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| Keith Hogg with his Formula Sheane ahead of the Leinster Trophy Races. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. |
For a man who has only got back into motor racing after several years off, Keith Hogg has not wasted any time in making up for it. After clinching his second Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane title in a row along with the prestigious David Sheane Memorial Trophy at last weekends Leinster Trophy races, at Mondello Park, one would be forgiven in thinking it was easily done. Far from it though, as this years championship came right down to the final round of the series. All he had to do was finish in the the top ten to take the title, where his rival Enda O'Connor had to take a win at least and Hogg to finish below 10th place to bring it to the second race of the round to keep his chances alive.
On paper it looked easy, just stay out of trouble by not getting sucked into a battle or get caught up in somebody else's mistake. Qualifying on pole earns you a championship point (as well as a fastest lap) which he duly got after taking pole, which actually wasn't in the plan this time out and left him in somewhat of a quandary ahead of the first race. Onlookers would find out if the red mist was down and out to race or to settle for points once the lights went out. The mist never descended as by the third bend he was already down to fourth place. He clearly was out to get the points needed in this race to take the title and then go out and play in the second race.
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| Keith Hogg leads Richard Kearney during the Formula Sheane race. |
Although winning races is important in taking titles consistency is also key and this is why both Hogg and O'Connor brought it to the final round. While lying in mid pack early on in the race he let those ahead battle it out, which they did and in doing so O'Connor made a mistake a spun out of contention and later on lost his nose cone ending his championship chances. Others dropped out and collided with each other and in the end Hogg navigated his way through it all and took third place and his second title in a row. A well deserved one too, as by packing up time he had a total of 9 wins, 1 second, 1 third, 1 DNF, 6 poles and 4 fastest laps.
The Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane Championship runs over six weekends with two races in each to allow drivers balance racing with their daily lives. Motor racing in Ireland is largely made up of club racers mixed with a few the young hopefuls looking to make a career in the sport. Sadly this is getting less likely as each year goes by due to the soaring costs once you leave the Irish shores. Keith has been well aware of this only competing in Formula Vee for a couple of years and a few races in Formula Ireland in the mid 2000's. Add a selection of outings in Formula Sheane in 2010, before two seasons in 2012 and 2013 where he finished 4th and 3rd. Then he stopped until last year where he properly put a campaign together .
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| Keith Hogg leads the cars on the warm up lap of the Formula Sheane race. |
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| Philip Sheane leads Enda O'Conor during the Formula Sheane race. |
Keith takes up the story;
" Back in April for the first round we went up Kirkistown and had a brilliant weekend getting 2 wins 2 poles and 1 fastest lap. So I bagged a load of points there and set me up for the next race in Bishopscourt where we went one better with 2 wins, 2 poles and 2 fastest laps! I love racing up there. They are my favourite tracks and we always get a proper welcome, and I love the travel aspect and staying overnight up there. The first Mondello brought my only DNF but I got a win also. Another win and a second came in the July meeting at Mondello, followed by 2 wins and a pole in Kirkistown in August. Coming into this weekend I knew I only needed a top ten finish and I had the championship. So the plan was to do that he says laughing, until I got pole and then I got all nervous because I didn't try to get it. Now I questioned weather I should go for the win or play it safe? I only decided when the lights went out and I said to myself, just let them off. Which is what I did and stayed out of trouble and took the championship."
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| Enda O'Connor leads Richard Kearney during the Formula Sheane race |
With the championship now in the bag there was one last trophy to go for, the David Sheane Memorial Trophy. It is a highly sought after prize for those who have race in Formula Vee or Formula Sheane. Without David Sheane there quiet simply wouldn't have been as many people out racing cars in the last 40 plus years. Some who started their careers in cars designed by David have gone on to compete in high level international racing, which is a testament to the man. After a hard battle with Richard Kearney and Phillip Sheane the final win of the year went Keith's way yet again rounding out an incredible year.
His post race celebrations showed how much winning this trophy ment to him. After the race he expressed why." I'm delighted to have my name on the David Sheane cup, he helped all of us and helped me so much. I wouldn't have got to so many races without David. He is sorely missed around the paddock and I miss talking to him on the Monday after a race weekend. So it's special to me to have my name on it now."
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| Keith Hogg leads Philip Sheane during the David Sheane Memorial Trophy race. |
They say 'behind every great man there is a great woman' and in Keith Hogg's case it is certainly true! Some wives try a discourage their husbands interest in motor racing, mainly due to the costs involved that in fairness would go a lot further in things for the house or holidays, but his wife Therese was the instigator for his return. Having listened to her in 2006 when she told him to concentrate in building his business Mad Motors.ie and once again in 2022 when she said it was time to go back racing. He listened, and the results have proved correct it in both cases! Although are women ever wrong?? In any case Keith admits without her support in recent years on and off the track he would not have won as much and it shows as they both give off an infectious energy in the paddock and are genuinely great fun to be around.
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| Keith holds up the David Sheane Memorial Trophy and with his wife Therese on the podium after the race. |
"Well last year after winning it I was going to take a break again but Therese told me to go on again and I happened to be on the phone to Brian Hearty who's car I have now and he thought nobody had done back to back but it had but not three in a row. So I looked at Therese and she said I guess we are going again! So that the plan for next year, its only six weekends of the year so it doesn't take up all your time either to be fair."
Time will tell but after a year like this year it will be hard to look past him to do the three in a row.
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| Keith celebrating after winning the David Sheane Memorial Trophy race. |
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