By Donal O’Neill
SATURDAY marks the start of the car and superkart season at Kirkistown Race Circuit in County Down.
A massive 18-race programme is scheduled, including the 2025 Martin Donnelly Trophy Race for Formula Ford 1600, which was postponed last September, due to bad weather.
This will be the second of two races in this class, and some big names are entered. Those hoping to get their names on the trophy, some for yet another time, include Portadown’s Noel Robinson, Mullingar’s Jordan Dempsey, Kill’s Morgan Quinn and Dunloy’s Ronan Doherty.
Keeping a very close watch on these guys, but in older machinery, are Dave Parks, from Ballina, Philip Harris, from Ballynahinch, and the evergreen Randalstown Rocket, Alan Davidson.
One outsider, who might be worth watching, is Ben Smith, from Ballymena. This will be his first day racing FF1600s. However, he has been very quick in testing.
Although not expected, if it was to rain, he would be a contender, as most of his testing has been in the wet.
The ever-entertaining legends are back for three races, and these colourful, noisy cars are surprisingly quick.
They have silhouettes of 5/8th size 1930s American Stock Cars and are powered by 1,250cc Yamaha engines. They are all equal in power and have the aerodynamic qualities of a brick, so drafting becomes essential and that makes for great racing.
Jamie Moylan, from Naas, is making a rare appearance, and he will not be going out just to make up numbers, but he will face great opposition in Kilkenny’s Scott Jackson, Dublin’s Michael Barrable and North Dublin’s Gordon Brown, amongst others in the 11 car field. Local interest is focused on Richard Spence, from Ballymena.
The Superkarts are producing the biggest grid of the day, offering a total of three races, and all the usual top names are entered, albeit with an interesting change or two.
Veteran 250cc Superkart driver Colin Menary, from Bangor, has stepped down into the 125cc class, where he will hope to give the Prince of Kirkistown, Scott Greenaway some tough opposition.
Other top names in the smaller class include Eoin Ryan, from Cashel, Stuart Coey, from Comber, and Alan Witherow, from Newtownards.
In the 250cc class, it looks to be a battle between Liam Fox, from Moira, Richard Dewart, from Waringstown, and Brian Jones, from Craigavon.
At the time of writing, there is no entry from Aaron Newell, who was unbeatable at Kirkistown last year.
Formula Vee are making their first of two trips to Kirkistown this year. Their entry is lower than normal, with only 14 cars entered, but most of the usual contenders are there, including Lucan’s Conor Melia, Tinahely’s Jack Byrne and Dublin drivers Kieran Hannan and Gavin Buckley.
The Roadsports are joined by Global GTs, forming an 11-car field. The Roadsports honours will be fought over by Newtownabbey’s Jim Larkham and Youghall’s Mike Ward, both in Radical PR6s, as well as Arnie Black, from Banbridge, in his quick Crosslé 37s.
The Global GTs are wide open, as all of the entrants are potential winners. Charlie Linnane, from Kilmacanogue, has loads of experience at the front, while Jack Conaghy, from Newry, is making the step up from Minis, where he was very competitive.
Richard Finlay, from Larne, is a previous winner, Newry’s Peter Drennan is very quick and Cameron Fenton, from Greystones, will be at the front, likely alongside Strangford’s Ethan Campbell.
The Kirkistown Fiestas have a small field, and Neville Anderson, from Banbridge, is expected to come out on top.
The Modi-5-Cup Mazdas have a medium-sized field. Craig Ewing, from Dundonald, is the favourite, but he will not find it easy, with Crossmaglen’s Rob Kennedy and Loughinisland’s Paul McAlinden snapping at his heels.
There has been a lot of building and selling going on within the Kirkistown Mini World, over the winter.
The 2025 Champion, Taylor Frizzell, from Ballyclare, has a new car, which has had no testing yet, while James Turkington, from Portadown, makes a welcome return, and he is out to win.
Lisnaskea driver Darren Gilmore has had a fraught off-season, having had a garage fire which destroyed much of his equipment. Luckily, his Mini was not in that garage.
The Stewart Brothers, Mark and Paul, from Belfast, are back and will also be contenders.
Bangor’s Stephen Potter produced his car late last season and was not far from leading pace. He has had all winter to get it fettled to his liking, so watch out for him at the front.
Craig Gilmore, from Ballyhalbert, is a front runner and John Williamson, from Newtownabbey, has bought Frizzell’s 2025 car.
The first race will get underway at 10:45am this Saturday.
