Melia Takes His Maiden Formula Vee Win

 

Conor Melia celebrates after winning his first Formula Vee national win

Kirkistown Racing Circuit hosted the 11th and final round of the Selco.ie Formula Vee championship on Saturday. The northern circuit is the traditional last hooray of the season but for once it wasn't a title decider weekend like it has been so many times before. This sadly meant a few of the usual front runners were not out but still the top two in Gavin Buckley and Conor Melia were. Sean McClements was back out again and flew in qualifying so much so he grabbed pole position with a 1.05.943 lap. Gavin Buckley for once this season had no pressure on him at the last round as he wrapped the title up last time out at Mondello Park, joined him on the front row.

There was drama before the race even began, due to being late to assembly the two front row men were put to the back of the grid. This promoted Melia and Thornton to the front row. The weather was horrible, with high winds and rain it made life very difficult for the drivers but at least the rain wasn't too heavy but the track was slippy. Melia got away well and took the lead going into turn one but behind him Thornton spun going into turn two. He wasn't the only one as nearly a third of the grid did the same with some colliding with other. More bad luck followed Buckley and McClements as they were two of those who spun off. Andy Keogh and Kieran Hannan benefited the most as the slotted into second and third. 

Conor Melia, Sheane, leads Kieran Hannan, Leastone, and Andy Keogh, Sheane, on his way to winning his first Formula Vee national race

In the opening laps the front three settled into a nice battle each threading the fine line of going fast enough without being close to going off. It looked like hard work as the back end of each car stepping out as soon as the power was applied. Oliver Devlin and Michael Stafford found the grip levels very hard to find exiting turn two they both spun off more than once but luckily no damage was done other than their pride. By the halfway point the front three had pulled clear from the rest of the field but Melia had opened a gap to the two men behind also. Once again this year his smooth driving style was helping him and his chances of his first national win come closer and closer.

Kieran Hannan, Leastone, leads Andy Keogh, Sheane, during the Formula Vee race.

The battle for second was intense with both Keogh and Hannan looking like they were driving two old MKll escorts as both had them going from rack to rack. Keogh who has found some form again in the last couple of races was trying everything to get by and did with a lovely move into turn one. Hannan replied swiftly into turn three and took the place back. With both these battling it out Melia pulled clear and was safe in the lead until the safety car came out and he would loose his healthy lead. 

Gavin Buckley, Sheane, leads Fergal Begley, Sheane, during the Formula Vee race

On the restart Hannon made a move into turn one but Melia had it covered and a better run through turn three saw him pull a slight gap. Keogh now was right on the tail of Hannan and again tried everything to get past but just could not find a way by. Melia cleared off again and reeled off the final couple of laps to take his maiden Formula Vee national win for the SM Racing team. It was well deserved and capped off a great season for him and the team adding to his VW Spares 'B' championship which he secured last time out at Mondello. 

Andy Keogh, Sheane, leads Kieran Hannan, Leastone, during the Formula Vee national race

Conor Melia, Sheane, leads Kieran Hannan, Leastone, and Andy Keogh, Sheane, on his way to winning his first Formula Vee national race.

Conor Melia, Sheane, on his way to winning his first Formula Vee national race

The jubilant Lucan man wasn't shy in showing his joy at taking the win and afterwards said " I'm absolutely buzzing, a bit unexpected today with the two lads been moved to the back of the grid which left me on pole, but it's great for the SM Racing lads. They have put in a lot of work this year. It wasn't easy as the track was very slippy but I just concentrated on my lines and let the lads behind battle it out."

Irish Rallycross Championship Awards Night

Derek Tohill with the National Rallycross Trophy which he won for the ninth time.

The PartsforCars.ie Irish Rallycross Championship awards took place at Lawlors Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare on Saturday night. It was a chance for drivers to catch up, see who has changed cars or class and go over the previous season. Rallycross is on the up again after a lull of a few years with increasing numbers in all classes especially in the junior class which is most important for the sport. It was a very rewarding night for the Tallaght and Terenure fraternity taking a large haul of silverware home. Father and son pairing and series sponsors Derek and George Tohill from Terenure, and the Coyne brothers Michael and Willie from Tallaght. 

