The Master reigns supreme with
dominant form………
After a long break from rounds 3 & 4 the drivers and
crews traveled to a scorching Kirkistown Race Circuit N. Ireland. The
conditions where perfect for the next showdown between Ireland's finest drivers.
The Master Brian Hearty came into the weekend in the championship lead followed
very closely by Vertical Racings Robbie Allen and Mr Consistent Keith Hogg in
his Mad Motorsport machine. Kevin Sheane set his sights on clawing back some
points after having a disastrous weekend last time out in Bishopscourt coming
home with two DNF’s. Dave Parks in his Micksgarage car was looking to continue on
from his hard fought win at the last race.
Saturday
morning brought with it more sun and temperatures to ensure that spectators
would get their tan as they enjoyed the days racing. Fridays testing had taken
no prisoners with championship contender Robbie Allen having engine woes that
meant his team worked late into the night to get a new one fitted and running
for the two races that was kindly donated from the Mad Motorsport team. As the
call came over the PA system for qualifying the drivers and crews lined up the
cars in assembly under the blistering sun and they all set about getting that
one quick lap that would put them on pole. The Master started off how you would
expect by setting six consecutive quickest laps in a row to make sure that his
car was on pole. Kevin Sheane managed to only get one lap in before a
drive shaft failed adding to his championship worries and leaving him fifth for
race one. Round 4 race winner Dave Parks put his car alongside Brian Hearty
early on only to be dropped to third by an ever quickening Hogg. Allen managed
to wring every ounce of pace out of his newly fitted engine to slot into
fourth. A very ill Richard Kearney managed take sixth but would succumb to it
and not make the races. Paul McLoughlin returned to the track to take seventh
just in front of scholarship championship leader Coilín Clinton. John Linnane,
Brendan Carr and Chris McCabe finished off the rest of the grid. Qualifying
over and as ever it had its victims, Dave Parks third place grid spot would
have to be conceded after his engine let go which resulted in him having to
swap to the spare car supplied by Sheane Cars.
Race
one, and by this time temperatures had soared even higher as the cars glistened
in the sun making their way to the grid from the formation lap. The five second
board was raised, the lights went on and the revs grew in anticipation of the
start and all wanting to get the drop on Hearty off the line. The Master had a
fantastic start with Mr Consistent slotting in behind him for the run to
debtors. Robbie Allen had pressure early on from Sheane as he tried to make up
as many places as he could on the opening few corners which he did until the
run into the final hairpin where Hogg and he had a coming together which sent
Sheane off to the kitty litter on the edge of the corner letting Hogg, Allen
and the lightning fast Dave Park’s through. Park’s in the spare car who was
charging through the field after starting from the back of the grid picking off
a car on nearly every corner. As a result of the coming together between Sheane
and Hogg, Park’s managed to gain to second and hold it for a few laps before
being reeled in by Hogg to take the flag with Park’s taking the final position
and Hearty taking his third win of the season after driving off into the
distance to let the others battle it out. Battles all the way through the field
saw Sheane recover to fifth from John Linnanes excellently prepared car in
sixth.
Race
two, and with no damage from race one all the cars looked fantastic under the
solstice sun. As Sheane didn’t managed to get a second qualifying lap in before
his drive shaft failure in qualifying he was to join the biggest mover on the
grid Dave Park’s at the back for the start. With an almost identical grid as
the first race the drivers all lined up wanting to make it into the first
corner with Hearty Behind them. Unfortunately for them that wasn't the case,
but they didn't have to wait for long as the Master made an uncharacteristic
mistake which allowed Hogg and Allen to squeeze by. Hearty focused and set
about reclaiming the top spot over the few laps picking off each of them to
retake the lead. Further down the field Park’s had made his way to forth position
from the back of the grid gaining places on every inch of the track, even the
commentator couldn't keep up with his charge through the pack with Sheane doing
the same albeit not as fast as Park’s was. Sheane took a breather for a few
laps in fifth before making his moves on the cars in front managing to gain
places up to second place before the flag dropped. Hogg was to settle for third
with Allen and Park’s rounding out the top five. Chris McCabe had an action packed weekend on his return to the
track after an over long absence from racing. John Linnane suffered engine
problems in the last few laps but switched to ‘never say die’ mode and brought
the car home for some much needed points. Coilín Clinton had better weekends
this year after he suffered a rear wing failure which meant he had to pit for
repairs and put him a lap down but true to his form he got the car back out on
track and claimed more points on his campaign.
The
Master Brian Hearty truly dominated rounds 5 & 6 this weekend having what
Formula One drives call the perfect race, pole, race win and the fastest lap.
He would have also had that in the second race if it wasn’t for Sheane
snatching the fastest lap in the dying moments. Hearty commands the top of the
Championship table at the midway point of the season but it’s not over by a
long shot. Hogg and Allen can very much catch him over the next five races,
Hogg is due to break his consistencies with a race win and Allen is always the
man to watch when it comes to contenders for the championship. The 2014
Micksgarage.com Formula Sheane Championship still has a long way to go until
the final race in September but will Hearty still be sitting in the top spot to
claim his tenth career championship or will the field catch him and deny him of
that of which he so desperately chases?? Hogg and Allen are showing the best
pace and consistency to do so. The
Championship now comes back to its home circuit of Mondello Park
in Co. Kildare on the 12th and 13th of July where it
joins the Formula Vee festival for what is always a fantastic weekend of
circuit racing. Rounds 7 & 8 are going to be the race weekend to be at in
this year’s campaign. The Sun will be shining brighter than it was in
Kirkistown but will it be for all the drivers and their championship hopes or
will a few flames be extinguished. Roll on Rounds 7 & 8!!
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