WEEKEND RESULTS for 13/14 April 2013 IRISH MOTOR RACING CLUB RACE MEETING AT MONDELLO PARK: FORMULA LIBRE RACE 1 (8 laps): 1 Martin Daly (Tatuus F Renault) 7m 31.49s, 73.33 mph, 2 Fergus Faherty (Tatuus F Renault) 7m 40.11s, 3 Eugene Heary Jnr (Reynard 97D) 7m 44.25s, 4 Donal Griffin (Reynard 90D) 7m 45.06s, 5 Stanley Watson (Lola F3000) 7m 47.45s, 6 Cian Carey (Tatuus F Renault) 7m 55.26s. Fastest lap: Daly 55.573s, 74.47 mph. FORMULA LIBRE RACE 2 (16 laps): 1 Martin Daly (Tatuus F Renault) 15m 04.09s, 73.24 mph, 2 Eugene Heary Jnr (Reynard 97D) 15m 05.65s, 3 Fergus Faherty (Tatuus F Renault) 15m 12.31s, 4 Noel Robinson (Tatuus F Renault) 15m 12.49s, 5 John Daly (Lola T93 Holden) 15m 27.02s, 6 Philip Shields (Tatuus Honda) 15m 36.25s. Fastest lap: Martin Daly 53.692s, 77.08 mph. IRISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP SUPER TOURING CLASS RACE 1 (12 laps): 1 Erik Holstein (BMW M3) 12m 36.11s, 65.68 mph, 2 Robert Savage (Honda Integra) 12m 52.23s, 3 Eric Carroll (Honda Integra) 12m 55.98s. Fastest lap: Holstein 1m 01.630s, 67.15 mph. TOURING CLASS (12 laps): 1 Mark Keane (Honda Integra) 13m 15.88s, 62.40 mph, 2 Norman Fawcett (Honda Civic) 13m 19.21s, 3 Owain Drought (Honda Integra) 13m 19.24s. Fastest lap: Drought 1m 04.983s, 63.68 mph. STOCK HATCH CLASS (11 laps): 1 Andrew Twomey (Citroen Saxo) 12m 53.47s, 58.85 mph, 2 Fergal Bowes (Peugeot 106) 12m 58.96s, 3 Philip Lawless (Peugeot 206) 13m 30.65s. Fastest lap: Twomey 1m 08.426s, 60.48 mph. IRISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP SUPER TOURING CLASS RACE 2 (15 laps): 1 Erik Holstein (BMW M3) 15m 38.35s, 66.15 mph, 2 Eric Carroll (Honda Integra) 15m 50.32s, 3 Robert Savage (Honda Integra) 15m 50.93s. Fastest lap: Holstein 1m 01.563s, 67.22 mph. TOURING CLASS (15 laps): 1 Mark Keane (Honda Integra) 16m 30.08s, 62.70 mph, 2 Ian Radford (Honda Integra) 16m 35.56s, 3 Norman Fawcett (Honda Civic) 16m 48.52s. Fastest lap: Keane 1m 04.770s, 63.89 mph. STOCK HATCH CLASS (14 laps): 1 Andrew Twomey (Citroen Saxo) 16m 21.62s, 59.02 mph, 2 Fergal Bowes (Peugeot 106) 16m 35.36s. Fastest lap: Twomey 1m 08.306s, 60.59 mph. CROWNE PLAZA DUNDALK FORMULA VEE RACE 1 (10 laps): 1 Colm Blackburn (Leastone) 12m 03.16s, 57.23 mph, 2 Ger Byrne (Sheane) 12m 05.49s, 3 Morgan McCourt (Leastone) 12m 27.89s, 4 Stephen Morrin (Leastone) 12m 31.01s, 5 Justin Costello (Leastone) 12m 31.79s, 6 Damian Murphy (Leastone) 12m 33.68s. Fastest lap: Morrin 1m 09.356s, 59.67 mph. CROWNE PLAZA DUNDALK FORMULA VEE RACE 2 (15 laps): 1 Ray Moore (Leastone) 15m 31.59s, 66.63 mph, 2 Adam MacAulay (Sheane) 15m 36.56s, 3 Dan Polley (Sheane) 15m 41.44s, 4 Robbie Allen (Sheane) 15m 46.19s, 5 Kevin Grogan (Leastone) 15m 46.31s, 6 David O’Brien (Sheane) 15m 48.46s. Fastest lap: Moore 1m 01.337s, 67.47 mph. PATCH TYRE EQUIPMENT FIESTA RACE 1 (10 laps): 1 John Denning 12m 44.41s, 54.14 mph, 2 J J O’Riordan 12m 45.08s, 3 Darragh Daly 12m 45.28s, 4 Barry Hallion 12m 46.48s, 5 Robert Griffin 12m 54.72s, 6 David Yamamoto 12m 55.01s. Fastest lap: Sean Lillis 1m 13.953s, 55.96 mph. PATCH TYRE EQUIPMENT FIESTA RACE 2 (12 laps): 1 John Denning 14m 59.40s, 55.21 mph, 2 Sean Lillis 14m 59.54s, 3 Darragh Daly 15m 00.79s, 4 Barry Hallion 15m 