These four men have given so much to the sport over the last 35 years and all have lost none of the hunger a motivation to give up anytime soon. Michael Coyne unveiled his new Citroen DS3 which he will use to compete in the modified class this season. Speaking ahead of the presentations he explained his reason for the new car, " well I had a major surgery during the year and while I was in hospital I seen enough to make me think why not bite the bullet and buy the car. Life is too short so I bought the Citroen and cant wait to get out in it in a couple of weeks." It will be interesting to see how he fair against his brother Willie who will once again be out in his trusty Opel Corsa and was this years winner of the modiifed championship ahead of Michael. He also took runner up spot overall in the National Rallycross Championship. 

Drew Furlong presents George Tohill with his trophy at the IRX awards

Drew Furlong presents Michael Coyne with his trophy at the IRX awards

George Tohill, left, Michael Coyne, centre, and Willie Coyne, right, with his trophy at the IRX awards

Drew Furlong presents Willie Coyne with his trophy at the IRX awards

The Tohill father and son team who are synonymous with rallycross in Ireland and the UK, had a great night with George taking fourth in the modified championship and Derek doing the double in winning the Supercar and the National  championships. It has been a busy year and it is not over yet for the record breaking nine time champion as he will be doing the next British Championship round which is being held in Mondello on the 4th and 5th of October and a round of the French championship before the years end. Both men giving the audience on the night great entertainment while being interviewed by host Leo Nulty,  when Derek mimicked his father when explaining about the moment he had realised he was on the wrong size wheels for the last 30 years!

Top: onlookers inspect the new car joining the grid next season.
Centre: Michael Coyne in his new Citroen which he will use in the modified class this year.
Bottom: the new Citroen DS3 on display at the IRX awards

With the first round of the Irish championship only a few weeks away and with it also being a round of the British championship where he will again be competing in his new Peugeot, he will be out to take that title too. Derek recapped on his year and his reason for changing to a new car and his new hunger for the sport. 

Top: George Tohill in action in his BMW.
Centre: Michael Coyne in action in his Vauxhall Nova
Bottom: Derek Tohill in action in his Ford Fiesta

"It is nice to get another championship and the last one with the Fiesta which owes me nothing at this stage. It has been an incredible car to me nine years and nine championships and it rarely let me down. It was coming to the point where there was never a chance to give her a full nut and bolt rebuild as we were competing here and the UK and europe too at times. That meant the reliability wasn't going to continue, so it was either take a year out and do that or change car. I felt if I took a year out I might get comfortable supporting other drivers and not come back. So we bought the Peugeot and they say a change is as good as a rest and it has given me a whole new hunger and lease of life for the sport. There is loads more to come with that car where we are looking to do the French and maybe the European championship. I am still in the title for the British but lost a load of points last time out in Pembrey when we got taken out but we will out to give it a go in Mondello".

Derek Tohill in action in his Peugeot 208

Derek Tohill in action in his Peugeot 208

The Junior class saw Logan Hoey claim the title once again to add to his ICCR success this year and he will be one to watch in the future and it will be interesting to see how he progresses in the sport. He was followed by Cody Mahon and Alex Conlon but the women are on their way lads and Ailish Sexton and Leah McManus got quicker as the season went on and werent that far behind the top three as the season closed.

Top: Drew Furlong presents Logan Hoey with his trophy at the IRX awards
Centre: Logan Hoe being interviewed by Leo Nulty at the IRX awards
Bottom: The top six in the IRX Junior Rallycross Championship

In the rallycar class Niall Carey took the honors from Thomas O'Rafferty and Peter Quigley and for next season Carey announced he will be moving up to the modified class and promising to challenge the Coyne brothers in the process. Abbie McGunniess took the honors in the Clubman modified class. A great achievement for English girl who travels across for each round. Sadly the large Buggy class wasn't represented on the night but Conor McCarthy took the championship from Liam McMullen and Darach Duffin

.

Top: Abbie McGuinness, Mini, leads Stanley Bovill, Ford Escort, during the Open Clubman race.
Centre: Abbie McGuinness with her trophies at the IRX awards.
Bottom: Drew Furlong presents Willie Coyne with his trophy at the IRX awards

So with the new season only a couple of weeks away it looks like it will be even more competitive. For more information on events go to www.IRX.ie where you will find out all the information on the series and dates.

Doherty Wins The Leinster Trophy - Again

Ronan Doherty with the Leinster Trophy after the race.

If there was ever a more deserving winner of an event it would have to be county Antrim's Ronan Doherty. One year on from the heartbreak of loosing out on taking the biggest prize in Irish motor racing due to a disqualification on a technical problem with his car, he took victory in the Selco.ie Formula Vee race for the Leinster Trophy. 

