International Supersports Cup racing, for sports racing cars manufactured between 1966 and 1974, plus a Supersprint race for ex-Formula 1/3000 cars will be quite an attraction at Mondello Park on Sunday.
Especially exciting for their sound and speed will be the famous CanAm McLaren and other sports racing cars including Lola and Chevron. Another cross-channel attraction will be Formula 2 and Formula Ford 1600 cars from the '70s. Irish championship classes include Dunlop Formula Vee in which reigning champion Brian Hearty (Dundalk) leads on 200 points from Ray Moore (Dublin) on 174.
All races will be over the 1.73 miles intermediate circuit, except the International Supersports Cup, which will be run over the international circuit of 2.25 miles.
Sunday's third annual Leitrim motorcycle road races will be run over the 4.2-mile circuit located just a few miles north of Carrickon-Shannon, and for which the lap record is held by Adrian Archibald at 96.02 m.p.h., set last year.
Double race winner Richard Britton and Archibald top the entry, which includes Gary Dynes, Denis McCullough and Owen McNally.
Joey Dunlop is listed as a provisional entry. The Ulsterman recently won two races at Skerries - averaging 103.02 m.p.h. to beat Archibald and Dynes in the Grand Final.
He also set a sensational new 105.95 m.p.h. lap record. Not bad for a racing veteran of 47!
Damien Faulkner of Moville, Co Donegal, has two weekend Formula Palmer Audi races at Donington Park in the British midlands. Three Ulstermen are in the first four placings - Richard Lyons (Hillsborough) leads on 90 points after round eight of the championship, from double Mondello winner Richard Tarling (Henley-on-Thames) 86 points; Tim Mullen (Portadown) 78 and Faulkner 73.
Michael Keohane (19) of Clonakilty, Co Cork, has Formula Europa Euro and British rounds also at Donington, and a British round at Snetterton on Sunday week. He won a British round with two second places at Pembrey in Wales, and was recently sixth on the high speed Hockenheim Grand Prix Circuit.
Back home, other events at the weekend include two-day motorcycle grasstrack racing at Lough Muckno Leisure Park, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, and a round of the National Autocross Championship at Ballinahowan, which is located off the Athlone-Birr road (N62) six miles from both Athlone and Ferbane. In answer to numerous inquiries, yes - the annual Phoenix Park motor races will take place this year, on August 21st and 22nd and NOT on August 14th and 15th as originally listed. Motorcycle demonstrations by two world championship winners are included in the programme.
Full details will be announced shortly.
