Three Irish drivers will contest the EFDA (European Formula Drivers Association) Winter Series in Britain and Germany. Mark Kershaw (Brittas, Co Dublin) and Michael Keohane (Clonakilty, Co Cork) will race Formula Opels under the banner of Status Motorsport and Karl Lennon (Dublin) will be run by Castrol Cliff Dempsey Racing.
Kershaw and Keohane both had a race win this year in the Irish series and have raced previously at Donington Park but never at Hockenheim, the home of the German Grand Prix. After the weekend's opener at Donington the Hockenheim races take place on October 22nd/24th and November 6th/7th. Keohane (18) plans to compete full time in the European Formula Opel Championship in 1999. Lennon, who won this year's Irish Formula Vee C Championship, jumps in at the deep end and it will be a learning curve for the former karting competitor.
With two races to run in the Formula Palmer Audi series, Co Donegal driver Damien Faulkner knows that his championship chances are gone. Nonetheless, Faulkner can grab third, but he needs trouble free drives in the final two races at Donington this weekend.
Dublin driver Ray Moore (38) has won the British Formula Vee Festival for the second time, his first was in 1996. He has also won the Irish Formula Vee Festival twice. Moore drives a Leastone, designed and built by Paul Heavey at Kilmeague, Co Kildare. To add to Moore's success, a second Leastone driven by John Stapleton won the British Formula Vee B Championship to make it a clean sweep for the Irish cars. Having been used as a motocross venue since the mid-80s, the popular Johnstown Moto Parc at Johnstown, Naas will host its last events over the next two Sundays. The Irish Schoolboy Motor Cycle Club will be seeking an alternative venue for 1999. Sunday's Eamonn Walsh Memorial event, for adult riders, features the final MCUI championship rounds. With four rounds to run, Ulsterman Andrew Perry is on target to win the All Ireland Trials Championship, while Southern riders Michael Burton and Eric O'Sullivan continue to lead Grades B and C, respectively. After tomorrow's Shaw Cup Trial near Dromara, Co Down, the remaining rounds are: November 1st - Dublin University Bush Cup; November 14th - Ards MCC Turner Trophy; November 29th - MEC Stanley Woods Trophy.
