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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.”
Selco.ie Formula Vee National Championship
Well done Dan!
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