O'Hara is back in contention

MOTORSPORT: Robbie Coleman and John O'Hara renew their rivalry at Mondello Park tomorrow in the Formula Ireland feature championship race for the Leinster Trophy, writes Brian Foley

The Leinster Trophy is Ireland's longest running and most famous motor race, and the impressive list of winners includes three World champions - Mike Hawthorn, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen.

O'Hara won the race last year and after a poor start to the season is back in contention for Formula Ireland Championship honours following his recent close victory over Coleman.

With four rounds remaining, Coleman has a healthy 24-point advantage over O'Hara. This leaves O'Hara with everything at stake while Coleman can gamble championship points in favour of going all out for the prestige race win.

The points standings are: Coleman 86, O'Hara 62, Peter Walsh 54, Paul Sammin 35, Emmet O'Brien 28 and Peter le Bas 27.

In the Formula Ford Zetec Championship, Paul Dagg on 84 points has pulled away from Alan Dwyer (63) and Charlie Donnelly (54).

Although Jonathan Fildes has won the Dunlop RT2000 Championship, close racing is expected in this very competitive saloon class. The points scoreboard reads: Fildes 106, John Whelan 65, Rod McGovern 59, Dave Collier 54, Robbie Bolger 53 and Bob Copeland 34.

There will be much interest in the opening round of the new Fiat Punto HGT Abarth Championship, which will run over six end-of-season races by way of a serious warm-up for a full season's series in 2003.

Irish motorsport has lost a great supporter in David Manley who died last week at the age of 51 following a short illness.

His father Barney Manley was hugely instrumental in the revival of the Phoenix Park motor races after the war. David was also involved in the organisational side of Irish motor racing, including the Dún Laoghaire street races and in the sale of Mondello Park by the RIAC to the present owner, Martin Birrane.

He also raced many cars, from a Mallock U2 to a Formula Ford 2000 Delta and a Peugeot 205Gti. He won the National Hillclimb Championship in 1983 and was the first driver from the Republic to win a race on the Continent, a supersports event at Nogaro in France in the 1970s.

He is survived by his wife Shelagh and daughters Louise, Sarah and Emma.