Win for James at All Ireland Autograss Series event

THE Down Autograss Club were host to the first round of the 2010 All Ireland Autograss Series over the weekend, with just over 90 competitors in total racing over the two days.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th May 2010, 09:58 BST
Updated 24th May 2010, 11:46 BST

Visiting drivers from the Republic of Ireland and even a few from Scotland and Wales made for some fierce racing.

As always, a few local drivers were in the mix and brought home some silverware. In class 1, Kinallen’s James Jess took a somewhat unexpected overall win in his new Mini, just one point ahead of welsh driver Jeff Hope-Davies in his always competitive Citroen AX.

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James was consistently quick throughout the heats bar one poor result on sunday morning, and second in the final was enough to claim the first place trophy.

Elsewhere in Class 1, Down Autograss Championship leader Matt Jess was surprisingly off the pace in a few of his heats and finished up fourth overall when all was done and dusted.

In the junior category Loughbrickland’s Christopher McCracken was back on form after having such bad luck at the first three rounds of this year’s club championship, taking an overall win in the class.

It didn't come easy though as he had to fight his way from fourth to the first in the final, passing brother Jonny and Kinallen’s Scott McNeill in the process. Once in front, Christopher was simply able to keep an eye on them and drive steadily.

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McNeill managed second overall from the weekend, but could have been higher placed was it not for a green flag docking him two places for an incident with Jonny McCracken.

Jonny finished up fourth overall but again could have been placed higher should he not have been taken out in the final, which damaged his score severely.

The weekend’s racing counted for points the All Ireland Series, and Down Autograss Championship resumes on Saturday June 12. Head to www.downautograss.com for more information.