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."