The 2013 MicksGarage.com Formula Sheane Championship was always going to be a difficult one, with new drivers and new teams. Formula Sheane has always provided close racing but this year more than ever it will take that extra special effort and a large helping of good luck to keep ahead of the pack. Race day for myself can be challenging as part of my race day is taken up with preparation and set up of other race cars apart from my own. However its great to see new drivers progress and l am always delighted to be of any help l can.Round 1. was in Kirkistown NI Dry conditions. This circuit is very quick with plenty of opportunities to over take by out braking into the corners. I qualified 2nd to Brian Hearty but took the lead from the start. If I could just break the tow from those behind I knew l could take the quick racing line, This was not to happen, There were 4 of us; Hearty, Allen, Savage and myself, although I had the lead just. I had to drive a defensive race from start to finish. The race was red flagged with 2 laps to go so I won Round 1 but only just from Brian Hearty, last years Formula Sheane Champion.
Round 2 and 3 were in Bishopscourt NI and heavy showers were the order for the weekend. Car set up would pose the biggest problem never mind the other 16 competitors. This too is a very quick circuit with very technical chicanes and blind corners.
In qualifying the track was damp so set up was a lottery , it had to be somewhere between wet and dry but where ! I did manage to take pole for race 1 and 3rd position for race 2 of the weekend.It was nearly impossible to string 2 or 3 consistently quick laps together but then it was the same for everyone.
Round 2 was to be the first race of the weekend for me.I was in pole position. My set up and the start would be crucial as it was very wet. I made a good start keeping well clear of the incident on the entry to turn 1 which gave me the breathing space I needed. In these tricky conditions I could pick my line into each corner and as I love driving in the wet I settled down and enjoyed the race to the end taking what looked like an easy win but was not as I had done all the hard work in the first 3/4 laps.The race was red flagged as there were cars stranded in dangerous positions on the track.
Round 3 The second race for me this weekend. This race would be interesting as I had only qualified 3rd and the weather would play the biggest role in this race. There was a nice dry track to start with but we knew there would be rain and a lot of it but when? My Da's bald head reckoned that after 3 laps or so the rain would be with us. So armed with this very technical meteorological info I set up the car accordingly. Well from the start I moved up into second place choosing not to vie for the lead as the risk of contact was high. By turn 3 I took the lead as the leader took to the grass.
The rain did come on schedule but the car was lovely and I was happy to be back in the wet again. An incident in turn 3 between 2 cars brought out the safety car with 2/3 laps to go, that is the way it finished another win.
Hopefully this run of good luck will stay with me ! In the mean time I will enjoy the feeling.
Many thanks to Formula Sheane sponsors
MicksGarage.Com and my own sponsors as follows.......
EOLAS Recruitmemt
D&W Crash repairs
Goodwin Signs
On Site Clinics
SORD Technical Data
Cabrini Corporate Clothing
Roll on next rounds in Mondello June 8th.and 9th. next !!
Many thanks,
Kevin Sheane Jnr.
