Travers and Keogh Share Patch Tyre Equipment Junior MINI Spoils at Mondello Park

Rounds 3, 4, and 5 of the 2022 Patch Tyre Equipment Junior MINI Challenge took place at Mondello Park on September 10/11. Joining championship regulars on the grid was 14 year old karter Holly Dunnion. It was in at the deep end for Holly, having only recently received her car race licence, she had just two test sessions in the car on Friday- her first taste of a race car and her first taste of Mondello Park’s International circuit too.
Codey Keogh it was who took pole position, just ahead of series leader David Travers in the Mondello Park Scholarship car. A delighted Holly was third ahead of Luke Marmion, who was second in the title chase on the run up to the event.
With three Championship rounds over the weekend, and plenty of points up for grabs, it was Travers who crossed the line first in the opening race, adding to his points tally and increasing his championship lead. Keogh was second, posting notice of his intention by setting fastest lap. Holly had run third but a spin at Turn Three on the fourth lap had dropped her well back. She recovered well though, closing  Marmion down to cross the line on his back bumper, her fastest lap some three seconds faster than her qualifying time.

Races two and three were held on the Sunday of the event and to say the weather had got worse would be a massive understatement. There was standing water on the track and the rain barely eased all day, making it very difficult for the competitors. Codey Keogh though, was clearly relishing the wet track, as he pulled away to take a hugely impressive win, crossing the line almost 20 seconds ahead of Travers. Marmion was third whilst Holly was clearly struggling, an ABS issue meaning the rear brakes were locking, not ideal in any conditions, never mind in heavy rain.
In race three, Travers just held off a strong challenge from Keogh down into Maxus corner. Unfortunately though, he slid off at Lola corner dropping to the back of the field as he recovered. He eased past Dunnion and Marmion and took off after Keogh. Despite taking fastest lap, he ran out of time and crossed the line second, just 4.1 seconds behind double winner Keogh.

The Leinster Motor Club and ICCR had decided to award the Ann Stevens Memorial Trophy to the highest points scorer over the three races and it was a delighted Codey Keogh who accepted the beautiful trophy from LMC’s Trevor Kinsella on the podium after race three  (above). Image from Drew Furlong.

For more information on the Patch Tyre Junior MINI Challenge, including regulations and calendar, click HERE.

Action shots from Cregor Elliott