Kirkistown, 28 March 2009
O Brien Wins Thriller
Dave O Brien won a thrilling race in the FDS Worldwide Express Formula VEE National Championship at Kirkistown on Saturday where any of the top five could have tasted victory.
Trevor Delaney started on pole from Stephen Kershaw, Brian Kelly and O Brien. Kershaw had a poor getaway and lost a couple of places but Kelly had the best start and led into the first corner. Kershaw was soon in his stride and back in front by the hairpin. He led a few laps but the racing was breathtaking behind the leader as Delaney, Kelly, and O Brien, swapped positions corner by corner in a classic Kirkistown slipstreaming race.
All four managed to lead midrace but the position changing went on corner by corner. There were ten cars in the leading train but those at the back were left hanging on by the leaders pace and were only briefly into the top positions, never for long.
Kershaw led on the last lap from Delaney and O Brien with a slight gap to Kelly, and Robbie Allen but that all changed on the final straight, as he came to the hairpin Delaney shot up his left. Kershaw moved over slightly to defend, as he did so O Brien challenged to his right. The three cars headed for the hairpin side by side as Kelly closed in behind. O Brien was able to hold the tight line and the advantage. Delaney was out widest and was passed by Kelly. The leaders were side by side as they crossed the line with victory for O Brien from Kershaw and Kelly. All three were within 8 hundreds of a second of each other.
Delaney now leads the Championship by a point from Kelly with O Brien a further point back as they head for Mondello Park on April 26
