Sean McCallion Clinches VW Spares Formula Vee 'B' Championship

Sean McCallion, Sheane, on his way to winning the VW Spares B Championship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg,

The VW Spares Formula Vee B Championship final round took place on Saturday at Kirkistown in county Down. It was a winner takes all scenario as both Derry man Sean McCallion and Kildare man Robert Flemming were equal on points going into the last race before dropped scores came into play. Flemming drew first blood by qualifying two place ahead of McCallion. Both men have upped their pace all year each driving Sheane cars and have battled all year, clashing on a couple of occasions and in the process. This led to rising tempers for a moment in parc ferme at Mondello Park last time out. It was one of the funniest moments of the year and in typical Formula Vee fashion where the two men wanted to rip into each other one minute, five minutes later both were sitting on the wheels of their cars chatting away.

Ger Byrne, Sheane, leads Sean McCallion, Sheane, and Gavin Buckley, Sheane, durng the VW Spares B Championship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg,

In the very competitive B class, for drivers who have moved on from the rookie class and those who are rising the ranks towards the National class. It often is a favourite for the drivers who don’t have the budget to race at the head of the field yet still have plenty of other drivers to compete against. McCallion had the easier job in a way as all he had to do was follow Flemming home where Flemming had to get enough drivers between him and McCallion to give enough of a points difference to take the championship. Flemming got the start and lead away from the line and built up a good pace early on.

Robert Flemming, Sheane, on his way to winning the VW Spares B Championship race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. Picture: Barry Cregg,

McCallion didn’t get a great start and got passed by a couple of cars on the run to turn one. Once the opening laps were over and the race settled down, he struggled to stay with those ahead. Ger Byrne also showed good pace and battle with Flemming early on but dropped back and also was hampered by the recovering Gavin Buckley who spun on the second lap. Flemming was doing what he had to do and built on his lead hoping there would be another car or two in front of his rival. McCallion started to close in on Byrne in the final laps not good news for Flemming. Once past he opened a gap easily but was too far behind to catch his title rival.

In the end he had done enough to take the VW Spares championship and well deserved too after taking his maiden win back in April at Mondello Park. When the points were added up and dropped scores counted, he won by a mere two points showing how close the championship was all year.

Speaking afterwards he said,

Where do I start with the season, it was a like a roller coaster between bad luck and good luck, the start of the year went well for us the first few races with no mechanical problems and some good results even getting my 1st ‘B’ win at Mondello in April. Then a few races later the bad luck started to show its head in Mondello again, where I went out in qualifying, and the gearbox went. We hadn’t got a spare box with us but thanks to Stephen and Christy at SM Racing who loaned me one for the rest of the weekend. That's what I love about Formula Vee class everyone helps each other out when in need.

The race I looked forward to the most this season was Anglesey. It is a real lovely track to drive. We loaded the cars up and headed for the boat everything was great and then going to the boat the gear box started to go in my van and we thought we weren’t going to make it, but I knew I had to get there no matter what for the points in championship. After we got off boat, we made it 10mins from the track with just 3 gears left and then bang! The gearbox gave up completely. After a few calls we got Colm Blackburn (another vee driver) to tow us. Fair play to Colm as he first took the trailer and then came back for the van and us!!!  I will never forget him for that.

Colm Blackburn, Leastone, leads Jack Byrne, during the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Co. Down. PictureL Barry Cregg,

I didn’t do too well in race one as it was wet, and I had a spin as there was oil everywhere. Race two came and what a race it was with Kieran Hannon, I would say in the years that I’ve been racing. It was one of the best and fairest races I’ve ever had, we swapped places so many times for the lead of the ‘B’ race until the last lap when I out braked myself and Kieran pulled out a brilliant move to take the win. Nevertheless, I was happy with a second as I had a really good race with him. We packed up happy and ready for Jonny Hollywood and his partner Meadhbh who actually towed me back to the boat in their truck fair played of her, I was told it was her 1st time driving the truck that day lol.

Moving onto the final race in Kirkistown on Saturday where qualifying didn’t go the way I wanted as the track changed a little overnight and so did the weather. My main rival was Rob Flemming as there was only four or five points of difference between us. He qualified in front on me, but I wasn’t worried though as I knew if I finished behind him I would be crowned the VW Spares champion. The race came and we got off the line I got a good start and got away good. Then the red flag came out due to a serious incident which thankfully everyone was ok afterwards. It was the longest race of my life because were left sitting on the grid for 15/20 Mins until the marshall’s got everyone to safety. On the restart I got another good start, but it wasn’t as good as first one. Ger Byrne and myself got into a bit of a dicing match and that was letting Robert get away. I knew I had to stay in front of Ger. I did my best and think we swapped places a few times. Ger is a great racer and is very hard to pass on track and I enjoy racing with him, but I didn’t this time as knew if Robert passed another car it was over for me.

Once passed Ger I put the head down a bit a could see I was catching Rob again so I knew my job was just to sit behind him and take no risks and that’s exactly what I did. I came in from the race and people started congratulating me couldn’t believe I had won the VW Spares Formula Vee B championship. What a feeling what a season with so much effort time and hard work it was all suddenly worth it.

Id like to take this opportunity to thank my wife Kathleen and family once again for supporting me the whole way through my racing since the beginning. I couldn’t have done it without them. Big thanks to James at James Friel Motorsport for the great chassis and all of the hard work and time he has put into it to make it a great car. Also the Kelly brothers Jordan and Owen for all the support and help throughout the year. Dave at bugbitz for the engine building and of course all the marshalls in the orange army and all off the class sponsors, Selco Hygene, VW Spares, LOH Motorsport.