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!!
