Sport

Chase for points hits fever pitch

MOTORSPORT/Weekend preview: As the race and rally season draws to a close the chase for championship points is on in a big way…

Brian Foley
Sat Aug 09 2003 - 01:00

MOTORSPORT/Weekend preview: As the race and rally season draws to a close the chase for championship points is on in a big way this weekend.

Two rounds each of the premier Formula Ireland racing league, and also the Dunlop Super Car Championship and Fiat Punto Abarth Cup are featured at Mondello Park on Super Race Sunday.

After seven rounds, Paul Dagg on 66 points is the Formula Ireland leader, followed by Alan Dwyer (54), Paul Sammin (53), John O'Hara (52) and Emmet Queenan (51).

In the Dunlop saloon series Pat Donegan, on 114 points, leads from his brother David (95), Robbie Bolger (84), Brendan Donegan (75), Noel Dunne and Morgan Dempsey Jnr (69 each).

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The Fiat Punto Abarth Cup is firmly between Liam Denning on 115 points and Karl Leonard (83). Denning has five wins to Leonard's four, and they are the only drivers to record wins this season.

Today's Mondello meeting offers lots of variety, and close racing, especially in Formula Sheane Rover and Formula Vee, plus the visiting Welsh sports cars and Special saloons. In Strykers the lead is shared by Keith Dawson and Frank Cassidy on 70 points each. Sonja Fildes is third on 40.

With just four rounds remaining the battle for the Dunlop National Rally Championship is between Michael Barrable (Dublin) on 108 points and Eugene Donnelly (Magherafelt) on 98.

Barrable has scored two wins out of the six rounds held to date. Donnelly has contested five rounds, scoring four wins and one second. Barrable will really have to be on the pace to keep Donnelly at bay in tomorrow's Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, which he won last year. Donnelly has a busy weekend as he drives a Toyota Celica in today's Dogleap Rally in Limavady, and a Subaru in the Tipperary event, which is run out of Clonmel and covers 3x3 stages at Lisnamuck, Lavally and Colman, with servicing at the Tipperary Raceway near Cashel.

The Stonethrowers also includes a round of the Ford Ka Rally Championship.

WEEKEND FIXTURES: Today - MEC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 2pm.

Tomorrow - Tipperary LC & MCC, Stonethrowers Rally, starts Clonmel, 10 am; MEC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 2pm