Sport

Trio in the chase

MOTOR SPORT/Weekly column: Paul Dagg, Pat Donegan and Liam Denning lead the chase for championship points at Kirkistown tomorrow…

Brian Foley
Fri Jul 25 2003 - 01:00

MOTOR SPORT/Weekly column: Paul Dagg, Pat Donegan and Liam Denning lead the chase for championship points at Kirkistown tomorrow in the three premier National motor racing categories. In Formula Ireland, Dagg, on 56 points, leads Alan Dwyer and John O'Hara on 48 each.

O'Hara has been nominated Young Racing Driver of the Month for June, which puts him in the running for the Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year award, the prestigious Dunlop Sexton Trophy and €32,000.

In the Fiat Punto Abarth Cup, Liam Denning, on 102 points, has a big lead over Karl Leonard (67), Bob Copeland (63), Joey Freeburn (57), Quentin Smith (55) and Gordon Kellett (53). The Kirkistown meeting will also feature Formula Ford 1600, Sportscar and kart races.

A strong contingent of Irish drivers, driving Irish built Sheane and Leastone racing cars, compete at Pembrey in Wales tomorrow - 29 in Formula Vee and 10 in Formula Sheane-Rover.

READ MORE

This marks the first time for Formula Sheane-Rovers to race outside Ireland and consists of the fifth and sixth rounds of the Irish championship, in which Brian Hearty, Enda O'Connor and Matt Dunne are separated by only six points.

Three Donegal drivers Dermot Doherty (55 points), Ger Callaghan (46) and Brian Kelly (32) lead the Formula V Championship, with recent Mondello race winner Declan Quigley classified fourth on equal points to Kelly who has scored in more races.

Dublin drivers Niki Meredith and Mark Kershaw will contest the 2003 European Alfa 147 GTA Challenge run over three double race weekends, starting this weekend at Spa in Belgium, followed by Zandvoort, Holland on August 9th and 10th and Monza, Italy on October 18th and 19th.

Round four of the Ford Ka Rally Championship is incorporated in this weekend's Forestry Rally run out of Mallow, Co Cork.

The experienced Ian Chadwick (Ballincollig) is the leader on 83 points, but the revelation of the series is fellow Cork driver Emily O'Mahony (Carrigaline) who is second overall on 64 points

WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday - Cork MC, Forestry Stages Rally, Mallow, 9.00am; Mayo & District MC, Stage Rally, HQ-N17 Niteclub, Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, 11.00am; Motor Racing, Kirkistown, Co Down, 1.00pm.

Sunday - Cork MC, Forestry Stages Rally, Mallow, 9.00am; Castle AC, Autocross, Latton Quarry, Co Monaghan, 12.00pm.