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 9thand 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
