Race report - Irish Vee

Mondello 01- 07- 07

Poduim for Elliott

Ken Elliott and the Leastone team suffered frustrating lows before enjoying great highs last weekend as Elliott struggled in damp conditions for the qualifier but then stormed from 17th to 3rd in the main race with a stunning drive. Mondello Park suffered mixed conditions all day, with torrential rain one minute and blistering sunshine the next, making ideal set-up virtually impossible.

Qualifying was not exception and with the rain stopping just prior to the green light everyone knew it was going to be down to the last lap on the drying track. Elliott was always circulating within the top ten with the timing screen varying drastically with each lap. Coming into the final crucial laps, Elliott caught traffic exactly where he didn’t need it and ended up an unlucky 8th.

This put him on the front row of the qualifier and he duly took the lead on the run to turn one. Elliott then began to streak away on the opening half of the lap but his efforts proved a little too eager as he ran wide exiting the Esses, dropping him down the order. He began his fightback but once again the tricky conditions caught him out dropping him further down the field. A third off course excursion while overtaking caused him to come home a disappointing 8th, putting him 15th on the grid for the main event.


The final was held in similar damp conditions and Elliott knew that a level head was needed. He made a stunning start and picked up numerous places on the opening lap and as the race settled down, he began picking off the places one by one. Gradually he edged his way up the leader board, looking far more comfortable with the car. With 3 laps remaining Elliott snuck his way onto the podium and even though he was slowly catching the second place man, he had to settle for third when the chequered flag flew.

“This is a great result, given how we started the day. After the heat it was time to rethink some things and I was far more comfortable in the final. There is still work to do but this is exactly what we needed going to Brands” said Elliott of his tremendous display.

The Irish Formula Vee championship joins its UK counterpart for the Formula Vee festival on the 28/29th of July where they will have a double header as well as contest the popular Vee festival. Elliott will be looking to draw on the knowledge he gained during two seasons of UK racing to put himself back on the top step.