Motormouth’s Mutterings: Who is Your Money On, as Fiesta STs Head to Anglesey!

In a few week’s time, the Coffee 2 Go Fiesta ST class will be crossing the sea to have their first ever race at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales. Known as a drivers’ circuit, the circuit’s long back straight will allow the more powerful of the Fiesta one make classes to stretch their legs, whilst the technical section at the top of the hill and the plunging downhill Corkscrew section will keep drivers on their toes too!

Michael Cullen comes to Anglesey very much on the crest of a wave, having taken four wins at the last two ICCR Mondello Race Meetings in his Beacon Hospital/LOH Motorsport car. This means that, despite missing the opening April meeting, he heads the title standings. Kian O’Brien is his closest challenger, the young Dundalk driver having earned the praise of Cullen after a few door to door challenges already this season. His O’Brien Motorsport team have been working hard too on the Protune car (,which carries a tribute to the late Sean Woods,) and his first win in the series can’t be far away. (Interesting fact- O’Brien also leads the new Kirkistown based MINI series!) Darragh McMullen is, on dropped scores, closest to Cullen and he took both wins when Cullen was absent- he will be hoping for another strong showing in the Newtone car (below)

Next up in the title standings is Max Turley. Max is fast and spectacular, slightly raw perhaps, and always fantastic to watch. He fears nobody, as a number of 2022 clashes with Cullen showed and, after a number of troublesome showings, will be keen to put things right with a win this time round. A little birdie that recently flew over the Welsh island also told me that Max may have visited in the last month too, so expect him to hit the ground running in the Pannonia Bio machine. Trevor Farrar’s immaculate Farrar Motors/PartsForCars.ie car is never far from the front and came very close to a win at the last Mondello, crossing the line a well deserved second- he will be keen to keep up this form.  Murray Motorsport’s Roy White has not yet shown at the very front, but one suspects this is just a matter of time. Roy has huge rallying pedigree and, as anyone how has seen him test in the rain can attest, has incredible car control. If it rains, put a tenner on him!

Wayne Laverick, Chris Jones and Declan O’Driscoll round out the top ten in the standings after 6 rounds. Others to watch our for are ex Formula Vee man Sylvie Bartlett, who was an absolute star at the June ICCR meeting,  leading Race two strongly until Cullen sneaked by before the flag. