Murray Masters Tricky Conditions To Win Round 5 of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

Tim Murray, Sheane, on his way to winning round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

After a gap of just under a month the Selco.ie Formula Vee championship resumed back again to Mondello Park in county Kildare. Weather conditions could not have been  more contrasting to the previous round as the scorching summer sunshine did not appear for the drivers for this round, as they took to national track layout for their fifth race meeting of the 2021 series.

 

A general view of car taking to the track for qualifying for round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

The time off gave all a chance to get any problems sorted with their cars and it showed with a grid of 26 cars taking to the track albeit in wet and slippery conditions. The wet is a great leveller and can often spring surprises in the timesheets. While the wet can be tricky at the best of times but having to deal with oil also on the track made it a lottery in terms of grip. This would get worse as the day went on. 

Dan Polley, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, during round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Above, Dan Polley Sheane, on his way to pole position. Photos: Barry Cregg.

Dan Polley came to this round with a new engine in his car after struggling at the previous round and it worked by putting his Sheane on pole position by some distance of 1.318 seconds. Jack Byrne grabbed seconds position right at the death by 0.059 of a second over Gavin Buckley. With grip at a minimum and a big grid all fighting for it, it was going to be a race where the driver who stayed out of trouble and kept their cool would come out on top. 

Jordan Kelly, Sheane, leads Dan Polley, Sheane, during round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

As the lights went out Polley got the perfect start and lead the field into turn one. Byrne got too much wheelspin and lost ground off the line but still held second going into turn one but a fantastic move on the outside of the corner by Jordan Kelly from fourth place demoted the Wicklow man to third. The front two immediately pulled clear with Kelly all over the back of Polley and both went side by side going towards turn one. Behind them both Gavin Buckley and Trevor Delaney both spun in unisom entering the final corner. Championship leader Anthony Cross clipped Delaney and dropped back and then lost his nosecone a few corners later. Kelly held his outside line and used it again to great effect and passed Polley to take the lead. The outside lines were showing the most grip and those who used them reaped the awards. 

Tim Murray, Sheane, after passing both Dan Polley, Sheane, and Jack Byrne, Sheane, on his way to winning round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Tim Murray made the most of the mistakes of other and moved up to fourth and began to catch Byrne ahead of him. Up front Kelly seemed to pull out a huge lead in a short time, however unbeknownst to him his sump plug had fallen out and he was dropping oil all over the track. Polley seeing this slowed to avoid being covered in Kelly's oil and also not wanting to risk going off being the first car on the road. Kelly pulled in by the end of the lap but the damage to the track was done and made it very hard for the rest of the field to drive on. So much so that at turn three the cars crawled around the double right hander. Polley now being caught by Byrne, who got by at the final corner but a cut back on the exit saw Polley regain his lead. Behind Murray and Cross had their own battle where Cross looked to have got by exiting the Esses but Murray had that extra bit of grip and held his place.

 

Championship leader Anthony Cross, Sheane, lost points aswell as his nosecone during round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

The leaders now began to catch the tail enders which began to cost them time and together with the oil down it brought the front four together. Cross made his move on his way into the final corner to get by Murray and at the same time Polley ran wide and Byrne got by on the inside but on the exit lost grip and went sideways slightly and let Polley back in front. Cross trying not to hit Byrne spun off and dropped back to fourth. 

Tim Murray, Sheane, leads Jack Byrne, Sheane, on his way to winning round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Murray though got a great run towards turn one and tried to pass both Byrne and Polley but was squeezed out and had to slot back into third. However not one to give up easy Murray outbraked both men ahead of him going into turn three and in a Senna esque move took the lead. Once ahead he began to pull clear, Byrne moved up to second after passing Polley into turn two but by the end of the lap he had halved Murray's lead. 

David O'Loughlin, Sheane, leads Owen Kelly, Sheane, during round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It was shaping up to be a last lap decider as the front two were nose to tail a lap later but a coming together between Jonathan Hollywood and Trevor Delaney resulted in the red flags coming out. Both driver were fine but their cars were in a dangerous position for the race to continue. In the end it was a second win for Murray in Formula Vee and one that was well deserved. Speaking to the winner afterwards he confirmed what everyone watching thought. "It was a very hard race for everyone with the wet conditions and then the oil that was put down. I'm happy to get the win even though its's in the rain again but I'll take it." Along with his win Murray also collected maximum point in the VW Spares Championship. 