06.09s, 5 J J O’Riordan 15m 09.17s, 6 Robert Griffin 15m 11.71s. Fastest lap: Lillis 1m 13.890s, 56.01 mph. STRYKER RACE 1 (10 laps): 1 Alan Watkins 12m 35.57s, 54.77 mph, 2 Brian Kingston 12m 41.31s. 3 Alan Auerbach 12m 41.95s, 4 Mark Baker 13m 06.67s, 5 Seamus Ryan 13m 07.16s, 6 Roger Welaratne 13m 18.10s. Fastest lap: Auerbach 1m 13.019s, 56.68 mph. STRYKER RACE 2 (14 laps): 1 Alan Auerbach 14m 50.86s, 65.03 mph, 2 Paul Yeomans 14m 57.04s, 3 Dave Griffin 15m 05.04s, 4 Seamus Ryan 15m 11.83s, 5 Mark Baker 15m 14.92s, 6 Brian Kingston 15m 17.00s. Fastest lap: Auerbach 1m 02.808s, 65.89 mph. GLOBAL LIGHTS RACE 1 (12 laps): 1 Mark Twomey 12m 19.69s, 67.14 mph, 2 Jake Byrne 12m 19.95s, 3 Peter Drennan 12m 20.90s, 4 Paul Fitzpatrick 12m 30.66s, 5 John Conway 12m 46.78s, 6 John Murphy 12m 53.05s. Fastest lap: Byrne 1m 00.213s, 68.73 mph. GLOBAL LIGHTS RACE 2 (15 laps): 1 Peter Drennan 15m 11.51s, 68.10 mph, 2 Mark Twomey 15m 12.67s, 3 Paul Fitzpatrick 15m 13.13s, 4 Derek Behan 15m 16.10s, 5 Jake Byrne 15m 16.83s, 6 Mark Braden 15m 31.04s. Fastest lap: Byrne 59.097s, 70.03 mph. GINETTA JUNIOR IRELAND RACE 1 (10 laps): 1 Jack Finlay 13m 17.74s, 51.88 mph, 2 Dylan Curley 13m 39.22s, 3 Sophie Byrne 13m 41.40s, 4 Charlie Linnane 9 laps. Fastest lap: Byrne 1m 18.787s, 52.53 mph. GINETTA JUNIOR IRELAND RACE 2 (13 laps): 1 Dylan Curley 15m 07.02s, 59.31 mph, 2 Sophie Byrne 15m 12.51s, 3 Luke Hourihan 16m 02.77s, 4 Max Sheane 16m 24.87s, 5 Charlie Linnane 16m 30.83s. Fastest lap: Curley 1m 08.940s, 60.03 mph. HISTORIC RACE 1 (12 laps): 1 David Kelly (Crossle 9S) 13m 02.59s, 63.46 mph, 2 Bernard Foley (MGBGT V8) 13m 41.25s, 3 Clive Brandon (Lotus 47) 13m 51.03s, 4 Ian Thornton (VW Golf) 11 laps, 5 Liam Ruth (MG Midget) 11 laps, 6 Ken McAvoy (Sprite) 11 laps. Fastest lap: Kelly 1m 03.773s, 64.89 mph. HISTORIC RACE 2 (15 laps): 1 David Kelly (Crossle 9S) 15m 50.11s, 65.33 mph, 2 Clive Brandon (Lotus 47) 14 laps, 3 Ian Thornton (VW Golf) 14 laps, 4 Wolfgang Schnittger (MG Midget) 14 laps, 5 Liam Ruth (MG Midget) 14 laps, 6 Ken McAvoy (Sprite) 13 laps. Fastest lap: Kelly 1m 02.543s, 66.17 mph. FUTURE CLASSICS RACE (11 laps): 1 Ian Thornton (VW Golf) 13m 06.93s, 57.85 mph, 2 Daniel Byrne (Chevette) 13m 25.91s, 3 Robbie Parks (Peugeot 205) 13m 44.77s, 4 Aidan Byrne (Uno) 13m 44.77s, 5 Mick Walsh (Mini) 10 laps, 6 Pat Lucey (Ritmo) 10 laps. Fastest lap: Thornton 1m 10.294s, 58.87 mph. CARRICK-ON-SUIR M C WILLIE LOUGHMAN MEMORIAL FOREST RALLY AT SLIEVERUE, CO KILKENNY (ROUND 3 OF VALVOLINE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP): 1 Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Lancer Evo 9) 55m 42s, 2 Philip Morrow/Jonny Harte (Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 55m 48s, 3 Dan O’Brien/Martin Brady (Focus WRC) 56m 46s, 4 Michael O’Brien/Greg Shinnors (Focus WRC) 57m 30s, 5 Vincent McAree/J P McAree (Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 58m 02s, 6 Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 58m 17s, 7 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 59m 15s, 8 Gerard Lucey/James Lucey (Lancer Evo 8 Gp N) 59m 19s, 9 Sara Williams/Dai Roberts (Impreza Gp N) 59m 56s, 10 Shane McGirr/Jackie Elliott (Starlet) 60m 23s.

