Cross Lays Down His 2023 Marker With Round One Victory

Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, Gavin Buckley, Sheane, Lee Newsome, Sheane, and Ronan Doherty, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The new Selco.ie Formula Vee national championship kicked off on Saturday in Kirkistown Racing Circuit in county Down. Bohernabreena man and current champion Anthony Cross once again took another victory at the northern track which is located along the beautiful Ards Peninsula. Those who follow the results could be forgiven for thinking it was just another win by the champion, but the results sheet does not tell the full story. It hides the truth that this victory was one of the hardest fought victories for the Dubliner. The depth in the class this season alone has risen with any of the first eight in this race itself were more than capable of taking the win. 

Colm Blackburn, Leastone, leads Gavin Buckley, Sheane, and Jack Byrne, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg.

It was yet another belter for the spectators to witness with the lead changing several times but Cross proved yet again why he is going for six championships in a row. He never panics while lying in the middle of the pack or if he is at the front of it. If not heading the field he picks off his competitors one by one and is always in the right place near the end of the race to challenge for the win. 

It began with Gavin Buckley topping the timesheets in qualifying but most impressive was returning former champion Colm Blackburn who joined him on the front row in his first race back. Twenty six cars took to the grid for the national race but sadly earlier VW Spares race winner Sean Newsome ran out of time in repairing his car to get out for this one. As the lights went out Blackburn got the better start over Buckley and lead the field round turn one, Cross tried to follow but had to slot into third.  Several cars had a coming together passing the start/finish line when Robert Fleming, Colm O'Loughlen and Andy Keogh collided. Unfortunately, Fleming was race was run and could not get back going. Keogh and O'Loughlen did but dropped an enormous amount of time to the rest of the pack.

Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, and Jack Byrne, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Back at the front Buckley got by Blackburn down the inside at the hairpin. Jack Byrne also followed through and by the end of the front straight it was three cars abreast with Cross being the biggest looser dropping down to fifth. Newcomer Ronan Doherty was right behind in sixth showing great pace as he did in the days earlier race and his LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship victory was no flash in the pan. Buckley lost his lead by turn two to Byrne but pulled off a great move around the outside at the hairpin which gave him the inside line by turn one to retake the lead. Lee Newsome was now into third and Cross also moved up a place to fourth.

Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, Lee Newsome, Sheane, and Ronan Doherty, Sheane, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Byrne repeated the same move to Buckley but it took until rounding turn two before he got ahead and into the lead. Again the hairpin saw a lead change as Buckley got by to lead an eight car train down the main straight. It was really settling into thriller and this was still only round one of the season! Dan Polley was also keeping in touch in sixth. As mentioned before the slipstream was coming into effect each time they raced towards the final hairpin corner. Buckley used it to again get past Byrne to head the field. It was hard to keep up with all the changes for the lead as well as the cars in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth places!

Cross however was now up to third as the laps left were running down, The gap to fourth had opened up enough to give the top three some breathing room. It wasn't the front threes first rodeo in this situation and all have the upmost respect for each other, and trust along with it while racing at this high speed track. Buckley again took the lead at turn two and they were now catching slower traffic.

With no blue flags used to warn slower drivers they could only stick to their own racing line and let those behind worry about getting past. Byrne and Cross began to battle allowing Buckley lead for a couple of laps with just three more to go. A lap later Cross was up to second and getting a great run out of the chicane took the lead into the hairpin. Buckley hit back straight away taking the lead at turn one to hold it only for half a lap as he went three abreast with Cross and Byrne into the hairpin to drop back to second to Cross and then to third to Byrne. Lee Newsome got past on the inside of turn three to move into third place blowing any chance for Buckley's shot at victory. It was still anyone's. Exiting the chicane for the final time they caught two backmarkers which allowed it a straight fight between Byrne and Cross.

Cross held his wider line round the hairpin for the final time and got enough drive to win the drag to the chequered flag to take the win by only 0.86 of a second! A fantastic race and one that had everything in it and everything motor racing should have. Another race that showed why everyone still has to beat current champion Cross who again proved why he has won so much in recent years. 

Speaking after the race a very happy winner explained his race win. 

" That was tough, there were a lot of lads on the pace today. I didn't think I had a chance of a win half way through. Gavin, Jack and Lee were flying as was young Ronan Doherty who will be a race winner for sure this year. I just tried to keep out of trouble and not make mistakes. I knew it was going to be important to get a win here to lay down a marker for the year. It is important for a championship to get a win at the start of the season."

