Doherty and McCallion Extend LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship and VW Spares B Championship Lead

08-July-2023: Ronan Doherty on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Killdare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The long trip made from Dunloy in county Antrim to Mondello Park in county Kildare was worth it yet again for Ronan Doherty. He cruised to another victory in round seven of the LOH Motorsport Formula Vee Rookie Championship at the weekend. This trip to Mondello Park would see him tackle the longer international layout of the circuit for the first time, not that you would have thought it after qualifying. 

08-July-2023: Robert Flemming, Sheane, leads Sean McCallion, Sheane, during the VW Spares B Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Killdare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

He immediately clicked with the circuit and his car was set up well for it also. His father Damien has set up many race cars to great success over the years. So with that experience and youthful eagerness to do well is certainly a recipe for a good result. It showed by qualifying in second position overall in the national race as well as pole position for the combined VW Spares and LOH Motorsport championship race. 

08-July-2023: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Sean McCallion, Sheane, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Killdare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

A poor start in the national race saw him drop down the field in the opening laps but once he got into his stride he caught back up to the top six but a move on current champion Anthony Cross did not come off and instead put him spinning off track. He lost time to the leader again which he never regained and also earned himself a two place position penalty after the race. 

So for his second race of the day for his class it was time to make amends. He made a better start this time but still Robert Flemming who started from second took the lead and headed the field into turn one. His main championship rival Sean McCallion was back in third and made a big lunge down the inside of Doherty into paddock corner. Carrying too much speed he came down the inside of his fellow northern man sideways and was lucky not to take both men off the track. Doherty cut back on the inside and was back up to second on the exit of the corner. 

08-July-2023: Andy Keogh, top, Kieran Hannon,centre, and Colin Lewis in action during the VW Spares B Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Killdare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

By the end of the lap he was right on Flemming's tail and got a better drive out of the final corner to squeeze past him on the straight to take the lead. A close encounter but it paid off. This let McCallion close back up also and the front three were together now. It was already shaping up to be another Formula Vee cracker.

Then yet again at paddock corner McCallion tried his inside move from too far back and hit Flemming's rear wheel and spinning him into the gravel. It was deemed by the stewards afterwards that Flemming turned in on McCallion so no further action was taken. That said it looked like McCallion got away with that one and lived to take more points off his rival but it could prove decisive further down the championship line. 

08-July-2023: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Sean McCallion, Sheane, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Killdare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

With Flemmings car beached in the gravel the safety car was brought out and the field bunched right up again. On the restart Doherty held the lead with McCallion behind with Jonathan Hollywood in third. He and Kieran Hannon were having a great scrap for third. In the following laps Doherty increased his lead and starting the last lap he had the main staight between himself and McCallion who was dropping back towards the two men behind. 

08-July-2023: Top. Jonathan Hollyword, Sheane, and bottom Sean McCallion, Sheane, duringing the VW Spares B Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Killdare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Another good battle further down the field all race long was between Andy Keogh and Colin Lewis with Keogh getting the better of Lewis in the end. With time running out Hollywood could not gain anymore time on McCallion but third in the end was a great drive for the rugby referee. In the end nobody could match Doherty who cruised to yet another win.

08-July-2023: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Killdare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Speaking afterwards he young man was happy with his days work, "I didn;t get a great start and both Rob and Sean got by me but then after the safety car I got by on the main straight just missing getting hit in the head by a pit board! I just got my head down and put in a few consistent lap times and built a lead to hold on to until the end."

Dan Polley Takes First Win of 2023 - Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship Round 7

 

Dan Polley with his Sheane after winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co.Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

For round seven of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship drivers returned to Mondello Park in county Kildare. This time out they would be racing on the international circuit which gives them a longer lap with more opportunities to overtake over the national layout used in previous rounds.

The weather forecast in the week leading up to the event didn’t look too good but for qualifying the showers that looked like coming down stayed away and the temperature rose producing ideal conditions. It also marked the return of Jack Byrne since his big accident in Bishopscourt earlier this year. Borrowing his father Ger's car, it was a test to get up to speed again while waiting on his new car to be built.

As per the course of qualifying in Formula Vee it was close between several drivers and a blanket could be thrown over the first four with them all being under the same second. Surprisingly current champion and Mondello specialist Anthony Cross could only manage sixth. Once again however, it was Dubliner Dan Polley who grabbed pole. His second in a row after Kirkistown two weeks previous. Series and racing newcomer Ronan Doherty once again showed great pace in qualifying in second place outgunning round six winner Lee Newsome in third.

Dan Polley, Sheane, leads the field though turn 3 on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co.Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

As the lights went out it Polley got the best start and lead the field into turn one. Doherty though had a disaster off the line, the car bogging down and dropped several places in the process and any chance of a win or podium was already out the window. Lee Newsome made the most of the opportunity and slotted into second place with Colm Blackburn in third. The opening lap is always fraught with everyone jostling for position and but current champion, Anthony Cross already made a place and was up to fifth.  

Polley lead the long train of cars out to the international loop for the first time and looked comfortable in the LOH Motorsport run car. Just like qualifying though there was nothing in it and an on form Newsome was right behind ready to pounce. As they rounded the final turn the safety car was brought out and it would bunch the field right up. On the restart Polley held his lead superbly defending his line into turn one from Newsome and Blackburn. The front three opening a gap to Gavin Buckley in fourth as they made their way out the county in what was shaping up to be another Formula Vee thriller, but by the time they were halfway round the lap it was a six car train again.

Dan Polley, Sheane, leads Lee Newsome, Sheane. through turn 3 on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co.Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Doherty was closing in on Cross and tried to get by on the inside of the long left hander on the international loop. In doing so he hit the back Cross's car spinning him off track and dropping him right down the field. Cross's consistent run of form has deserted him this year and it has not been his fault. It shows how competitive the class is this year, where any kind of mistake like this can cost you valuable points in the championship that is so close at this stage of the season.

A couple of laps later the front five had stretched out a bit with Doherty unable to close up to the leaders. Gavin Buckley was now up to third though and set out to catch the front two. Just as he looked like he was pulling away Polley made a slight error exiting turn one and Newsome closed back in again. He was hampered too though as he had Buckley closing in and as ever in Mondello it’s a battle to try for the lead whist also defending at the same time.

He wasn’t giving up though and he closed right in through Birrane’s Bends and got alongside on the run to the penultimate corner. It looked like his move was going to work but Polley held firm and held his lead thought the fast left hander. It would be Newsome's last attempt. Polley took control on the final laps and brought it home to win ahead of Newsome and Buckley.

Doherty work his way into fourth and looked fast in the final laps. It’s a shame his start ruined his race as it would have been interesting to see him mix it with the front three.

Dan Polley, Sheane, leads Lee Newsome, Sheane, and Gavin Buckley, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co.Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Another different winner this year the fourth so far and speaking afterwards a happy but relieved winner gave his view on the race. “ I'm glad that’s over, It was tough out there today. I had a great battle with Lee. I knew I had the pace from testing and qualifying but I still knew I had to get the head down. I was comfortable, turn one was a bit tight but we got through and began to open a gap until I made a slight mistake and let Lee close in again. Im looking forward to Anglesea in Wales for the next round.”

 

Results:

Selco.ie Formula Vee National Championship

1st Dan Polley

2nd Lee Newsome

3rd Gavin Buckley