MOTOR RACING: Details of the the Phoenix Park motor races, celebrating their centenary year, were announced yesterday, writes Brian Foley.
This year's event, on August 16-17th, sponsored by Swiftpost and promoted by Motorsport Ireland, is organised by the Irish Motor Racing Club and Leinster Motor Club, with additional support from Fáilte Ireland and Irish Dunlop.
Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue said yesterday he was delighted the Government, through Fáilte Ireland's International Sports Tourism Initiative, was supporting the races. "This colourful event has a rich tradition and is the world's oldest motor sport event," the Minister said.
"The two-day festival stands as an excellent example of the diverse sports tourism attractions that our capital city has to offer."
Set in the scenic surrounds of the Phoenix Park, the event is expected to attract hundreds of overseas visitors to Dublin and serve as another tourism boost for the capital.
In addition to a full programme of races, Michael Cullen will do demonstration laps in a one-time Michael Schumacher Formula One Ferrari, and Cullen's father, Des, who has raced in every Phoenix Park meeting since beginning a career that spans a remarkable six decades, will put the 1 million, 220mph latest Ferrari Enzo through its paces.
Having raced in Formula Renault in Britain, Irish driver Matthew Griffin recognised that to compete successfully in any of the professional formula series would require a budget that was outside his reach. He therefore made the somewhat unusual change from formula racing to sportscar racing, and his main thrust was to race for Morgan at Le Mans.
The Morgan deal did not materialise and he signed with the GruppeM Tech 9 outfit to race a Porsche 996 GT3 in the British GT Championship. And what a successful switch it's been for the Cork driver.
Griffin is the overall leader of the GT Cup, along with co-driver Patrick Pearse, with six wins, six poles and five fastest laps out of the first seven rounds.
They lead with a score of 165 points from Neill Cunningham (122) and Jeff Wyatt (85).
The British GT Championship will have two rounds this weekend at Rockingham in Northamptonshire.
"This will be the first time I have been to The Rock," said Griffin yesterday.
"I am really looking forward to the challenge of racing on part of the oval (banked) track and I think the circuit will suit our car well with its long straights and tight hairpins."
Dublin driver Patrick Hogan races at Snetterton, Norfolk, this weekend in the first double- header of the Formula Zip (Ford) season. He lies seventh in the series.
FIXTURES: Saturday - IKC, Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 10 a.m.; Killarney & District MC, Autocross, Farranfore, Co Kerry, 12 noon.
Sunday: IKC, Kart Racing, Mondello Park, 10 a.m.; Killarney & District MC, Autocross, Farranfore, Co Kerry, 12 noon. North-East MC, Autocross, Ballybay-Cootehill Road, Co Cavan, 12 noon; MRCCI, Midget Car Racing, Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, 2 p.m.