Dating back to the early 1930's the who's who of Irish drivers have won the trophy over the years the likes of John Watson, John Pollock, Tommy Reid, Patsy McGarrity, Vivian Daly, Eddie Jordan, to name a only a few. It is not only prestigious for the great drivers from this land that have won it before but the history of international drivers who went on to the very top of the sport, such as Mike Hawthorn, Mauricio Gugelmin, J.J Lehto, Mika Hakkinen, and the most famous of them all Ayrton Senna.

To add your name to those is a great honor and he did it in style. Having moved to Formula Ford this season he decided to return for this weekend to the Formula Vee series to win the Leinster Trophy and prove to all he was the man to beat and lay to rest the disappointment of last year. Come the test day on Friday his times left everyone in the championship know that he had upped his strong pace from last year and qualified on pole position. 

Ronan Doherty leads the field into turn one during the Leinster Trophy race.

The forecast was for heavy rain, however by the time they lined up on the grid for the Leinster Trophy it was cloudy but dry. He already had given himself a certain confidence boost by winning the two Formula Vee races the day before.

Starting from pole position once again he {and everyone else} knew had the pace over the rest. His opposition would have to get ahead of him straight away and hope they could battle it out and not let him break away if he got out on his own. A harder task on the international track at Mondello, which is much longer and if a break is made it is harder to close down. 

Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Tim Murray, Leastone, during the Leinster Trophy race.

Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Jordan Kelly, Sheane, Conor Melia, Sheane, during the Leinster Trophy race.

Tim Murray who was also making a return to the series this year joined him on the front row. As the lights went out Murray was unfortunetley to eager to make a better start and jumped it. Doherty held firm his line towards turn one and held the inside line into turn one to lead the field. From there he got his head down and began to build a lead as he had done in both races on Saturday. By the end of lap one he was five car lengths ahead of Murray who had been given a ten second penalty, with Jordan Kelly and Anthony Cross behind.

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, on his way to winning the Leinster Trophy race.

Lap on lap he increased his lead leaving those behind in his wake and barring any mechanical problem he was not going to be caught. After a safety car period he once again resumed where he left off and again pulled clear. Cross was into second on the road and ahead of Murray and pulled clear of Kelly who scrapped it out for third with Jack Byrne. Doherty just reeled off the laps without any problem and crossed to take victory by a massive 11 seconds from Cross. Kelly began to drop back leaving newly crowned series champion Gavin Buckley to take his place in the battle for third. It all got very close with Byrne, Buckley and Conor Melia with a couple of corners to go. Byrne held on though and took the last podium spot.

Dave Furlong winner of the 1967 race presents Ronan Doherty with the Leinster Trophy

Ronan Doherty lifts the Leinster Trophy

Ronan Doherty gets sprayed with champagne by Anthony Cross, left, and Jack Byrne, right after winning Leinster Trophy race

Ronan Doherty celebrates after winning Leinster Trophy race

A well deserved victory and one that put the nightmare of the year before to bed.  

Speaking after the race the laid back Antrim man said; " it was a perfect weekend with pole position and the two wins yesterday and winning the Leinster Trophy today. I have to thank the lads for giving me a great car it was on rails and had great pace, I had the easy job of driving it."

Doherty Does The Double - Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

Ronan Doherty with his trophy after winning the two Selco.ie Formula Vee races. 

Round 9 and 10 of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship drivers made their way to Mondello Park to take on the international circuit. They would also would be competing for the prestigious Leinster Trophy on Sunday. First though the two final southern rounds of the series would have to be completed first. It also could see the crowning of all three class champions for 2025 if things panned out. 

Its been a close between Gavin Buckley and Conor Melia all year but both have had flaws in their campaign. In Buckley's case he lost points by making mistakes while leading races in Kirkistown and Bisopscourt but has won more races. In Melia's case he has been more consistent but lacked wins. This weekend would see the return of several drivers that have been missing for sometime. Jordan and Owen Kelly, Anthony Cross, Kevin O'Hara, Ronan Doherty and Tim Murray. 

Tim Murray left leads Anthony Cross into turn one at the start of race one 

A large grid of 26 cars took to a damp and slippery track for qualifying. The favorites would have to be Doherty and O'Hara. Both very talented drivers and ones the rest would have to step up to challenge. This was proved right as both locked out the front row with Doherty taking pole by a massive 1.6 seconds.     However come race time the sun was out and the track was bone dry. When the lights went out the two front men had bad starts and Tim Murray from row two shot through the middle of them to lead from Anthony Cross into turn one. Things went from bad to worse for O'Hara as he went wide and on to the grass dropping right down the order and any chance of a win gone.

