Ronan Doherty Takes The LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship

 

Gavin Buckley leads the field into turn 1 during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

For rounds ten and eleven of the Selco.ie Formula Vee championship Mondello Park was the venue with two out of the three class championships up for grabs. The Leinster Trophy race would always be the race to win on the weekend but for Ronan Doherty it also be a double if things went his way. It has been a great season for him, always up at the sharp end and taking points and being consistent.

With one hand already on the LOH Motorsport trophy, Doherty lined up on pole ahead of Gavin Buckley. Conditions were wet and slippery, a complete contrast to those in practice the day before. A day Doherty suffered mechanical problems each time he went out. Hopefully those were gone, but as the lights went out it was the young Antrim man got too much wheelspin and dropped several places on the run down into turn one.

Gavin Buckley leads the field into turn 1 on the restart during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Gavin Buckley got a flyer as well as Lee Newsome and returnees to the series for the weekend, Mark Reade and Tim Murray. With a lot of spray coming off the cars, those down the field would have to thread their way carefully in the opening stages. Buckley was on a charge and making the most of the clear view ahead. He opened a gap of 5 car lengths by halfway round the opening lap. Newsome dropped to third as Mark Reade got by showing no signs of any rustiness after his long layoff.

Newsome was back into second on the run down the hill, with Reade and Doherty swapping places twice by the end of the lap. The race already providing great entertainment for the onlookers. Reade got back into second with a great move round the outside of turn one, but Doherty was also on the move getting past Newsome by turn 3.  Buckley still was well ahead and in control but just as the race behind was shaping into another vee thriller the safety car was brought out. Stephen Roche needed to be removed from the gravel trap as well as Sean McCallion and Jonathan Mannix. The conditions catching out several drivers. This meant if Doherty just finished the rookie title was his.

Ronan Doherty in action during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

On the restart Buckley continued where he left off and lead from Reade and Doherty. Again opening up a gap within the first couple of corners. With all the time behind the safety car the time left meant they would not get across the line to get another lap so this would be the final one. Doherty tried his late dive down the inside tactic which nearly came off, but the traction of Reade’s Leastone was better out of the corners than the Sheane of Doherty. A repeat move at turn seven did work however, and then he found himself in the lead a Buckley spun on his own on the exit of turn 7b. Colm Blackburn was now into third and coming on strong.  Newsome was back in fourth but not close enough to challenge the front three and then a late move by current champions Anthony Cross dropped him to fifth.

As the front three went into the final turn Blackburn used the outside line and gained on Reade with the extra grip provided. Doherty had it covered though and held it on the run to the line to take the win ahead of Reade and Blackburn. A great end to the race but it was ruined for the spectators as they only got to see 4 flying laps. The timed races do not work when safety cars are brought out. It kills the enjoyment as the spectators can not know if the time is running out. Maybe a stop on the clock for safety car laps should be brought in.

Ronan Doherty in action during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

That’s said the front three were separated covered by 0.25 of a second! Not only did Doherty take his third national win of the year he also took the LOH Motorsport.com Rookie championship. It is well deserved after showing all experience beyond his years throughout the year. Speaking after the race the new champ was happy to get the job done. “ I’m delighted to take the win there in those conditions it was tricky out there and had a good battle with Mark and Colm. I saw Gavin spin and new I had to stay on the tight lines to hold the boys behind me. Its nice t o have it done before the Leinster Trophy race.”

 

Results

Selco,ie National Championship

1^st Ronan Doherty

2ns Mark Reade

3^rd Colm Blackburn

VW Spares

1^st Mark Reade

2^nd Stephen Morrin

3^rd Andy Keogh

LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship

1^st Ronan Doherty

2^nd Brian Hall

3^rd Jonathan Hyde

 

 

 

 

 

Blackburn Takes the 2023 Leinster Trophy

 

Colm Blackburn takes the chequered flag to win the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

For motor racing fans, Mondello Park in September can only mean one thing. The Leinster Trophy Races. The biggest race meeting of the season which is celebrating its 80^th running this year, is the one that everyone wants to win, as the annual prestigious silverware is brought out by the Leinster Motor Club. All competitors want to add their name to those trophies and have them alongside the famous ones already on them. For this year the Formula Vee class was awarded the honour to compete for the Leinster Trophy. Last awarded to the class back in 2011 and won by Ray Moore, a strong grid of 27 drivers took to the grid for this year’s event.

Sadly, the heatwave the country was experiencing all week decided to end on Saturday and the mixed Irish climate returned for race day. Drivers were having to pick a setup to work over both wet and dry areas on the track after a couple of heavy downpours. Most of the track was dry but a couple of areas off the racing line were still damp which would play a role in the outcome.