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Weekend Results for 13/14 April 2013

This is the hardest piece I have ever had to write for the website. It is hard to believe that a young man so full of life and fun is no longer with us. The Ginetta Junior class has only been around for a few short years but along with the Junior Rallycross class, has produced some fantastic young talent. Andrew Clarke was one of these young drivers who arrived at Mondello to cut his teeth, initially in Ginettas. I got to know him as I commentated on the races and also did the TV interviews with the drivers. Andrew immediately stood out from the rest in that he seemed to have the confidence of someone older, someone somehow more experienced in life than the rest. When it came to the racing, you had to smile. By his second season in Ginettas he had developed race winning pace- but seemed far more interested in going sideways than being first across the line. Even Simon McKinley, the master of car control, declared the Zetec engined machines as “twitchy” and difficult to drive when he briefly tested one. Andrew seemed to have no such problem and almost every time we saw the immaculate Murray Motorsport machine, it had an armful of opposite lock on and Andrew’s right foot buried in the bulkhead…. It was pretty much the same in rallycross, as his white Micra often arrived into Rallycross 1 about 10mph too fast. The result was a wild drift that Matti Alimaki would have been proud of- and indeed so was Andrew when you spoke to him afterwards! He seemed to speak to me as an equal and always had a story or two about what he had been up to since the last race, some unprintable, most of them hilarious… A light has gone out in Irish Motorsport and although his career was brief, I think it is fair to say he left a lasting impression- and a whole lot of smiles. To his wonderful family, we extend our deepest sympathies. May he rest in peace. Andrew as we will always remember him- at the end of the rack and no doubt grinning from ear to ear

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Obituary – Andrew Clarke

Sean Doyle has been selected as the Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Month for August, for his achievements during the month. 18 year-old Sean, from Wicklow town, who is driving in the Global Lights class this year, scored two wins at Kirkistown, also recording the fastest lap in race two. Earlier in the year, he had taken a win at Mondello Park as well as four second places, two of these at Mondello, one at Bishopscourt in Co Down and another at Anglesey in Wales. Added to other good results, this left him in second place in the Global Lights Championship. The Wicklow teenager, who began his motor sport career in Junior Rallycross in the 2009/10 season, began circuit racing when the Ginetta Junior Ireland class was introduced in the summer of 2010 and went on to finish as runner up in the 2011 Ginetta Junior Ireland Championship. Sean is sponsored by Mizzoni Pizza Company and Wicklow Tyres. He very much appreciates the support of his family during the year, and the assistance of ABR Sports, who prepared and ran his car, and of Mondello Park. He sat his Leaving Cert examination in June and is currently working as a part-time instructor at Mondello Park Racing School. Sean is the fifth Dunlop Driver of the Month for 2012, and is now a contender for the prestigious Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Award and the historic Sexton Trophy. This award is presented annually and is sponsored by Dunlop, the Irish Sports Council and Motorsport Ireland.

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BREAKING NEWS: Doyle takes August’s Young Racing Driver of the Month award

