Taylor Does The Double - Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship

Jonathan Taylor with the winners trophies after the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship races. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Mondello Park was the venue for rounds five and six of the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship. After the closely fought races last time out in Bishopscourt, more of the same was expected around the tight 2.2 mile county Kildare circuit. The weather was changing all the time from heavy rain to sunshine, making it difficult for the drivers to make the right setup for their cars. Qualifying was very close with Dave Reynolds taking pole position from local man Kevin McGrath by 0.017 of a second. In fact the top four were covered by 0.344 of a second.

Jonathan Taylor leads the field into turn one during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

 As the lights went out for round five both Reynolds made a bad start allowing the two local men Kevin McGrath and Jonathan Taylor to head the field into turn one with Des Meehan right behind. The track was wet and greasy from the rain earlier in the morning but was beginning to dry. Taylor a former champion with years of experience racing around Mondello Park set to make a break early on and gap the rest. It was working well in the opening laps, with a clear road ahead he let the others battle it out behind him. Fifth place qualifier Mark Meenehan was showing much better pace than in qualifying and was making his way towards Taylor up front. He was past Reynolds and Meehan after the opening laps and began to catch McGrath for second. A lap later he caught and passed him which was important as Taylor had built up a 1.5 second lead.

Kevin McGrath leads Des Meehan and Mark Meenehan during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Kevin McGrath leads and Mark Meenehan during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Dave Reynolds leads Roger Welaratne during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

 By the halfway mark he was on his tail and starting lap seven he out-braked Taylor going into turn one and took the lead but nearly threw it away on the exit of the corner with a big slide. He held it but it allowed Taylor to close back in. Next time round it was Taylor in the lead. Laps were running out along with places to pass as a number of drivers were taking to the gravel traps and bringing out the yellow flags. Again he tried an outside line move on Taylor at turn one. Taylor braked as late as he could and held his line but Meenehan did the same on the outside and it was enough to take the lead again. A brilliant move in a fantastic race in tricky conditions. 

Niall McFadden takes a trip to the gravel during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Brendan Curran takes a trip to the gravel during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Mark Meenehan, right, leads Jonathan Taylor during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

He held the lead for the following lap but Taylor wasn't finished. He was out for the win and got by once again with a lap to go. Early third place man Des Meehan out-braked himself trying to overtake Niall McFadden and beached his car in the gravel. The gravel done its job as it prevented what could have been a big accident. With the car in a dangerous spot the yellow flags remained on that corner, so no chance for Meenehan to try his turn one move again. Taylor Was in control though and brought it home to take the win from Meenehan with McGrath in third. 

Jonathan Taylor leads Mark Meenehan during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

For their second race of the day and round six of the championship Roger Welaratne lined up on pole from Dave Reynolds with McFadden and  McGrath in third and fourth. Taylor and Meenehan would start from fifth and sixth so they would have work to do to get to the front. As the lights went out Reynolds got the holeshot and lead the field into turn one. With the sun back out the track was dry so the drivers didn't have to worry about grip levels this time out.

Reynolds looked quicker than the earlier race and got his head down and began to pull away from Welaratne who was driving well but had McGrath and McFadden breathing down his neck. Race one winner Taylor got pushed onto  the grass at turn two by McGrath and dropped back to last leaving him with a whole pile of work to do. McGrath and McFadden were having a great battle McFadden holding third for the opening laps but McGrath was quicker and got by into turn one and chased after Welaratne. Reynolds was comfortable in the lead and opened up a lead of two seconds.

Des Meehan leads Dominic Ryan during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Brendan Curran leads Mark Meenehan during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Dave Reynolds, left, leads Kevin McGrath during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

 Taylor was making moves too and his pace clearly quicker than those ahead of him carved his way through the field and now was right behind McFadden. He made shot work of getting by him and pulled away to close in on third placed Welaratne. He again made short work in making up another place.

By the halfway mark it was Reynolds from McGrath and Taylor. McGrath trying hard worked hard and closed down Reynolds and brought Taylor with him. He tried an outside line overtake at turn one that was close to coming off but Reynolds was driving well and held the lead. A lap later though Taylor got down his inside and moved into second and by the exit of turn three he was up into the lead. He opened a gap while McGrath and Reynolds battled behind. It was a good job as once McGrath got into second he closed that gap right down, putting in the fastest lap of the race in doing so. Taylor had time on his side though as it was now the last lap where he brought the car home to take the win and with it the double for the weekend. 

Two entertaining races with Taylor the local  man taking to the top step in both. Speaking after the race it was clear he was happy with how his weekend went; 

" Yeah I had a great weekend back at my home track, racing here since 1989, two good races with Kevin, Dave and Mark who pushed me all the way. I got put on the grass at turn two on the first lap and dropped to last. It was just a racing incident but it fired me up to come back through the field. For the first race I like the wet and I was faster than the rest in that one and the dry makes it closer for everyone which is what you want. I'm delighted in how the weekend has gone and hopefully do the same again here for the next round.

Jonathan Taylor during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Kevin McGrath leads Jonathan Taylor during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Dave Reynolds leads Kevin McGrath and Jonathan Taylor during the Bill Griffin Irish Stryker Championship race. Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg