Shane grabs record-breaking fourth Irish title

On a rain soaked track Glarryford's Shane Gault captured the Group Two title for a record breaking fourth time and Portadown racer Stewart Doak reclaimed the British crown he had previously held back in 2007.

In the other classes there was a heat and final double success for Alastair Bolton in the Stock Rod events, a feat that was matched by Moneymore's Caleb Howard in the Classic Hot Rod division.

NATIONAL HOT RODS

Two reverse grid qualifying races determined the starting positions for the British Championship Final and the first of these qualifiers brought a well earned victory for Northern Ireland Champion John Christie in his Vauxhall Tigra. Keith Martin and Stewart Doak followed the winner home in that one and it was Portadown ace Doak who motored home well ahead of the field in race two.

The two heat winners shared the front row of the grid for the final and the pair had race fans on the edge of their seats as they battled side by side over the opening tours. Doak eventually eased his Cirrus Plastics backed Vauxhall Tigra ahead as Christie dropped back to third behind Glenn Bell.

The trio then treated the spectators to a demonstration of expert car control as they circulated the slippery track a matter of inches apart in a superb exhibition of close Hot Rod racing. Despite all the pressure from behind Doak held his nerve and coolly controlled things from the front to become British Champion for the second time.

Bell was forced to settle for the runner-up spot once again with Christie tight on his back bumper in third. Cork driver Shane Murphy was the first visitor home in fourth, with the top six completed by Keith Martin and Mark Heatrick.

Qualifying Heat One: 1. John Christie (Crumlin), 2. Keith Martin (Dungannon), 3. Stewart Doak (Portadown)

Qualifying Heat Two: 1. Doak, 2. Wayne Woolsey (Portadown), 3. Christie

2010 British Championship: 1. Doak, 2. Glenn Bell (Portadown), 3. Christie, 4. Shane Murphy (Cork), 5. Martin, 6. Mark Heatrick (Portadown)

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

Twenty one cars contested the HSS Hire / Kirkwood Coaches sponsored Irish Championship race. Shane Gault smoothly eased into the lead from pole position with Kenny Carson moving through from row two of the grid to challenge the leader.

The front two gradually pulled away from the rest of the field where a tough battle for third was being fought out between David Gillespie, Stewart Nicholl, Lyle Murray and Nigel Doherty.

A crash at Suffolk bend involving Gary Thompson and James Goldie resulted in a caution period to clear the track before the race was restarted again to complete the remaining two laps. Carson almost sneaked through on the final turn, but Gault just retained his lead by half a car length to claim the title for an impressive fourth time. Carson was a very close second, with Gillespie in third. The support race went to David Wilson.

2010 Irish Championship: 1. Shane Gault (Glarryford), 2. Kenny Carson (Ballymena), 3. David Gillespie (Ballymena), 4. Stewart Nicholl (Kilrea), 5. Nigel Doherty (Garvagh), 6. David Wilson (Cullybackey)

Support Race: 1. Wilson, 2. Gareth Harkness (Cullybackey), 3. Liscinda Smyth (Cullybackey)

STOCK RODS

The 23 entries for the Stock Rod class included a number of visitors from Tipperary Raceway, but it was the locals who dominated the results. Freddie Laffin just managed to hold off a fast finishing Alastair Bolton and Micky McFall in heat one before Bolton registered victory in heat two after an entertaining tussle with Frankie Lynn.

The final had to be cut short due to time restrictions with Bolton’s Vauxhall Nova once again at the head of the field. William Laffin finished as runner-up with McFall third once more.

Heat One: 1. Freddie Laffin (Coleraine), 2. Alastair Bolton (Ballymoney), 3. Micky McFall (Craigywarren)

Heat Two: 1. Bolton, 2. Frankie Lynn (Cullybackey), 3. Phil Davey (Glengormley)

Final: 1. Bolton, 2. William Laffin (Coleraine), 3. McFall

CLASSIC HOT RODS

Stephen Nevin recorded another victory in the opening heat before Caleb Howard took the honours in heat two. Robin Morrow led the final until the half way mark in his Ford Anglia when Howard managed to find a way through at Suffolk bend. Once ahead Howard motored home in his Ford Escort Mk. 2 well ahead of runner-up Nevin with Morrow relegated to third by the chequered flag.

Heat One: 1. Stephen Nevin (Coleraine), 2. Kenny Wilson (Ballymena), 3. Caleb Howard (Moneymore)

Heat Two: 1. Howard, 2. Nevin, 3. Robin Morrow (Glenarm)

Final: 1. Howard, 2. Nevin, 3. Morrow

THIS WEEKEND

The short circuit action continues on Friday evening (September 24) when Raceway hosts the McMillan Travel sponsored Stock Rod Irish Championship for 2010.

Craigywarren’s Micky McFall has qualified on pole position for this one, with arch rival Raymond Harper alongside on the front row and a real battle is expected before the new champion is crowned. Round 6 of the National Hot Rod World Qualifying Series also features on the programme.

Portadown racer Stewart Doak took the British title at Raceway last weekend and will want to continue that winning streak in his powerful Vauxhall Tigra. Friday evening’s entertainment is completed by events for the Group Two Lightning Rods and Junior Rods with the first race getting underway in the Ballymena Showgrounds at 7:15pm.