Phoenix Park, 8/9 August 2009
Newsome & Allen take Park Glory
Race 1
Defending champion John Stapleton took the pole for the 2009 Park races from
Ken Elliott, Garry Newsome and Robbie Allen but his start was terrible as he
got bogged down off the line allowing Newsome up the inside on the long run
down to Dublin corner. Elliott then passed Stapleton around the outside at
the apex. Allen was boxed in and could go nowhere; Robbie Parkes (Springey),
and Lloyd Murphy both squeezed past. Two drivers starting at the back of the
grid David Parkes, and Dave Heavey made several places each off the start.
Allen retook Springey up the inside at the Furry Glen and got a good run at
Stapleton making a further place on the straight at the end of the lap.
Newsome led from Elliott, Murphy, Allen, Stapleton, Springey, and Heavey. Pat
Farrelly went off at Mountjoy and rejoined but well back from the pack.
Elliott ran wide at the Furry Glen and let Murphy through. This let Newsome
get a break on the pack and he started to pull away. Allen and Elliott were
able to pass Murphy on lap four. Parkes had joined the main bunch at this
stage and was soon making his way to the front of the group. Mark Horan was
also in the bunch and the 2nd place battle was now no fewer than eight cars.
Newsome was in a class of his own and seemingly uncatchable. Elliott lost a
lot of places a lap later after going wide again at the Furry Glen. Parkes
had by this stage passed his brother and was challenging Allen for second
place.
Horan went up the back of Stapleton's car on lap eight after a missed gear
and splintered the lead group, while further back the road Ger Byrne, Tim O
Flaherty, and Aidan Byrne (no relation) were having a great race together. O
Flaherty spun on lap eight to break up the partnership and Aidan eventually
got the better of Ger. Parkes and Allen traded places with each other in the
closing laps. Elliott and Springey behind were unable to challenge the duo;
Horan had recovered from his aerial excursion and was back in the bunch.
Stapleton hit the chicane on the last lap ending his race.
Newsome held on for a convincing win from Allen and David Parkes. Elliott,
Springey and Horan filled the minor places. Murphy got a respectable finish
in his first Park
Race 2
The grid for Sundays final as the same as before and the start played out the
same. Stapleton had a terrible getaway. Elliott and Newsome went either side
of the UK based driver while Allen got past too, Newsome leading. Elliott
clipped the chicane but was lucky to get away with it, his car lifted a fair
height but dropped again. Murphy and Allen raced side by side to the Furry
Glen but Allen held the inside and the place. Stapleton was passed by plenty
of cars as his opening laps were a repeat of the morning's race.
Allen tracked Elliott for a lap but then had better drive through Ordanence
Survey and he was ahead by the braking for Mountjoy. Elliott showed his
mettle by repassing Allen under braking for Dublin. Back the order Heavey was
trying to improve his race position. He passed Mark Dineen and Stapleton in
the same corner and was able to join the back of the leaders. Newsome was
still well in front from Allen, Elliott, Murphy, Horan, and Springey.
The race changed on lap four. Stephen Kershaw passed Ger Byrne as he headed
for the chicane but the 09 championship leader lost gears in he middle of the
chaicne, and Byrne went over his back wheels. He spun on landing but was able
to right the car and continue. Kershaw pulled over to the right trying to
keep out of harms way and get the car back to the pits. Stapleton came up
behind him with Parkes following. Stapo pulled out to go round Kershaw at the
very moment Parkes was about to go past. Parkes veered left only to hit a
bank in a cloud of dust. The safety car was deployed and Newsome's good lead
evaporated.
When the race restarted Allen matched the pace of Newsome and the pair pulled
away. Horan and Murphy tangled at Dublin corner and both fell to the back.
Elliott, Springey, Stapleton and Heavey were now the main chasers but the
leaders were getting away. Allen got past Newsome several times only to be
retaken at the next corner as the pair entertained the crowd with their gutsy
driving.
Disaster struck on the last lap when the car of Newsome died at Dublin
corner. Allen nearly hit him as he lost drive but squeezed past and into the
lead. Flames spewed from Newsome's exhaust as he tried to restart the car but
it was to no avail. His day was finished. Elliott was promoted to second
place. Stapleton made a further place on the last lap passing Springey to get
himself onto the podium. Heavey got a great result in 5th from the back of
the grid while the recovering Murphy finished 6th.
Robbie Allen gets his hands on the Emmerson Fittipaldi Trophy for the first
time. The Formula VEE's would like to thank the team that organised the races
this year, and hopefully they are now back on the calendar permanently.