Family and friends of the later Mick Merrigan ahead of the Leinster Trophy race.  Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

As the lights went out it was pole sitter Gavin Buckley who got the best start albeit after a bit of movement on the line to lead Lee Newsome into turn one from Ronan Doherty. Using the full international track for this race there would be ample opportunities for passing manoeuvres throughout the race. Doherty was on the move and got back into second by turn three and former champion Colm Blackburn made a strong pass on current champion Anthony cross to move into fourth. An ambitious move into Birranes Bends by Doherty on the lead didn’t come off and the young rookie was lucky not to take both men out, but he did drop back to fourth. The long track tends to spread the cars out but by the end of lap one there was a train of cars together, nobody wanting to be left behind.

Blackburn looked the quickest however and was into second ending the first lap and looked to close right up to the leader Buckley. The damp conditions at turn three caught him out and he was beached in the gravel trap unable to get out and  being in an unsafe position brought out the red flags.

10-09-2023: Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Ronan Doherty, Sheane, Lee Newsome, Sheane, and Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning  the Leinster trophy race. ICCCR, Leinster Trophy races, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The Mondello Park track team pulled Blackburn from the gravel and he rejoined to grid for the restart from his original position of 5^th place. Some questioned this and felt he should have restarted at the back of the field. For now, it was lights out and a race to turn one again lead by Buckley. Doherty, Newsome and Blackburn were all behind and tucked in but by halfway round an unfortunate Eamonn Thornton got clipped by a spinning Kieran Hannon while trying to avoid him and got put into the bank and then rolled his car over a couple of times. Thankfully no injuries were sustained. He got out of the car straight away.  This brought out the red flags once again understandably.

10-09-2023: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Colm Blackburn, Leastone, during  the Leinster trophy race. ICCCR, Leinster Trophy races, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

On the third restart it was Doherty who lead into turn one with Buckley, Blackburn and Newsome behind. The young man from Antrim in his first year of racing, who already taking the Loh Motorsport Rookie class Championship earlier in the day was out to take the biggest prize. His pace was strong and his mechanical problems from Friday testing seemed to be behind him. On the run down to turn 7 Buckley used a good exit from the previous corner to get alongside Doherty. Doherty defended on the inside but an over ambitious move by Blackburn to get by Buckley resulted in him hitting his rear wheel and spinning him around and luckily not into more people coming past.

This gave Doherty a healthy lead to build on. If those behind started to battle amongst themselves, he could become uncatchable. Blackburn still stayed in second after his collision with Buckley and set to catch Doherty. The gaps between the first three stayed the same over the next several laps until disaster struck Doherty who’s mechanical gremlins came back to force him into retirement. Such a shame for the young man who looked in complete control of the race. This let Blackburn off the hook to take the lead and barring the same misfortune the race was his as he was lapping quicker than Newsome.

Colm Blackburn leads Lee Newsome, Ronan Doherty and Anthony Cross on his way to winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The battle of the race for third place between Mark Reade, Tim Murray and Trevor Delaney. Reade who only lives down road from Mondello, sowing great pace after not being in the car for over a year. In the end it was Blackburn who reeled off the final laps comfortably to take the win ahead of Newsome and Reade who got the third in the end.

Colm Blackburn celebrates winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Punching the air as he crossed the line the man from Ballyfermot wasn’t holding back his joy at winning the Leinster Trophy.

Speaking after the race the winner was in a sate of shock at adding his name to the famous trophy. “ When I seen the message on the phone a few months back that the class was going to race for the Leinster trophy I got a shiver down my spine. Then my friend Stephen Kershaw who helps me with the car texted to say you will win that. Now I have its just mad, I’m so delighted to win it.”

Colm Blackburn celebrates with his son Jamie after winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Colm Blackburn reflects on his own after winning the 2023 Leinster Trophy. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

They joy was put on hold for over two hours as protests against him after being allowed to restart from his original position and his coming together with Gavin Buckley. The officials had to decided if these had enough grounds for action. In the end they declared the results stood and victory to Blackburn. It’s a shame for the spectators and other class members as well as Colm’s big win that the podium celebrations did not happen.

The final Formula Vee outing is in Kirkistown Racing Circuit on the last Saturday of the month. It also has another prestigious race for the Emmerson Fittipaldi trophy.

 

 Results:

Selco.ie National Championship

1st Colm Blackburn

2nd Lee Newsome

3rd Mark Reade

VW Spares B Championship

1st Mark Reade

2nd Ger Byrne

3rd Andy Keogh

LOH Motorsport Rookie Championship

1st Stephen Roche

2nd Brian Hall