantage to stay in third. Cross reeled off the final lap to win round two. Jack Byrne held of the attack from Buckley but on by a tenth of a second! 

09-04-2022: Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jordan Kelly, Sheane, on his way to winning the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

09-04-2022: Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jordan Kelly, Sheane, on his way to winning the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

In the VW Spares 'B' championship Sean Newsome took maximum points ahead of Kelly with Sean McCallion taking third having started from P12. In the LOH Motorsport 'Rookie' Championship Daniel Coyne took the win with a very impressive drive with times not that far off the top six! In doing some beating much more experienced men, Kieran Hannan came home in second with Aaron Murray  in third. 27 cars entered this weekend another great lineup in these times of ever increasing price hikes. 

09-04-2022: Sean Newsome, Sheane, on his way to taking maximum points in the VW Spares 'B' Championship race, during the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

09-04-2022: Daniel Coyne, Sheane, on his way to taking maximum points in the LOH Motorsport 'C' Championship race, during the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Speaking with race winner Cross afterwards he admitted "It was nice to get the win for the week that was in it."

09-04-2022: Anthony Cross, Sheane, holds up his trophy after winning the Formula Vee Race. Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It was fitting that the first three cars home were Sheane chassis. I'm sure David would have been pleased.