Champion looking to consolidate top position as Raceway resumes

Stock Car Irish Champion Craig McConnell will look to consolidate his position at the top of the points chart at Ballymena Raceway this week.
F2 Stock Cars contest Round 2 of the McGill Motorsport Series on Friday evening at Balymena Raceeway. Picture: Stephen Gilmore.F2 Stock Cars contest Round 2 of the McGill Motorsport Series on Friday evening at Balymena Raceeway. Picture: Stephen Gilmore.
F2 Stock Cars contest Round 2 of the McGill Motorsport Series on Friday evening at Balymena Raceeway. Picture: Stephen Gilmore.

The town track hosts round two of the McGill Motorsport Series on Friday evening.

McConnell leads the series after an impressive hat-trick of wins during the opening round on Good Friday and the Bangor man will be hoping for a repeat performance this weekend.

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McConnell has started the new season in great form with 3 final wins to his credit already, but knows the rest of the pack will be hot on his heels.

Nutts Corner lad Mark Rainey occupies second spot in the series after a bright start to his 2015 campaign with Antrim’s Gary Blair in third, while Irish Open Champion Christopher Kincaid can never be discounted.

Impressive newcomer Bradley McKinstry roared to a hat-trick of wins at Nutts Corner recently and will want to continue his winning streak at Ballymena.

Antrim based McCrory brothers, Ryan and Dean, former European Champion Graham Fegan, Conor Hughes, Scott Finlay and Sam McKay are just some of the other contenders in the competitive F2 division.

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The F2 drivers will also benefit for the Hot Lap bonus scheme which has been introduced at Raceway for 2015, with the driver that records the fastest race lap during Friday’s meeting receiving a £50 award courtesy of CJS Contracts.

It’s also Round 2 of the Hill Contracts Supreme Series for the Stock Rod drivers on Friday evening.

Broughshane’s Sammy Graham collected the silverware at round one in his Vauxhall Corsa with Kells teenager Adam Sloan also amongst the wins at that hectic opener.

County Armagh veteran Wilfie McNiece is the early leader of the series and will be looking for another strong haul of points on Friday evening along with Richard Taylor, final winner at Nutts Corner last time out, Larne’s Gareth Bevan and Yokohama Champion Steven McKane.

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Former GP2 racer Ricky Shaw made his debut in the Stock Rod class recently and is expected to be joined on the grid shortly by Junior Rod Irish Champion Aaron Moody.

The programme of races at the RWS Alloy Wheel Repairs supported fixture is completed by the Group Two Lightning Rod, Euro Stocks and Junior Rod classes.

The first race gets underway in the Ballymena Showgrounds at 7:15pm.