Doherty was back into second as they made their way back in from the country. He wasted no time and took the lead as they started the international loop. Immediately he began to open a gap and by the end of lap one he pulled 3 car lengths clear. Cross and Jordan Kelly were now giving Murray a hard time. Championship contenders Buckley and Melia were having their own battle with Jack Byrne behind that group. Melia trying to put as many between him an Buckley. It was all go in the usual first lap mayhem of Formula Vee.

Top: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, during race one.
Bottom: Colm Blackburn, Leastone leads Niall O'Mara, Leastone, during race one.

Fergal Begley had a coming together with O'Hara in the final corner and ended up spinning but managed to get going again. This slowed O'Hara's progress which was rapid for the next couple corners as he had to re close the gap to those ahead. Doherty increased his lead with ease and the three behind him had no answer to him. In fact they were beginning to spread out themselves. It was all change in the next group as Buckley was now ahead of both Byrne and Melia. The following lap saw Doherty get close to the lap record with a 1.52.9 second lap just a dew tenths off the lap record held by O'Hara. 

Doherty now had a commanding lead over Cross who just couldn't stay with him but then the safety car came out and which would bunch them up again. The problem with the safety car being brought out on the international track it eats into the race time. It was back in after a lap and Doherty resumed the race and made a great re-start not letting those behind get a chance to make a move on him for the lead. Jack Byrnes hard work was undone as a brake problem caused him to take a trip through the gravel trap at turn one. He was saved though as Lee Flynn went off at the final corner on the re-start which brought out the red flags. 

Top: Eamonn Thornton, Leastone, leads Colm Blackburn, Leastone, during race one.
Bottom: Jack Byrne, Sheane, takes a trip to the gravel.

The result was declared from the lap before not that the result was in doubt as Doherty was never going to be caught. It was good to see Cross and Murray back on the podium again though and a shame they haven't been out much this year. In the championship battle Melia came home in sixth and Buckley eight meaning it was still all to play for.

Tim Murray, Leastone, on his way to third place in race one.

For the second race there was no poor starts from the front two who both got away well but Doherty got the better one and lead into turn one from O'Hara. By the end of lap one it was already a two horse race although Doherty once again was beginning to open a gap. Cross and Byrne were right together having a great scrap behind with Murray, Buckley, Keogh and Melia all in toe. It was much the same over the next couple of laps. Championship contenders Buckley and Melia were now separated by a couple of seconds on track but still only one car between them meaning if it stayed that way the championship would not be settled and would go to the final round. 

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Kevin O'Hara, Sheane, during race two.

Up front Doherty extended his lead and ended any hopes O'Hara had on challenging for the win. He was driving superb and just reeling off the laps. Cross was clear in third and had dropped Byrne into the group behind where the race was. He was having to fend off Murray, Buckley, Kelly and Melia in a car that was far from ideal, handling wise. Sadly Kelly pulled out with a mechanical problem a lap later. Once again as the race was near a close the red flags came out. Again the race was result was not in doubt as Doherty had built a lead of over five seconds. It was good to see the Antrim man back out in Formula Vee and showing how his Formula Ford season has brought his driving on even more since this time last year.

Top: Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, during race two.
Bottom: Andy Keogh, Sheane, leads Eamonn Thornton, Leastone, during race two

After the race when dropped rounds came into play the title had been decided and Gavin Buckley took the 2025 series to make it a successful title defence. A very well deserved title too and one where he was pushed all the way by Conor Melia. Melia still had cause to celebrate as he wrapped up the Tyredoctor.ie 'B' Championship. Brian Cowan also had reason to celebrate as he to wrapped up the Precision Works Engineering Ltd Rookie Title.

Top: Conor Melia, Sheane, leads Eamonn Thornton, Leastone, during race one.
Bottom: Brian Cowan, Sheane, on his way to the Rookie title

So it was Doherty's day and Buckley]s year. Next up was the important Leinster Trophy race.

Gavin Buckley on his way to winning the 2025 Sleco.ie Formula Vee Championship

Speaking afterwards Doherty said " I had a great day, I had the easy job of driving the car but its the lads who set the car up that won us the races as it went very well and it made it easier to win. Lets hope it does the same in the Leinster Trophy race."

Ronan Doherty on his way to winning race two