Comeback Cross Takes Fittipaldi Trophy Thriller

Anthony Cross leads Colm Blackburn, Gavin Buckley 

The final Formula Vee race of the year took place on Saturday at Kirkistown Racing Circuit in county Down. With all the championships decided, the Emmerson Fittipaldi Trophy race is the last chance for competitors to get their adrenalin fix until next year. Those who missed out on taking any silverware home had one last chance to do so and even for one driver it really was his one and only opportunity to get his hands on some silverware in 2024. Former series champion and Emmerson Fittipaldi Trophy winner Anthony Cross who decided to sit out this season, planned to just spectate at this years race. A late word from his dad and mechanic Fred, to bring the car out for at least one spin this year, saw him dust off the cobwebs of his faithful Sheane chassis vee and head north. 

Gavin Buckley leads Anthony Cross, Colm Blackburn, and Jack Byrne

Anyone writing the Bohernabreena man off due to his lack of track time this year had to eat their hats as there certainly was no rust or cobwebs on Anthony. In his only qualifying of the year he put his car on pole with a brilliant time of 1.05.182 seconds. A broken manifold cost him a chance of challenging for the win in the last championship race earlier in the day, but it was fixed and ready to go come race two. It would not be easy as newly crowned champion Gavin Buckley wanted to do the double and Jack Byrne and Colm Blackburn were out to make up for their loss of championship glory.

Colm Blackburn leads Anthony Cross, and Gavin Buckley

As the lights went out though it was Colm Blackburn who got the best start and lead the field away and for the opening lap until cross used his better exit of the chicane to get a run past on the way to the hairpin. Already it was a four car train for the lead with Buckley and Byrne tucked right in the slipstream of the front two. Owen Kelly made it five cars a couple of laps later but sadly the red flags came out as another car had dropped oil down. On the restart it was again Blackburn who got away first, could he hold those behind at bay this time? It seemed so as by the start of the next lap he had a couple of car lengths to Cross. Buckley and Byrne were right there too and it was only one of these four who were going to take the win. Such was the pace they had gapped the rest of the field enough to fight it out on their own.

Kieran Hannan leads Charlie Hart and Dan Polley

Colm Blackburn leads Anthony Cross, Gavin Buckley and Jack Byrne

Anthony Cross leads Colm Blackburn, Gavin Buckley and Jack Byrne

 Again a better run from the chicane saw Cross take the lead at the hairpin. Though the exit for Blackburn cost him ground and both Buckley and Byrne drew alongside down the main straight and by turn two he was down to fourth. By the hairpin Buckley had the lead but Cross got the better exit and retook the lead going into turn one. Blackburn did an identical move to Byrne to take third. This was shaping up to be another Formula Vee cracker. A lap later Buckley tried the same move and this time it worked and was back in the lead. He held firm for the next number of laps defending well and holding his lines but any slip and the others were through. 

A better exit from Cross at the hairpin saw him get alongside once again down the main straight to take the lead into turn one. this was undone by a bad exit from the chicane where the three men behind him  got the run down the back straight making it four abreast going into the hairpin. Blackburn tried a move round the outside of them all and it was close to coming off, but it did bring him up two places to second. Buckley dropped to third with Byrne in fourth. It was hard and close racing but also fair, and keeping the spectators on their toes and proving why the class is so popular. With three laps to go you could not call the winner at this point. A lap later Cross had a slower exit from the chicane allowing Blackburn get by and down the outside at the hairpin to retake the lead starting the penultimate lap. 

A great run through the chicane saw Blackburn create a small gap to cross on the run to the hairpin. Cross though took the outside line and retook the lead in a brilliant move to lead them out on to the last lap. It was nose to tail through the next series of corners which left the chicane and hairpin. Cross for once since the opening lap got the better run through the chicane to give himself the best chance to defend at the hairpin. Blackburn tried hard to close in on the brakes but was just too far back to make a move. Cross held it to the line to take the chequered flag and with it his fourth win of the Emmerson Fittipaldi Trophy. Byrne used the outside line to get an excellent run to the line where he pipped Buckley for third.

Anthony Cross holds the Emmerson Fittipaldi Trophy after spraying champange with Jack Byrne and being on the podium with Colm Blackburn

A truly brilliant Formula Vee race and one that will be remembered for a long time to come and rounding out the season in style.

Speaking to the winner after the race it was clear he was delighted to have ended his break from racing.

" That wasn't an easy race, I was under a lot of pressure. We tested Friday which was the first time I was out in the car all year, We had a lot of problems and didn't get one clean session where we didn't have to fix something so I wasn't happy with my pace at the end of it. Although you have to expect it after having the car lying up for a year. The race was brilliant though and Kirkistown always provides great racing. People say it's an easy track with the two straights, but its far from it. Colm and Gavin drove very well and it could have been anyone's. Racing here is a bit like poker you have to hold your cards and know when to play them. We are always treated very well up here too by the organizers who put up money and three sets of tyres for this race as prizes."

So did that race and win bring any regrets in not coming out sooner and will it tempt him back out next year? 

" I hadn't intended to leave it so late to go out racing this year but few things came up and i enjoyed the break too, we will see about next year no plans of yet but we will wait and see". 

