Mondello Park, 9th May 2010

Dan Polley was the latest winner of a race in this years Pony Express Formula VEE National Championship at Mondello Park on Sunday. Brian Kelly, and Robert Casey filled the podium.

Robert Casey secured another pole position for himself in 2010 and started ahead of Polley, Brian Kelly, Ray Moore, Trevor Delaney, and Dave O'Brien. Heat winner Stephen Kershaw and Robbie Allen followed.

Casey was by his own admission quick off the line but Polley started like a rocket passing Casey even before the pair got to Honda. Delaney got up the inside of Moore and the pair banged wheels as they went down the straight. Moore got a puncture and struggled to turn in at Honda. Delaney was still on the inside and the pair came together. Moore went skywards and further damaged his car on landing. The championship leader was out of the race early. Delaney lost places when O'Brien and Kershaw passed him before the end of the lap.

Polley and Casey were away at the front such was their pace, Casey was pushing Polley all the way as he tried every lap, indeed every corner to pass but to no avail. Kelly and O'Brien were determined not to let them get too far ahead, and after a couple of laps rejoined the leading pair to make a foursome again. Kershaw had been tracking the leaders with Allen. Delaney joined the pair a few laps in and the trio now attempted to catch the leaders. Delaney passed both cars t lead the charge. Back the road Damien Murphy was showing good speed for a novice, he headed a group that included Ger Byrne and Adam Macauley.

The pressure was all coming from Casey as the race progressed; Polley however was more than a match for his efforts. Kelly was still sitting tight in 3rd. O'Brien was starting to come under pressure from Delaney who joined the leaders on lap eleven. He tracked 'OBrien for two laps before passing him on the run to the country. Macauley joined Kershaw and Allen the same lap. He had struggled for power all day but the engine seemed to pick up in the closing laps. Byrne and Callaghan were next along who had Mick Sammon in tow. Murphy had dropped a few places running wide and fell back.

Casey had been trying down the outside at Honda all race long, and it was his undoing three laps from the end, he clipped Polleys wheel and went wide on the grass. Kelly swept past as he tried to recover but he all was not lost as he rejoined ahead of Delaney. Polley got a breather at the front. Kelly, Casey and Delaney were now fighting for the podium places. Casey applied the same pressure he's metered out to Polley all race but the champion was not going to give up the points. O'Brien fell away from the leading bunch. Roy Hanlon and Tim O'Flaherty came together at Honda on the last lap, both out of the race.

Polley was delighted to take his 1st win of the season, at the same meeting where he won last year. Kelly, and Casey followed him home, Delaney trying his best to grab a podium place on the run to the line but Casey held on.

Results

Heat(12 Laps)

1. Stephen Kershaw
2. Robbie Allen
3. Ger Byrne
4. Damian Murphy
5. Adam Macauley
6. Ger Callaghan

Pole: Stephen Kershaw
Lap: Ger Byrne 1-02.474

Full Results from MyLaps.com

Final (15 Laps)

1. Dan Polley
2. Brian Kelly
3. Robert Casey
4. Trevor Delaney
5. Dave O'Brien
6. Stephen Kershaw

Pole: Robert Casey
Lap: Trevor Delaney 1-01.397
Class Winners:
Ger Byrne
David Kelly

Full Results from MyLaps.com

Race Video