Race report - Formula 5

Mondello 01-07-07

Kreshaw Wins

Last weekend saw Stephen Kershaw take the Formula 5 spoils in race one while race two was cancelled due to time constraints. The weekend began poorly when teenage sensation Mark Reade was forced to pull out when he damaged his engine during Saturdays test. Ronan Healy made a welcome return to the series after missing the first 4 rounds due to work commitments, while John Downey was a notable absentee due to family commitments.

Kershaw was easily the fastest car in qualifying with Healy being his closest challenger. During Saturday testing Healy displayed good speed in wet conditions but the lack of track time showed in the dry conditions of qualifying. David Heavey’s run of bad luck continued when he pulled off after one lap due to an oil pressure issue.

Kershaw maintained his advantage on the opening lap, while Healy was in the thick of a heated battle with fellow Formula Libre runners. Heavey, starting from the pit lane having not completed a qualifying lap, tore up through the tail enders and soon had Kershaw in his sights.

Kershaw was somewhat hampered by a much more powerful, yet somewhat slower Libre runner and as the laps wound on, Heavey was edging closer and closer. He just caught the two car battle on lap 6 when he headed pitwards with a broken exhaust, adding another DNF to his disappointing season.

Two laps later and the skies above Mondello opened with a massive down pour. Kershaw took advantage of this and passed some of the more powerful runners while Ronan Healy showed great speed and began to work his way up the leaderboard. Unfortunately for him, the green machine of Kershaw was too far up the road for him to have any hope of worrying the Swordsman.

Despite horrendous conditions and the entire field running on slicks, it took the organisers four laps to bring proceedings to a halt. While many cars left the track and suffered damage, Kershaw and Healy kept sensible heads and brought their cars home for what was Kershaw’s 5th class win of the season.

Just 2 races before the 2nd Libre race was due to hit the track, news filtered down that the race had to be abandoned due to time constraints. Much to the disappointment of the Formula 5 competitors.

The Formula 5’s team up with Formula Libre for the non-champiionship event around the Phoenix Park on the 11/12th of August before enjoying a break before their next championship round at Anglesey in Wales on the 9/10th of September. result.