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| Anthony Cross with the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
Bohernabreena;s
Anthony Cross finished off another championship year in style with a double victory
in the season finale at Kirkistown Racing Circuit in county Down last Saturday.
The current Selco.ie Formula Vee champion retained his title at the previous
round in Mondello Park two weeks ago by finishing second to Owen Kelly. With
the pressure of the championship in the bag he set his sights on not only
winning the finale round of the series but the prestigious Emerson Fittipaldi
Trophy race too.
With a solid
grid of twenty cars taking to the track for qualifying and the return of former
champion Dan Polley also the returned to form Jack Byrne it would not be an
easy task. This meeting would also determine the outcome of the VW Spares ‘B’ and
LOH Motorsport ‘Rookie’championships to add an extra bit of excitement to the
onlookers. Cross gave himself the best chance to get the results he wanted by
qualifying in pole position just ahead of young Kildare man Donal Downey who
showed great pace at the same venue earlier in the year.
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| Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads the field during the Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
Although he
headed the field as the lights went out the long run to the first turn at the
northern track can give those behind the bonus of a slipstream and as the field
made it to turn two it was Jack Byrne who lead Cross with tucked in behind,
followed by Polley and Downey. The long fast straights make it hard for anyone
to break clear from one another due to the slipstream. Only a passing manoeuvre
at the tight section into turn three or a mistake at the chicane can break up a
train of cars. Cross had made a better exit from the final corner on lap one to
give him the slingshot to get into the lead by turn one. Downey made a carbon
copy move to move past Polley to move into third place.
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| Dan Polley, Sheane, leads Donal Downey, Leastone, Gavin Buckley, Sheane, and Tim Murray, Leastone, during the Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
He repaid
him back into turn three, but it allowed the front two to begin to pull away. Byrne
also was into the lead again by the hairpin but again Cross got the better run into
turn one to retake the lead. Three lead changes in a lap set the tone for yet
another brilliant Formula Vee race. Behind, the following three cars of Downey,
Polley and Gavin Buckley headed to turn one side by side. The trust between all
drivers is immense and it has to be at of 100mph. Downey held his place, but Buckley
now moved into third. Again, Cross got into the lead at turn three but by the
end of the lap Byrne once again retook him. It was hard to keep up, but it certainly
was entertaining the spectators. It was now become a game of cat and mouse both
drivers finding where each was better than the other of the course of the lap. Buckley
had now moved up another place into third and set out to catch the front two.
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| Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, during the Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
The front two
would repeat each move Cross getting by at turn one only to lose it at the
final corner. By the halfway mark though Bynre had settled into a rhythm and
hold the lead over the next couple of laps and began to look like he was controlling
the race until they cam upon a backmaker which held him up at turn two cost him
time and letting Cross get past yet again, undoing all the hard work of the
previous few laps. The Battle for third was still as tight as Buckley and
Downey continued to pass and repass each other. As Polley made his move on
Downey into turn two to move up to fourth Downey ran wide cost himself time and
dropped back and out of contention for third. Up front Byrne found his way past
at the hairpin with three laps to go but as they started the final lap cross
after yet another clear run to the line seemed to let his opponent by to lead them
round to the back straight where he could make a move with the slipstream to retake
the lead.
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| Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Donal Downey, Leastone, and Dan Polley, Sheane, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
A risky plan
if any mistake was made but one if it worked would show why he is a five in a
row champion. It did as he got the slingshot heading towards the hairpin, but
another backmarker being in their way was not what he could have planned for,
his exit was compromised, and Byrne drew alongside him. It was a drag race to
the line where Cross got the win by 0.005 of a second! One of if not the
closest ever finishes to a Formula Vee race seen. Gavin Buckley finished in
third and set the fastest lap of the race in doing so. Although he dropped back
Downey, came home in fifth but more importantly became the VW Spares ‘B’
Champion. A great result for the talented Kildare youngster. Speaking to the
victor after the race it was clear he enjoyed that race.
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| Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, during the Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
“Jack kept me honest in that one, I lost count
how many times we passed each other for the lead. Then backmarkers got involved
but I just got it on the line, it was a great race”.
