Kellett and Barrable Share Zetec Wins at Mondello “Fiestaval”

The Keelan Construction Fiesta Zetec Championship returned to Mondello Park in County Kildare last weekend and as ever, the budget saloon class provided great entertainment.
Series leader William Kellett was on top form and having completed just four laps in qualifying, he sat in the pitlane for the remainder of the session as the others tried in vain to better his laptime, which was just a tenth off the class lap record. They didn’t manage it and the DMC/Carzone machine would start race one from pole position.
The Meath youngster made no mistakes when the lights went out, rocketing off the line as reigning champion Owen Purcell dropped back, allowing Wayne Laverick onto Kellett’s tail. Predictably, Purcell fought his way up to second, but could do nothing about the flying Kellett, crossing the line a distant second. Darren Lawlor drove well to take third.
Aimee Woods had a superb run to sixth place, earning herself pole position for the second race. When the lights changed, she made no mistakes to lead the pack down into turn one. With huge support from the large Dundalk contingent on the pitwall, the Shaky Bills liveried SWR Fiesta looked unflustered as they approached middle distance. Collie Barrable though, had other ideas and having moved up to second, eventually found a gap on the exit of turn one. To Aimee’s credit she sat it out doorhandle to doorhandle through turn two but found herself boxed out at the double right hander which followed, dropping her down the order. At the flag, a delighted Barrable took his second win of the year, despite massive late race pressure from a charging Kellett, up from sixth on the grid. Ulick Burke drove superbly to take the final podium position, having started last on the grid, while Woods recovered to seventh by the end.

The Zetec Fiestas also took part in the Fiesta Team Race, part of the weekend’s fund raising efforts for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.  Sean Woods, driving daughter Aimee’s car led the Zetec portion of the race for the duration but retired with a puncture in the closing stages, letting Alistair Kellett through. when the team points were totted up though, Barry John McHenry, in William Kellett’s car, and Brian Flanagan were the winners.  Figures are still being totted up, but it appears almost €10,000 was raised for the charity, over what was a hugely successful weekend.

Rounds 11 & 12 of the Keelan Construction Fiesta Zetec Championship take place at  Mondello Park on September 14/15, where just a handful of points in the first race will see Kellett crowned as 2019 Champion.

William Kellett “An incredible weekend for me in Mondello. Managed to convert my pole position to a win in race one which left me 6th on the grid for race two. After a titanic 8 car scrap for the lead I managed to come out of with a second place. A massive thanks to all my sponsors for another great weekend”

Leo Nulty, Fiesta Zetec Championship Manager. “Good hard racing all weekend. The cars all looked great and our technical clampdown continues, hence the close, competitive racing!  The Fiestaval weekend was a huge success and is sure to become an annual event. I would like to thank Mondello Management, the Kildare club and Motorsport Ireland for facilitating us with our various fund raising activities over the weekend!”

Images from Michael Chester