Lee Newsome Wins Round 6 - Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

Lee Newsome, Sheane, celebrates his victory after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Ashford man Lee Newsome took an impressive win at round six of the Selco,ie Formula Vee championship at Mondello Park. the baby of the Newsome family was on his own this weekend as brother Sean could not make it out for this round. However, he didn't help himself by qualifying in 6th place. As with all Formula Vee races while qualifying is important, on the international track layout there is plenty scope to improve your finishing position come the end of the race. It was Dubliner Gavin Buckley who took pole position from Jordan Kelly 0.112 of a second. In fact, the top six driver were covered by the same second showing the competitiveness of the class. 

Jordan Kelly, Sheane, Lee Newsome, Sheane, and Donal Downey, Leastone, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

As the lights went out it was Kelly who got the best start and led the field into turn one. Both Buckley and championship leader Anthony Cross got swallowed up by the pack and Newsome found himself in third on the exit of turn 1. By Turn three the pole man was out spinning off into the gravel letting Newsome gain another place as they headed out on to the international loop.

Lee Newsome, Sheane, leads Jordan Kelly, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Another Wicklow man Jack Byrne from Annacurragh had also moved up to third but the leader had a gap of three seconds over them. While the Wicklow men worked together to close the gap to the man from Donegal all sorts of battles were happening further back in the pack which ended in championship leader Cross being hit from behind by Donal Downey causing his retirement. The unfortunate Paul Lewis whose car broke a trailing arm and put him into the path of Jonathan Hollywood causing both men also to retire from the race as well as bringing out the red flags.

Jordan Kelly, Sheane, Lee Newsome, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Once all the debris and broken cars were removed from the track the drivers lined up on the grid with Kelly on pole from Byrne. Once again Kelly got a flyer off the line, but Newsome got the better of his fellow county man to nip into second from the second row. Not content with second he made a brilliant overtaking maneuver on the outside of turn 7 to move into the lead. Byrne ran wide on the exit of the penultimate corner dropping back to the clutches of local man Donal Downey. 

Lee Newsome, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

A lap later he had made a gap and began to catch the leaders who were having a mighty battle up front. Newsome defending with all his might from Kelly who tried the cut back from the outside line of the final corner to the inside line going down the main straight. Newsome was wise to it and covered the line and held his lead forcing Kelly to use the long outside line again at turn 1. This began to play into the hands of Byrne who was closing right up both men and as Kelly tried to overtake Newsome at Birrane's Bends they ran wide leaving a gap for Byrne to take but he then collided with Kelly and took the grass dropping back to fifth. While lost his nosecone Kelly remained glued to the back of Newsome , who was soaking up all this pressure superbly. This allowed Downey to close right up making it a three car scrap for the lead. Another Formula Vee thriller was shaping up as they began the last lap. 

Lee Newsome, Sheane, holds up to his trophy after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Newsome held his line brilliantly right around the international loop as did Kelly who had to deal with Downey trying to get past. As they Made their way up to the final corner Newsome stayed to the right forcing Kelly to go the long way round, which can back fire if not done right. He judged it perfectly though as he carried enough speed out of the corner to hold of his two rivals and win the drag race to the chequered flag. What a finish to a brilliant race with the top three cover by only 0.294 seconds! It was a deserved win for Newsome who has had the pace all year so far but not the luck or reliability to make it to the top step. Speaking afterwards a delighted victor spoke of his race. 

" It was a great race but I didn't qualify well although the car felt good but i wasn't too worried as the big track today helps with plenty of places to pass. I got a great start in the first run of the race and got up to second but I got into a battle with Jack Byrne and dropped back from Jordan but the red flags came out. I got the jump on Jack in the restart and passed Jordan on the outside out the back and then had to defend for the rest of the race which wasn't easy!! It was great fun and very enjoyable and thanks has to go to my two brothers Garry and Sean for their help today and all year. It's been up and down but hopefully this will give us the lucky we need to carry on up the front for the rest of the year,"

In the VW Spares Championship Jordan Kelly took the win from Donal Downey and Owen Kelly took third place. In the LOH Motorsport championship Kieran Hannan took the win with Shane O'Neill in second with Stephen Roche in third. 

Kieran Hannan, Leastone, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Rookie class during the Selco.ie  Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Results:

Selco.ie

1st Lee Newsome

2nd Jordan Kelly

3rd Donal Downey

VW Spares

1st Jordan Kelly

2nd Donal Downey

3rd Owen Kelly

LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship

1st Kieran Hannan

2nd Shane O'Neill

3rd Stephen Roche