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| VW Spares Champion Donal Downey. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
Kieran
Hannan again drove superbly as he has all year to become the LOH Motorsport Rookie
Champion. He showed great pace and is sure to be up there with the top ‘B’
championships runner’s next season.
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| Kieran Hannan, Sheane, during the Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
With all the
championships sorted it was time for the second Formula Vee race of the day for
the prestigious Emmerson Fittipaldi Trophy. A trophy given to the Irish
championship by the former Formula 1 World Champion. There was also a prize of
€150 was up for grabs to the driver with the fastest lap. It was the top two
from the previous race who lined up on the front row and again Cross started
from pole. Byrne was out though to make amends for missing out on the win
earlier and if that race was anything to go by the onlookers were in for a
treat.
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| Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
Byrne got a
flyer and lead into turn one but out-braked himself letting Cross take the lead
but he kept Polley at bay in third. Yet again the front two began to brake
clear of the field and opened a five car length gap by halfway round the fist
lap. As they rounded turn one for the second time Byrne was into the lead and straight
away was out to build some sort of lead and not get dragged into another lead
swapping battle so early on again in this race. Gavin Buckley was now into
third ahead of Downey and Polley in what was now a carbon copy of the result in
the earlier race. So much for not having a lead swap battle as Cross retook the
lead two laps later at the hairpin only to lose it at the same spot a lap
later.
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Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Donal Downey, Leastone, and Dan Polley, Sheane, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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All this
helped Buckley and Downey to close in to make it a four-car train. Polley
dropped back from the four ahead but held a solid fifth place. Yellow flags
came out at the chicane which ruled it out as an overtaking spot but as they
exited it Byrne got by a backmarker just at the right time giving him a gap as
Buckley and Cross tripped over each other getting past the backmarker. Buckley
got by and into second but not for long as by turn two he was back to third. Byrne
ran slightly wide on the exit of the chicane losing ground and by the start of
the next lap Cross was past. Byrne repeated the mistake a lap later at the same
spot and this time Cross got the gap to his rivals behind. It was enough to
give him some real breathing room and with only a few laps to go it looked like
it was his for the taking.
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Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, and Gavin Buckley, Sheane, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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Buckley was
now into second ahead of Byrne and Downey. These three would need to work
together if they were to reel in Cross but they began to have their own battle,
swapping places and going three a breast into turn one wasn’t going to help catch
the leader. It was all very entertaining though. Another mistake at the chicane
by Byrne allowed Downey by going down the back straight. He retook him again at
the beginning of the next lap and then Downey began to lose touch and drop
back. A lap later Cross began to drop time and began to drop back to the two
men behind.
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Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Gavin Buckley, Sheane, and Donal Downey, Leastone, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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It was
enough to give them the tow again and with two laps to go it was again a three-car
train. Yet again backmarkers looked to come into play as they were being caught
coming to the chicane for the final time. A mistake by Buckley this time allowed
Byrne through, but time was nearly up as they headed for the hairpin for the
final time. Those backmarkers did hold Cross up but luckily for him not enough
to allow anyone by and he held his lead to take the Fittipaldi Trophy race win.
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Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Gavin Buckley, Sheane, during the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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Byrne held
second with Buckley in third. Another close and hard-fought Formula Vee race
won by Cross rounding out another great year for him and giving him the clean
sweep of trophies for the year by adding the Fittipaldi Trophy to the Championship
and Holmpatrick trophies he already won. It is such a rare achievement to do
such a feat but one that is thoroughly deserved as he has been the benchmark
for others for so long now. |
Bill Adair presents the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy to Anthony Cross. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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| Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy podium Anthony Cross, centre, with Jack Byrne, left, and Gavin Buckley, right. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg. |
"They were two
great races today. I’m delighted to have won both and I was pushed hard all the
way. I thought the second race was going to be a copy of the first between me
and Jack, but he got caught up battling with Gavin and I got a way for a while.
I was getting really bad understeer into turn three and lost time but I’m glad I
got to hold on to take the win. Thanks to all the class sponsors and to my dad
for his help all year.”
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Anthony Cross with the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy with Jack Byrne,left, and Gavin Buckley, right. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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Anthony Cross with the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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Anthony Cross with the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.
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