Rockingham based Douglas Motorsport is ready to extend its lead in the Ginetta Junior Teams Championship as they approach the next rounds of the Ginetta Junior Championship at Rockingham this weekend. Currently the most successful team in the championship this season with drivers Niall Murray and Andrew Watson, Douglas Motorsport remain one of the newest teams in the championship. Starting out the season on a high with a win in the opening round at Brands Hatch with 2010 Ginetta Junior Ireland Champion Niall Murray, the team have gone on to take 14 podium finishes this season including four wins and two double podium finishes at the last two circuits in the championship, Snetterton and Knockhill respectively. Championship newcomer Andrew Watson has been very impressive in his debut season having graduated from the Ginetta Junior Ireland championship in 2011. Andrew who has been part of the Douglas Motorsport driver development programme since 2010 was a regular visitor to the podium in Ireland and has shown great pace throughout 2012 resulting in more frequent visits to the podium since the championship resumed after the summer break. Speaking ahead of the weekend, Team Boss Wayne Douglas described his delight at how the season has been going so far. “2012 couldn’t have started any better for us as a new team coming into a championship that already had several very established teams. With 3 podiums including 2 wins in the opening 2 rounds it really set us up well for the season where we now have a tally of 14 podium finishes between our two drivers. However I was always confident that I had the right driver-pairing coming into the season as Niall was a regular front runner here last year and we have worked well with Andrew since he made the move to car racing back in 2010. It’s always great to have a home race and we are certainly looking forward to getting on track this weekend with the aim of not only extending our Team championship lead but re-taking the drivers championship lead also with Niall”. The action gets under way with Race 1 on Saturday at 14.40 and Race 2 shown live on ITV4 on Sunday at 12.10.

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Douglas Motorsport ready to extend Team Championship lead at home circuit

Runaway championship leader Jake Byrne approached Mondello Park keen to take two solid results to give him an almost certain 2012 Championship victory. James Fleming however is a driver who has shown immense determination at every round so far this season and never one to give up on his own dream of becoming the Ginetta Junior Ireland Champion. While most of the focus in the championship this season has been at the very close battle at the head of the field, we’ve seen some fantastic performances from Andrew Clarke and championship rookie Jack Finlay. The newcomer racing with ABR has shown he is well capable of running towards the front of the field and has been consistently one of the best rookie drivers so far this season. Qualifying was once again a very close affair at the head of the field. With just over seven tenths of second splitting the top five drivers, it goes to show just how level the playing field is in this one-make championship, especially when two of the five drivers are still in their first season of racing! Out in front it was Jake Byrne who grabbed pole by just over one tenth of a second ahead of main rival James Fleming. Jack Finlay had put on a superb display to line up his ABR prepared car in third with Andrew Clarke putting his Murray Motorsport car in fourth with team-mate Dylan Curley rounding out the top five. Off the line for race one it was Byrne who got the best start to lead into turn one but Andrew Clarke was already mounting an impressive challenge from the second row of the grid and was leading by the end of lap one with Byrne second, Fleming third and Finlay fourth. However Byrne who comes from an experienced motor racing family wasn’t going to settle in second and quickly found a way past to move into the lead on lap two. Finlay and Fleming were now locked in battle with the latter doing his best to reel in the gap to second placed man Clarke. By lap seven Fleming was now hot on his heels and found a way past to move into second. Byrne had now opened up a slender lead at the front of the field but Fleming was on fire and certainly wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Right up until the final lap Fleming was doing his best to find a way past and on the run to the chequered flag Fleming was along side Byrne in what would turn out to be a photo finish with just one tenth of a second splitting the pair with the win going to Byrne. Andrew Clark crossed the line in third with Jack Finlay, Sophie Byrne and James Huddleston rounding out the top six. Thanks to his superb run in the second half of race one, James Fleming set the fastest lap of the race and with it bagged pole for race two. A superb start put him right into the lead at the end of lap one followed closely by the ABR pair of Jake Byrne and Jack Finlay. Byrne who was competing in his last ever Ginetta Junior Ireland race as he turns 18 in August preventing him from taking any further part in this junior championship, was keen to ensure he secured enough points to ensure championship victory. He was putting Fleming under increasing pressure but there seemed to be no sign of any weakness showing from the young Walkinstown driver out in front. Jack Finlay who was putting on another fine display this weekend was staying with the leaders and ready to capitalise on any mistakes up ahead to take his maiden victory. However Fleming looked very composed and controlled a superb lights to flag victory at the chequered flag. Jake Byrne crossed the line second with Jack Finlay getting his reward for a good weekend in third. Dylan Curley put his race one non-finish behind him to finish fourth with Sophie Byrne and James Huddleston rounding out the top six. The final two rounds of the championship will be at the famous Leinster Trophy Race Meeting around Mondello Park’s International Circuit on Saturday 15 th and Sunday 16 th September. You will also be able to see some of the cars on display at the Phoenix Park Motor Races on Saturday 18 th & Sunday 19 th August where we will be running a competition in the event programme for a chance to win a free entry to TheRace2Race.com Ginetta Junior Championship Scholarship with a top prize of a fully funded season in the 2013 Ginetta Junior Ireland Championship.

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Byrne and Fleming share the honours at Mondello Park