Tuesday 12 April 2022

Sheane Makes It A Double - Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane Championship

09-04-2022:Philip Sheane, Sheane, holds up his Championship trophy for winning the 2021 Formula Sheane Championship. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For race two the grid was again in reverse order and Richie Adams once more lead the field into turn one. Mike Dermody initially made a good start but slotted in behind Adams. The two quick men at the back in Sheane and Adams made light work of the field this time and sliced through the field in the opening laps. Sheane made a much better start in this one and by the end of lap one was up to second place. 

09-04-2022: Richie Adams, Sheane, leads Philip Sheane, Sheane, into turn one during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Chris Dunne made a rare mistake and spun at the first corner dropping to last and gave himself a lot of work to do for the remainder of the race. The experience of leading in the early part of race on, helped Adams enormously in this one. He wasn't going to give up the lead easy and fought off Sheane over the next number of laps.

09-04-2022: Philip Sheane, Sheane, leads Richard Kearney, Sheane, into turn one during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Then disaster struck the third place man Kearney, a broken throttle cable sidelining the Carlow man just as he was closing in on the front two. This elevated Mike Dermody back up to third, but he was coming under increasing pressure from Garrett McKenna in fourth and by lap four he was past. On the same lap Sheane made his move for the lead and got through. 

09-04-2022: Brendan Carr, Sheane, leads Garrett McKenna, Sheane, into turn one during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

09-04-2022: Mark Keenan, Sheane, leads Brendan Carr, Sheane, into turn one during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Anyone who thought he was going clear off from here was wrong as he was repassed by Adams a lap later. The Dublin musician was playing the gig of his life in this one and again held his lead for the next couple of laps. Sheane again got by but his lead only lasted a lap. Adams found another way by if the first was good this was up there with it. Brendan Carr and Mark Keenan were also having a good scrap of there own, but the clutch issue was still hampering Keenan as he didn't have the pace he had at the start of race one. 

09-04-2022:Garrett McKenna, Sheane, in action during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

09-04-2022:Chris Dunne, Sheane, in action during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Chris Dunne however, was flying back up through the pack and by lap twelve was back up to fifth. Carr sadly again was forced out with mechanical issues. McKenna was safe in third. By lap eight Sheane was into the lead again and this time he got his head down a pulled out a gap and a pace Adams could not match. He set the fastest lap of the race with a 58.355 seconds. 

09-04-2022: Richard Kearney, Sheane, retired due to a broken throttle cable from the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

He cruised home to take the chequered flag to make it two from two and it was a fitting and deserved double to bring some joy to the Sheane family this week. It was great to see new faces on the podium with Adams and McKenna taking second and third. 

09-04-2022: Mike Dermody, Sheane, in action during the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Next race in in Bishopscourt in county Down in four weeks time. With Sheane not down to race there could be a new name on the winners trophy at the fast flowing northern circuit.

09-04-2022:Philip Sheane, Sheane, centre, Richie Adams, left, and Garrett McKenna, right, after the Formula Sheane race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Results:

1st Philip SHeane

2nd Richie Adams

3rd Garrett McKenna

4th Mark Keenan

5th Chris Dunne

6th Mike Dermody

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