Cullen Wins at Mondello - Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship Round 3

Victor Cullen with trophy after winning the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Barry Cregg.

For the third round of the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Strykers championship drivers took to Mondello Park's national circuit. The county Kildare track is popular with he drivers as its tight and technical nature gives drivers a challenge when racing on it. 

This round would be missing it's current champion and series leader Michael Cullen so it would be a chance for his rivals to catch up on some points. None more so than his son Victor who lies second in the championship although missing qualifying would not help his cause as he would have to start from the back of the grid for race one. While Cullen was missing his car was not as it would be driven by the man who runs his car for him Kevin O'Hara of LOH Motorsport. 

Niall McFadden leads the field into turn 1 during the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Barry Cregg.

As predicted O'Hara claimed pole position but as he is not registered for the championship the rest only had to worry about each other. With only half a second cover the next three drivers it shaped up to be a good battle for top points. As the lights went out for race one it was McFadden who got the better start and lead the field into turn one from O'Hara and Roger Welaratne. Cullen made a good start gaining a couple of places into turn one, but have to get through the pack quickly to have a chance to battle up the front. 

By the exit of turn three O'Hara was in the lead and already opening a gap. McFadden was in second but also fending off Welaratne, a battle that would provide the entertainment all race long. With the cars built with the same chassis and Ford 1800cc engine it provides a level playing field with drivers skill and setup making the difference. The class is seeing a growth this year with three newcomers Brendan Curran, Richie Byrne and Darragh Evans coming into the class under the guidance of former champion Jonathan Taylor. 

Top: Niall McFadden leads Des Meehan, left, and Victor Cullen, right, during the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Middle: Kevin O'Hara, during the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Bottom: Roger Walaratne leads Niall McFadden during the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Barry Cregg.

After the opening laps it was clear O'Hara was not going to be caught as he pulled away and built a lead of several seconds. That said Victor Cullen began to carve his way through the field and made his up to third by lap four. Cullen was now on a charge and was up to second making light work of McFadden and Walaratne in his pursuit of the leader. 

He put in consistent times over the following laps to pull clear of the battle for third but O'Hara had broke to far away and he had to settle for second but had the consolation of taking maxium points in the championship. However the final podium spot was going down to the wire. Try as he might McFadden could not find a way past Walaratne who opened up a slight gap over the final lap to take third. 

For race two the top six positions are reversed to add an extra bit a spice for the race. Newcomers Evans and Curran would head the front row with O'Hara and Cullen back in 7th and 8th. It was Dominic Ryan from row two who got the best start and lead the field into turn one. Evans ran into brake problems early on as his front brake began to lock up on the entry into corners under braking causing him to run wide and loose time. McFadden made an ambitious move over the grass into turn one nearly colliding with Evans. 

O'Hara and Cullen made their way through to the front by the end of lap three and already had began to break away from the rest of the field. Both car immaculately turned out and driven the same. Ryan stayed within a couple of car lengths of Cullen in the early laps but then dropped back to Walaratne and McFadden and began to battle with them. With oil down from a previous race it made turns one and two interesting on the opening laps and caught some out running wide on the cement dust laid down at turn one. O'Hara was in command at the halfway mark but then began to have gear selection problems. It was intermittent but still gave him enough trouble to drop back to Cullen. 

Cullen not one to turn down an opportunity took over the lead as they turned into turn 1. O'Hara tucked in behind and tried to find a way past again at turns 3 and 4 but Cullen was wise to him. With time running out O'Hara did the switch back on the exit to turn 1 to retake the lead. Despite O'Hara's problem Cullen was driving very well and made his move on the penultimate lap on the final corner. With a better exit he got the drive on to the straight and had just enough to take the lead which he held over the final lap to take the win by 0.062 of a sec!!

Speaking after the race the Cabinteely man was delighted at taking the win. " I'm absolutely delighted to take the win in the second race and maxium points in race one. Due to unforeseen circumstances Michael couldn't be here today which is a shame but you have to be out to win it. The pace wasn't great this weekend but we can make a change before the next round to make that better. Missing qualifying didn't help but that's the way it goes. It was tough to pass with the oil on the track but we did it and I'm delighted to take the win today".

Top: Victor Cullen, left, passes Kevin O'Hara, right, during the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Middle: Race podium, Victor Cullen, centre, Niall McFadden, left, and Roger Walaratne, right, after the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Bottom: Kevin O'Hara, during the Bill Griffin Stryker Championship race. Picture: Jack Cregg.