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Quality racing in premier series

Motor Sport: Paul Dagg leads the Formula Ireland Championship by a healthy 11 points from Alan Dwyer, who in turn leads third…

Brian Foley
Fri Jun 06 2003 - 01:00

Motor Sport: Paul Dagg leads the Formula Ireland Championship by a healthy 11 points from Alan Dwyer, who in turn leads third-placed Paul Sammin by seven points.

But the scoreboard does not reflect the quality of the racing and the closeness of the competition in the premier racing series. As well as Dagg (48 points), Dwyer (37) and Sammin (30), Mark Smith and John O'Hara on 25 points each and Emmet Queenan (23) are all front runners, and young karting champion Jeffrey Collier (18) is making steady progress in his first season of formula racing.

The close battle for championship points is on again at Mondello in the second of the designated Super Race Sunday meetings.

Also featured on Sunday are rounds of the Dunlop Super Saloons series and the Fiat Punto Abarth Cup. Points standings in the Dunlop series are: Pat Donegan (40), Brendan Donegan (33), Johnny Whelan (32), David Donegan (25), David Hall (24), Robbie Bolger and Noel Dunne (18 each).

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Liam Denning and Karl Leonard each have scored two wins in the Fiat Punto Abarth Cup, but Denning leads on 48 points with Leonard and Gordon Kellett equal second on 32 points.

Quentin Smith has qualified fastest for all four rounds to date, but is down to fourth on 31 points, ahead of Bob Copeland and Joey Freeburn .

The Irish Veteran and Vintage Car Club's Mercedes-Benz International Gordon Bennett Rally started on Wednesday.

Over 300 cars in this centenary event can be seen at Killashee House Hotel south of Naas this evening, from where they will also start tomorrow (from 8 a.m.) and Sunday (from 10 a.m.). They will be in Kilcullen, from 12-3 p.m. tomorrow and at the Irish National Stud, including the Japanese Gardens and St Fiachra's Gardens on Sunday morning from approximalely 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

In Germany on Sunday, Irish drivers Bernard Devaney (Rathfarnham) and Robbie Coleman (Millstreet) race in two rounds of the Formula BMW Championship, in which they are currently placed sixth and 11th, respectively.

They both had podium finishes in two recent rounds at the famous Nurburgring. Michael Cullen (Dublin) leads the Ferrari European Challenge and competes in Rounds five and six at Brno in the Czech Republic on Sunday.