DEREK CUNNEELY, of Celbridge, had mixed fortunes over the sun-kissed weekend of motor racing at Mondello Park.
On Saturday, he had to settle for fourth in the penultimate round of the Bridgestone Formula Opel Championship race. Wayne Douglas led Michael Edgar off the front row of the grid and Cunneely, unable to get through from the second row, was almost squeezed on to the grass in the frenetic dash into the first corner. As Edgar was unable to make an impression on Douglas, likewise Cunneely could not grab third from the young Cork driver Ken Grandon. All of which sees Edgar back in front in the premier championship on 110 points, with Cunneely on 109 and Douglas out of contention on 75 points.
Yesterday an ecstatic Cunneely won the 54th Leinster Trophy race. He led Douglas off the line as the Ulsterman fluffed his start and held the lead despite the close attentions of Douglas and Edgar, who were unable to overtake on the tight Mondello track. Cunneely's name now goes on the Leinster Trophy, along with a galaxy of famous names such as World Championship winners Mike Hawthorn and Ayrton Senna and current Formula One driver Mika Hakkinen.
In winning the Dunlop Touring Car race, Michael Cullen takes over the championship lead from Gordon Kellett after taking the flag ahead of Kellett, both in Astras, with Brian Ward and Michael Leonard next in Honda Civics.
Meanwhile, the Leinster Motor Club hope to promote a Formula Opel World Cup meeting for next year's Leinster Trophy, and to move to a different September date so, as to avoid a clash with the Italian Grand Prix.
