The 2014 MicksGarage.com Formula Sheane Championship is well
underway. As all the cars were packed up, pit lane garages cleared out and
supporters made their way home at the end of the day, there was a fantastic
sense of achievement from all the drivers and pit crews. And rightly so the
drivers put on, what can only be described as an exhibition of what kind of
talent Irish motorsport can produce and the crews worked to the high level of
dedication we have come to expect with getting these cars out onto the grid.
The
drivers were greeted by an overcast but most importantly dry circuit for
qualifying. The atmosphere was electric in the pit lane between the crews as
they took their positions on the pit wall. The master Brian Hearty showing the
way early on, smashing in a blistering pole position time of 57.5seconds that
couldn’t be beaten. A hard fought battle between defending championship holder
Kevin Sheane and vertical racings Robbie Allen eventually showing Sheane the
victor and locked out the front row. Allen had to settle for starting on the
second row of the grid beside Enda O’Connor. Keith Hogg showed flying form
parking his car into fifth with class president John Linnane sixth. Hynnes took
7th, Paul McLoughlin 8th from Richard Kearney in 9th
and Shane McLoughlin finishing off the top ten. In what seemed like a blink of
an eye qualifying was over and the ludicrously short time of one hour to the
race start began. Unfortunately qualifying had taken no prisoners and Gary
Corcoran’s immaculately prepared car was in need of some TLC in the form of a
new clutch. This would mean that he would miss race one. Corcoran is a model
example of the class ethic and made damn sure he was making the second race and
set about fixing the issue.
Race
one, and as the cars rolled up to their starting positions the air of
excitement grew and grew. The five second board was raised, the rev’s built and
all those long winter nights getting the car prepared came down to this moment
and getting it hooked up off the line. The lights go out and the drivers dump
the clutches in a symphony of rev’s, gear changes and tyre squealing. The cars
make it to the first corner , Hearty with the drop on Sheane leads, followed by
Allen and O’Connor, a slowly spinning Trevor Kinsella meant Sean Hynes
ferocious start from the pit lane was in vain as he had to take avoiding
action. Between turns one and two a slight pinch between cars saw Keith Hogg
and John Linnane touch and ultimately Linnane come off the worse with a broken
radiator spilling coolant out for all the cars following to try miss with a few
being caught out by it. Out they go like a bullet train into country with cars
swapping and changing so much it was hard to keep track of who was where.
Around the cars came, Hearty in the lead with Sheane’s nose rubbing his gearbox,
being chased by Allen a few car lengths back. Keith Hogg flies through trying
to make up for the earlier touch and then the train of cars arrives into the
start finish straight with Kearney leading the pack. Places changed quick and
fast in the next few laps between drivers. Hearty was able to fend off the
relentless attacks from Sheane as was he from the ever closing Allen. The race
finished with a sigh of relief from the podium winners and the five way battle
for 5th going down to the line with three abreast on the start finish straight,
Kearney the winner of that battle. A quick TV interview for the top three and
its back to the pits to try squeeze a little more pace out of the cars by all
of the drivers.
Race two and all the cars line up in the
assembly area gleaming under the Sun. With an almost identical grid line-up as
race one the big question would be, can hearty get the drop again or would
Sheane jump him off the lights?? Allen and Hogg would also be looking to be
first into turn one along with half a dozen more. The lights go out and Sheane
Inches past Hearty to take the lead and shows why he is a triple champion in
the class. Allen loses his nose to a sideways O’Connor and both lose a few
spots. Out into the country they go and the master re-takes the lead and again
the pack forms a snake of cars that include Hynes, Kearney, O’Connor, Parks,
LInnane and the most determined competitor of the weekend, Corcoran who not
only got his car fixed, it was looking fantastic (and quick!). And then onto
the battle of the new guys right at the back between Coilín Clinton and Shane
McLoughlin, regarded by the man who created the class, David Sheane, as the
battle of the race.
Back
to the front and Hearty edged away from Sheane with Hogg settling into third, queue
Sheane to entertain the crowd with his driving skills. Getting the car more
sideways than you would see from a Mk 2 escort on a forestry stage of a rally.
And that’s how it finished for the top three, the snake from 4th to 10th
changed right up to the chequered flag with Hynnes taking a much deserved 4th
from the micksgarage.com car of Parks, O’Connor, Kearney, Corcoran, Allen and
Linnane round out the top ten, Coilín Clinton snipped the very impressive
‘Become a racing driver’ winner Sheane McLoughlin to the post.
And
that was it, rounds one and two were over and the prizes were handed out to the
podium winners. An incredible start to the what is surely going to be the best
and closest racing again from these guys. The Championship now travels north of
the border to Bishopscourt in four weeks’ time. There is sure to be a more determined
than ever grid of drivers for that encounter all wanting to claw back some
points on Hearty, none more so than Sheane, Allen and Hogg. A big thank you
must be paid to all the drivers, crews, families and supporters that follow
this exciting class; you are what makes the class the best in Ireland. Onwards
to Rounds three and four!!
image credits to Con Connolly
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