Results: 

1st Anthony Cross

2nd Colm Blackburn

3rd Jack Byrne

4th Gavin Buckley

5th Dan Polley

6th Charlie Hart

7th Kieran Hannan

8th Conor Melia

9th Paul Lewis

10th Eamon Thornton

Joy for Kelly after taking the Emerson Fittipaldi Trophy

Jordan Kelly with the Emmerson Fittipaldi trophy after winning the Formula Vee race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Now that the championship was over for another year the Formula Vee drivers had one last race for the year. The last big prize to win was the coveted Emerson Fittipaldi trophy. The former F1 World Champion who began his career in Formula Vee in his homeland of Brazil kindly donated a trophy to the Irish class several years ago and it is one all drivers want to win. 

Jordan Kelly, Sheane, leads the opening lap of the Emmerson Fittipaldi race as Tim Murray and Dan Polley spin off in the background. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

With nothing for anyone to loose it was a chance for some to bring home silverware that missed out for various reason throughout the year. Also up for grabs was a cheque of €120 for fastest lap kindly sponsored by circuit commentator Alan Drysdale. Final championship round winner Jordan Kelly lined up on the front row alongside pole man Anthony Cross. As the lights went out it was an even start by the two front row men. Tim Murray again got a flyer off the line and challenged into turn two but in doing so took out Dan Polley and Anthony Cross. 

Jordan Kelly, Sheane, leads the field on the re-start of the Emmerson Fittipaldi race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

This left Kelly 150 metres clear of the field with only two corners gone. It was short lived as the red flags were brought out and they had to do it all over again. On the restart it was Kelly who got the better getaway from the line and lead into turns one and two. Yet again his pace through the chicane is unmatched as from entry to exit he gained two car lengths over the chasing pack. This was on top of a two car length gap he opened up prior to that. Cross was second with Polley defending from Jack Bynre in fourth. A lap later Byrne was into third and really pressing Cross ahead on the run down to the hairpin. He got by on the inside but Cross had a better exit and it took Byrne until turn two make the move stick. His efforts were undone as he lost the place on the back straight to Cross who powered by. 

Tim Murray, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, and Anthony Cross, Sheane, during the Emmerson Fittipaldi race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

All this was playing into the hands of Kelly who just grew the gap lap on lap enough so to break the toe to the second and third placed men. Byrne was like his namesake terrior and would not give up his second spot and retook it going through Debotor's Dip. For a lap it looked as though Byrne was going to make a break from Cross and possibly make inroads to Kelly but again Cross got by at the hairpin and this time held it through the opening corners. What a race it was for second place. Tim Murray had now moved into fourth place and began to close in on the two ahead of him. Kelly just ticked off the laps and continued to pull clear. Gary Newsome though had taken the fastest lap by this stage and if he held on he would be €120 the richer. Murray wasn't biding his time anymore and made a great move into the hairpin to pass both Cross and Byrne to take second place.

Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, and Tim Murray, Sheane, during the Emmerson Fittipaldi race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

 Newsome had now also got by Cross and these four were like a train for several laps not one moving out of line from the other. It really was an entertaining battle and it was anyones for the taking. Then with only a couple of laps to go Byrne got to close to Murray and lost his nosecone and damaged his bonnet which began to flap in the wind. This dropped him back, a shame as he really drive well. Murray now was clear in second from Cross and Newsome but a lap later Cross was right on his tail and trying everything to get by. Murray who has got stronger as the year has gone by defended superbly though. Barring a mistake a mechanical problem Kelly was home and dry. Thankfully nothing happened to the Donegal mans car and he took a deserved win in fine style.

Jack Byrne, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, and Gavin Buckley, Sheane, during the Emmerson Fittipaldi race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Tim Murray, Sheane, leads Anthony Cross, Sheane, during the Emmerson Fittipaldi race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

 Murray did win the battle for second from Cross with Newsome and Gavin Buckley round out the top five. A mixed year for the young Buncranna man but a great end to the year all the same. Speaking to him after the race he was both relieved and joyful at the same time. " When I broke clear from the field I was just focusing on my lap timer. I was just keeping my times within a tenth of each other which is something I've learned from Sim Racing and was finally able to put it into practice. To win the Emerson Fittipaldi trophy was just the best possible way to end the season where I made too many mistakes with the car. Without the help I got from Dad and my brother Owen it wouldn't have been possible".

Jordan Kelly, Sheane, on his way to winning the Emmerson Fittipaldi race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

So a terrific end to a terrific season with a new name on both the Fittipaldi and Holmpatrick trophies in Jordan Kelly and Anthony Cross. A new name and trophy for the Formula Vee this year after receiving the Martin Birrane trophy where Tim Murray won. That said the same name remains on the main prize again this year after Anthony Cross made in four in a row. 

Jordan Kelly holds up the Emmerson Fittipaldi trophy after the race. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Jordan Kelly holds up the Emmerson Fittipaldi trophy alongside Tim Murray, left, and Anthony Cross. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Rubane, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Result

1st Jordan Kelly

2nd Tim Murray

3rd Anthony Cross