Owen Kelly, Sheane, on his way to finishing first in the Motorsport.ie 'Star of Tomorrow' class during round five of the Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship at Mondello Park. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Another impressive drive came from David O'Loughlin who took second in the VW Spares Championship in his first appearance this year. Owen Kelly again took maximum points in the Motorsport.ie Championship. It is hard to explain how hard the conditions were for all and especially to the newcomers some of whom had never experienced wet conditions before. 

Results Race 1

Selco.ie National Championship

1st Tim Murray

2nd Jack Byrne

3rd Dan Polley

VW Spares Championship

1st Tim Murray

2nd David O'Loughlin

3rd Robert Fleming

Motorsport.ie 'Star of Tomorrow' Championship

1st Owen Kellyok

2nd Michael O'Callaghan

3rd Donal Downey

Roddy Takes Maiden Win - Formula Sheane Round 6

A delighted Derek Roddy with his trophy after taking his maiden win in Formula Sheane at round six. Photo: Barry Cregg.

For round six it was Derek Roddy who lined up on pole position this time ahead of Philip Sheane. He had to get the start right this time if he was to have any chance of beating Sheane. He did get the start right and braved the outside line as he went wheel to wheel with Sheane through Debtor's Dip and kept his line into turn two to lead the field. Behind the two front men Mark Keenan made an even better start and was up to third place from sixth by the end of the opening lap. Roddy and Sheane have been battling together on track for the last three rounds so there was no quarter going to be given by either man. 

Philip Sheane lead until 3 laps to go when a cv failed and put him out of the race. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Roddy seeking to get his maiden win was determined to get the job done this time round. However, Sheane had other ideas and was out to do the double. He didn't bide his time and made his move at turn two on the second lap. Roddy clung on as best he could for the next few laps but Sheane was on another level and began to take large chunks of time out of his rival over the next number of laps. This was also due to Roddy's car loosing its edge that it had at the beginning the race. A recurrence of the issue he spoke about after round five reared its head. By now Sheane was cruising with only three laps to go drifting his car round turn two, a sight to behold for those looking on.

Derek Roddy, Sheane, on his way to take his maiden win in Formula Sheane at round six. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Motor racing car be cruel at times and just as he look to have win number two of the day in the bag, a cv joint let go and his race was run. What should have been his first double turned into what could have been. The chance to claw back lost points from the opening round gone too. 

Tom Foley, Sheane leads Mark Keenan, top and Chris Dunne above on his way to taking his maiden podium in Formula Sheane. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Speaking afterwards the Wicklow man reflected on his day. "  It's was a last minute decision to come up this morning due to work commitments so we got no testing in. I'm glad to have got a win in the first race, Derek was catching me until he made a mistake and it let the gap grow again. It's disappointing not make it a double. I just felt a bang and then had no drive. When I got out of the car I saw the cv joint had gone and maybe a result from the shock letting go in Mondello, I won't know for sure until I get home. It's a pity but that's racing."

Derek Roddy, Sheane, on his way to take his maiden win in Formula Sheane at round six. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Take nothing away from Roddy though he has been on the pace since round one and with the mechanical problems in the opening two races so far this year he has lost out on race time over the others. He admitted it this one was handed to him but he was still happy to get his first win. " I'm really happy to get the win today, I know Philip had a problem but as they say 'to finish first, first you have to finish'. I got a good start and held Philip off then he got by me at the start of lap two. I tried to hang on to him but the car lost power again and there was nothing I could do. I'll have to get it checked out during the week and see what's happening."

Behind the front three the race was between Tom Foley, Chris Dunne and Richie Adams. The three newcomers swapped places all race, with Foley coming out on top and taking the win in the Scholarship class. Sadly Richie Adams retired with a lap to go with mechanical problems. With Philip Sheane retiring it promoted Foley up to third overall giving two rookies their first taste of being on the podium overall this weekend after Chris Dunne did in round five.

Next time out it is back to Mondello Park where Richard Kearney has to win to keep his hopes of a title defence alive.

Results:

National Championship

1st Derek Roddy

2nd Mark Keenan

3rd Tom Foley

Scholarship Class

1st Tom Foley

2nd Chris Dunne

The next rounds of the Formula Sheane Championship will take place in Mondello Park on the 7^th and 8^th of August.

