Round 4 of the MicksGarage.com Future Classics Championship saw the class on the Mondello Park International loop for the first time this year. Qualifying took place on Sunday morning on a track with greasy, tricky conditions. The qualifying session started off with a damp track and dried out quickly towards the end of the session. Robbie Parks made a return to the class and claimed pole in his Mitsibushi FTO with second spot taken by Ian Thornton in the freshly built Celica of Aidan Byrne in its maiden appearance in the class. John Downey was in a very impressive 3
rd in the Peugeot 205 Gti with Aidan Byrne 4
th in the nimble little rear wheel drive Chevette.
Once again, the MicksGarage.com tent was a hive of activity on Sunday morning with the drivers discussing the best way to tackle the first outing on the International circuit. The tea and coffee was flowing and offered to whoever passed by.
After lunch however it got a bit more serious as cars headed to the grid. Parks lead the way to the first corner and was never really troubled all race followed closely by Thornton in the debut Celica with Timmy Duggan tucked in close behind followed by Downey, Aidan Byrne, Ken Byrne & Marty Moore.
A schemozzle at Honda Curve between Thornton & Parks caused a backup of cars with Aidan Byrne the benefactor slipping through to 2
nd place. Adrian Dunne was moving promptly up through the grid until his clutch let go on Lap 4. Duggan in the very quick Seat Ibiza didn’t have it all his own way this meeting as he was being hassled strongly by Downey in the well sorted 205.
Patrick Donoghue in the 205 Mi16 who was out for a shakedown rocketed to the front breaking the barrier on his way which demoted him back to 8
th in the overall standings after the race. Brendan Travers in the BT Racing Punto had a very solid race picking off Marty Moore in the Civic, Ken Byrne In the Celica finishing 5
th in the end. Another fast mover through the grid was Willie Tighe in his beautifully prepared GRRR 205 Mi16 who also broke the barrier time demoting him down the field after penalties were applied. Ken Byrne just about held off Marty Moore in a drag race from the final bend to the chequered flag.
After the chequered flag was shown and all the penalties applied the race results were Robbie Parks taking the win followed by Aidan Byrne and Timmy Duggan in 3
rd, John Downey 4
th, Brenadan Travers 5
th and Ken Byrne rounding out the top 6.
The championship positions after Round 4:
1
st Timmy Duggan Seat Ibiza 74
2
nd Marty Moore Honda Civic 54
3
rd Aidan Byrne Vauxhall Chevette 54
4
th Ken Byrne Toyota Celica 33
5
th David Hammond Fiat Uno 32
6
th Robbie Parks Mitsibushi FTO 31
Round 5 will be held on 10
th July on the Mondello Park national circuit with another very strong grid of cars providing some more close exciting racing.
Timmy Duggan has a little bit of a stretch in the championship but knows he will have to be on top form with the addition of some new machinery hunting him down. Second and Third couldn’t be any close and single points separating fourth to sixth overall. Roll on Round 5 for some more close exciting racing in the MicksGarage.com Future Classics Racing Championship.