Anthony Cross, centre, with Jack Byrne, left, and Lee Newsome, after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee Race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Results:

Selco.ie Formula Vee National Championship

1st Anthony Cross

2nd Jack Byrne

3rd Lee Newsome

4th Gavin Buckley

5th Ronan Doherty

6th Dan Polley

Newsome Holds On To Win VW Spares Championship Season Opener

Sean Newsome, Sheane, on his way to winning the VW Spares race, Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg,

After the long winter break the Selco.ie Formula Vee the 2023 Championship began at Kirkistown Racing Circuit in county Down on Saturday. The northern circuit situated on the Ards Peninsula always provides close racing and close qualifying times. No more so than this time out as the top seven cars were covered by the same second. With 29 cars taking to the track for qualifying the interest and the continued growth of the series is just reward for the hard-working series organisers.

Sean Newsome, left, Sheane, leads Ronan Doherty, Sheane, on his way to winning the VW Spares race, Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg,

This is after last season’s race winners Owen and Jordan Kelly and B Championship winner Donal Downey moving on to Formula Ford. Colm Blackburn who last raced in 2018, bought back his old car from Donal Downey was most impressive in qualifying by putting his car second on the grid. Gavin Buckley topped the timesheets in his newly painted Sheane in a very Joey Dunlop esq colour scheme. Kirkistown is made up of two long straights with a chicane in the middle of one and a tight and twisty loop at the top. This means being in the slipstream is vital and both can gain or lose you positions during the race. One mistake and you can go from hero to zero in one foul swoop while in a tight battle at this track.

Robert Fleming, Sheane, on his way to fourth place during the VW Spares race, Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg,

The championship had two races this time out the first being for the VW Spares  and LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship runners. Heading the grid for this race was Sean Newsome  in his Sheane from Ronan Doherty also in a Sheane. As the lights went out it was Newsome who got away the best and lead into turn one. The long drag towards Debtors Dip can be hard for the leaders to hold the field at bay as those behind can already get a toe and make up places. Newsome and Doherty held on and held their positions with Robert Fleming slotting into third. This was Doherty’s maiden race and it looked like he had been at it for years driving well and running a good pace.

Andy Keogh, Sheane, leads Robert Fleming, Sheane and Sean McCallion, Sheane, during the VW Spares race, Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg,

He may have plenty experience of sim racing which has stood to him, but the real thing is different. He was facing the test and so far was passing with flying colours by running right on the back of Newsome and challenging him into the hairpin. Newsome had his line covered though and held firm in the lead. A great run onto the main straight pulled him alongside Newsome to start lap two and as he nosed ahead, he ran wide onto the bumpy outside line at Debtors Dip. He lost the back end but caught it until the car put him sideways again and forced him across the track and taking to the grass it looked like his race would end up in the barriers.

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, passes Andy Keogh, Sheane, on his way to second place in the VW Spares race, Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg,

He held it though and got it back in a straight line and managed to go around the Marshalls hut at turn two and re-join the track. He was back down to 9^th place though. This let Newsome away with a big lead and all he had to do was bring it home. However, Robert Fleming hadn’t given up and after four laps began to close in on him. Andy Keogh Sean McCallion and Aaron Murray were also having a good scrap for third place. Doherty was closing in, he was lapping a second quicker than the three in front and got passed McCallion and Murray starting lap 7.

By turn three Fisherman’s he was passed Keogh and up to third. Newsome had now upped his pace and grew his lead slightly, but his clutch was starting to give him trouble and exiting the hairpin you could hear it slip. With only a couple of laps left could he hold on to his lead? It wasn’t looking good as both Fleming and Doherty were closing in with a couple of laps to go. A better exit of the chicane gave Doherty the run to the hairpin, and he passed Fleming on the inside to move back into second place.

Ken Browne, left, Leastone, collides with Colm O'Loughlen, Sheane, during the VW Spares race, Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg,

Time was running out though, but the gap was down to one second starting the penultimate lap. Another great exit from the chicane gave Doherty a chance at the hairpin but Newsome held him, but his clutch was much worse. In fact the friction plate had broken. He lost drive out of the hairpin which allowed Doherty to get alongside and pass him down the main straight and into the lead. What a comeback from the young man from Dunloy, in county Antrim in his first ever car race.

Sadly, his lead was short lived as the red flags came out as behind them Ken Bowne left his braking too late and collided with Colm O’Loughlen at the hairpin. As the race was declared from the lap before Newsome took the win from Doherty with Andy Keogh taking third which was a great result for the Tyre Doctor backed driver who put in a lot of work rebuilding his car over the winter.

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport C race, Kirkistown Racing Circuit. Picture: Barry Cregg,

Speaking after the race Newsome was happy but relieved to get the win. “ I got pole and held the lead for the first lap holding off Ronan, then he went off. Race was going fine until my clutch started to slip from the end of lap three and by the end it was getting really bad and began to lose time everywhere, especially coming out of the hairpin. Ronan got by but the red flags came out, which helped me as I don’t think the car would have lasted another lap. “

Results

VW Spares B Championship

1^st Sean Newsome#

2^nd Andy Keogh

3^rd Robert Fleming

LOH Motorsport

1^st Ronan Doherty

2^nd Niall O’Mara

3^rd Jonathan Hyde

O'Donovan and Tohill share the spoils at the opening Weekend of the Partsforcars.ie IRX 2023

Patrick O'Donovan, right, Proton Iriz, leads Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, centre, and Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, left, during the Supercar final during round 1 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Barry Cregg

Reigning Irish rallycross champion Derek Tohill took his maiden win of the new season at Mondello Park in county Kildare on Sunday. The all new look Partsforcars.ie IRX series saw a bumper supercar entry with former champion John McCluskey making a return to the sport in a two car team with Kildare circuit racer Michael Leonard. Both men driving Ford Fiesta’s similar to Tohill’s and being run by the Murray Motorsport team are a welcome addition to the series this year.

