Sport

Racing diaspora continues to score impressive results

Motor Sport Column Irish racers abroad continue to put in impressive performances, the diaspora grabbing a clutch of stunning…

Brian Foley
Fri May 14 2004 - 01:00

Motor Sport ColumnIrish racers abroad continue to put in impressive performances, the diaspora grabbing a clutch of stunning results last weekend.

Dubliner Michael Devaney, won his first Formula Three race in round three of the German Formula Three Cup at the Oschersleben circuit last weekend, to become, at 19, the youngest Irish driver to claim an F3 victory.

After the first four rounds Devaney is second in the championship, only seven points behind the leader. This is a quite remarkable achievement as Devaney, racing for JB Motorsport, has had little or no pre-season testing due to a late start in the championship. His next two races are at Assen in Holland on May 22nd and 23rd.

Fellow Dubliner Paddy Hogan took his first podium position of the prestigious British Formula Renault Championship at Silverstone on Sunday. The 19-year-old finished third in the weekend's second race, a performance for which he was duly rewarded with the Elf-Atol driver-of-the-day accolade in the series which launched the Formula One career of no less a star than Kimi Raikkonen.

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Hogan and his Manor Motorsport team will now look to score more podium places at Oulton Park on May 22nd/23rd.

Eoin Murray, the current Dunlop Sexton Trophy Young Racing Driver of the year award winner, was recently second in a round of the European Alfa Challenge at Magny Cours in France. The young Dublin driver may only be seventh in the championship, but is rapidly climbing towards the front of this very competitive saloon series. He will race again at Hockenheim this weekend.

Charlie Donnelly (Naas) has been nominated Young Racing Driver of The Month for April. Donnelly (20), was runner-up in the 2002 Young Racing Driver of The Year award and was also selected for the monthly award in April last year.

Donnelly won this April's award for scoring victory and setting fastest lap in the opening round of the UK Formula Ford Championship at Donington.

This weekend 38 Irish drivers race at Donington Park in the UK on Sunday. Brian Hearty, on 40 points, leads Dermot Doherty (30) with reigning champion Matt Dunne, on 18 - tied with Niall Hourigan and David Hall - after the first two rounds of the 10-round Formula Sheane Championship.

Fourteen of the Rover-powered cars built by David Sheane at his engineering works in Wicklow will compete in round three at Donington.

The majority of the 24 Volkswagen-powered Formula Vee cars entered are also built by Sheane Engineering, but they will face strong competition from championship leader Paul Heavey, the Kildare constructor of Leastone cars. Declan Quigley, Robbie Parks and Brian Kelly will also be looking for a UK win

FIXTURES: Saturday and Sunday:- Co Kildare MC, 4x4 Trial, Granard, Co.Longford, 12 p.m.

Sunday:- Munster MC & CC, Forestry Stages Rally, starts Midleton Park Hotel, Co Cork, 8 a.m.; Munster MC & CC, Kart Racing, Watergrasshill, Co Cork, 11 a.m.; Castle AC, Autocross, Athboy, Co Meath, 12 p.m.; MRCCI, Midget Car Racing, Swords, Co.Dublin (TBC) 2.30 p.m.