Philip Sheane takes win number two in Formula Sheane Championship

Philip Sheane, Sheane, on his way to winning the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

With only a week between rounds four and five it was a busy week for Formula Sheane competitors to get their cars ready for the fifth and sixth rounds of the championship. This would see them cross the border for the first time to Kirkistown Racing Circuit in county Down just outside the small seaside village of Kircubbin located on the shores of Strangford Lough. Winner of the last two rounds Enda O'Connor would not be out this time but back after missing last weeks races was Richard Kearney. Sadly Paul McLoughlin was also unable to start still having problems with his engine after it blew in practice the previous weekend. 

Philip Sheane, Sheane, on his way to pole position for the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It would be between Richard Kearney, Derek Roddy and Philip Sheane but with the long straights and high speeds of Kirkistown reliability would also play a key role. Like in Mondello Park qualifying is as critical in Kirkistown although the tow would play a part on the straights here as it is hard to overtake if the guy in front defends well. If Kearney had any luck, he used it up in round one when he limped home to take a podium after a rose joint failed. Ever since then it has all been bad and this round again was no exception. Illness forced him out last week and after qualifying this time out he again had to withdraw after his clutch gave up on him. A gutted Kearney explained, " The clutch began to slip at the start of qualifying and it got worse so there is no point in going out. I'm just sick, we have a spare but even if we got it changed, I don't know if there is any other damage done." 

Philip Sheane, Sheane, leads Derek Roddy during the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It was Philip Sheane who took pole position after only arriving at the track that morning after a 4am start from his home in Balinroe. A great achievement as it was his first time racing this car at the track and with no testing it shows the talent that the Wicklow man has. Derek Roddy who has been chipping away in the last couple of rounds lined up alongside him. 

Philip Sheane, Sheane, on his way to winning the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

As the lights went out Sheane powered away and easily lead the field into turn one. Roddy made a poor start and was lucky not to drop down the field but held on to stay in second as the exited turn two. Sheane had already opened a gap of over a second with his driving pinpoint accurate. It looked to be set to grow further as by lap three it was up to two seconds. Roddy however began to get his act in line and put in the times having the gap to the leader setting the fastest lap of 1.01.870 seconds in the process.

Derek Roddy, Sheane, on his way to second place during the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

It all came undone a couple of laps later as Roddy outbraked himself going into the hairpin at the end of the back straight. This gave Sheane the breathing room he needed. Try as he might Roddy could not get the lost time back. It was a case of reeling of the final laps to bring the car home and take the win. This Sheane duly did and deservedly so, with a clean precise display of driving.  Behind the first two , rookie Chris Dunne stayed out of trouble and drove superbly to take his fist ever podium in single seater racing. His times improved as the race went on and as the Kirkistown circuit is new to him he pulled clear of his rivals in the scholarship class of Riche Adams and Tom Foley. To add to the result Dunne now leads the  scholarship championship. A mistake on lap three saw round one podium finisher Mark Keenan drop to sixth but a race long battle with Richie Adams and Tom Foley saw them swap places during the race but Keenan's experience won out as he came home in fourth. 

Chris Dunne, Sheane, on his way to third place during the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

A relieved as much as excited Sheane spoke of his win after the race, " I'm glad to get the win it wasn't as easy as it looked as Derek was catching me after the first few laps then the gap went up again so I'm guessing he made a mistake somewhere. It's nice to get the win as we only came up this morning and got no testing in yesterday as it was a last minute decision to come due to work commitments".    

Richie Adams, Sheane, leads Mark Keenan, Sheane, during the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Tom Foley, Sheane, leads Mark Keenan, Sheane, during the fifth round of the Formula Sheane Chamopnship. Kirkistown Racing Circuit, Kircubbin, Co. Down. Photo: Barry Cregg.

National Podium from left, Derek Roddy,2nd, Philip Sheane 1st, and Chris Dunne.3rd. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Scholarship Podium from left, Derek Roddy,2nd, Philip Sheane 1st, and Chris Dunne.3rd. Photo: Barry Cregg.

Results:

National Championship

1st Philip Sheane

2nd Derek Roddy

3rd Mark Keenan

Scholarship Class

1st Chris Dunne

2nd Tom Foley

3rd Richie Adams