The rise in popularity of the sport in recent times is encouraging to the die hard rallycross fans who hark back to the days of old in the late 1980’s and late 1990’s when rallycross was the one of the most exciting motorsport to watch.

 Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, leads Patrick O'Donovan, right, Proton Iriz,  during the Supercar final during round 1 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Jack Cregg

This year’s series has a new format which sees the nine round championship compacted into five weekends over the year with four being double headers and one overseas trip to Pembrey in Wales. For the first round on Saturday, competitors had a new track layout. Turn 3 on the racing circuit was now added in. This gave drivers a chance to really stretch the legs of their 600bhp supercars.

Visiting from the UK for the first two rounds at the weekend was Patrick O’Donovan in his Proton Iriz RX. The British rallycross champion was no stranger to Mondello Park having competed during the British round at the county Kildare circuit last year. Not only was the entry of twelve supercars wetting the fans appetite but the chance to watch the British and Irish champions go head-to-head was also a bonus.

 Patrick O'Donovan, right, Proton Iriz, leads Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, , Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, and John MCCluskey, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar final during round 1 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Jack Cregg

The top two did not disappoint and over the two days battled it out tooth and nail. Both winning their semi-finals on Saturday and lining up on the front row together to battle it out for round one of the championship. However they had not accounted for Michael Leonard who had been making steady progress during the day. As the first three entered turn one O’Donovan tried to sweep round the outside of his two rivals but was pushed wide by Tohill and Leonard who got ahead on the inside. Leonard held the field behind exiting turn 3 and settled into the lead. As the race ran on it looked like his rallycross debut was going to end in victory, but as he exited the joker lap section on the final lap O’Donovan got past narrowly but ran wide and Leonard got back past on the run to the final corner. 

Patrick O'Donovan, Proton Iriz, leads Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar final during round 1 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Barry Cregg

Tohill could only watch from a distant third place uncharacteristically off the pace of the front two. As the O’Donovan and Leonard exited the final turn O’Donovan took the inside line and won the drag to the line to take round one of the series. An exciting end that warmed up fans on a bitterly cold day.

 Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar final during round 1 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Barry Cregg

Sunday brought sunshine and eager to make up for the day before Tohill was out to take the top spot. O’Donovan however was in flying form taking victory in the heats, butTohill was not far behind. Leonard, McCluskey and local man Tommy Graham were also there in the hunt if anything happened the top two. There was a different track layout this time as it was back to the normal rallycross track using the famous ‘hole in the hedge’ corner this time out. As the lights went out to start the supercar final it was O’Donovan who got the better start and lead into turn one but running slightly wide gave Tohill the invitation to take the inside line and make his way past on the run to turn two. He led on the exit and had to drive inch perfect to keep O’Donovan at bay. This he duly did and no matter how hard the British champ tried he could not find a way by the Irish champ. 

Patrick O'Donovan, right, Proton Iriz, leads Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, John McCluskey, Ford Fiesta, and Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, ,during the Supercar final during round 2 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Barry Cregg

Patrick O'Donovan, right, Proton Iriz, leads Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, John McCluskey, Ford Fiesta, and Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar final during round 2 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Jack Cregg

It was a hot paced race and the front two pulled clear of the rest of the field easily. Sadly Leonard had to retire with mechanical trouble. A shame for the local man on his debut weekend. McCuskey took third position and drove well for someone only getting back into the sport after a long layoff. Turn one is a fast righthander after the main straight and when the gravel has been cleared back after the opening laps, it allows corner speed to be carried much higher. It was a sight to behold seeing the Ford and Proton drifter through it with their turbos whistling overtime as the power was being put down.

Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, leads Patrick O'Donovan, right, Proton Iriz, during the Supercar final during round 2 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Barry Cregg

Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, on his way to winning the Supercar final during round 2 of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Championship. Picture: Barry Cregg

Once Tohill got the first couple of laps over he began to pull a slight gap and gave himself enough of a cushion on the final lap to take the joker lap in comfort. He crossed the line 1.5 seconds ahead of O’Donovan to take the win with McCluskey in third. A great opening weekend which saw a brace of new machines and driver come out with more due to come out in the next rounds again at Mondello Park on the weekend of the 3^rd and 4^th of June.