Mondello Park, 26 April 2009
Dan the Man Wins Final
Brian Kelly proved himself to be the rainmaster during qualifying at Mondello park. He consistently lapped three seconds quicker than everyone else to take pole from Mark Horan, Dan Polley, Adam Mcauley, Stephen Kershaw, and Robert Casey. Everyone else went into the heat, which was won by Robbie Allen from Jimmy Furlong, and Gordon Hanlon.
Kelly was away quickest away at the start and held his advantage. Kershaw was slow off the line and then spun as he turned Honda. Roy Hanlon and Paddy Cahill were also off in the opening turn causing the field to split into two as the leading racers pulled away. Dave O Brien and Willie Callahgan were racing together while Paul Homer making his first appearance this year was at the front of a big group of racers.
Horan kept the pressure on Kelly in the opening laps but was unable to get past the Champion, Polley sat in a fairly comfortable third place behind the leading duo. Mcauley was under severe pressure from Casey at every corner. Allen and Furlong were having a great dice at the back of the pack. The race ended early for Callaghan and O Brien when they came together approaching Dunlop on lap six. The Homer group was now seven strong as the recovering Kershaw caught the group that included Mick Sammon, Gordon Hanlon, along with rookies Javier Perant, Lloyd Murphy, and Noel Cooley. The racing was tight here and they were four abreast several times going down the straight.
The lead changed on lap eight. Horan got a good run out of Dunlop and pulled alongside Kelly on the straight. The pair both braked as late as possible for Honda, and as they ran a bit wide Polley seized his chance and took the lead. Kelly tried his best to resist for a couple of corners but to no avail. Horan spun to lose more time. The pressure of Casey on Mcauley finally paid off a few laps after when he forced a mistake and took the place. Allen had been quiet for most of the race near the back of the leading group but came to life in the closing stages. He worked his way up to 2nd place as the race started the last lap but his speed caught him out. He clipped the car of Polley and for the second Mondello race in a row ended his day in the Honda gravel trap. Kershaw worked his way to the front of the chasers and carried Sammon, Homer and Pernant with his from the main bunch.
Polley held on for his first win in a national final from Kelly and Casey. Furlong was 4th and again took top points from Mcauley (5th) in the B Championship. Pernat (10th) took top spot in the The SuperValu & Centra Formula VEE Novice Championship ahead of Murphy (11th) and Cooley(12th) who finished together further back.
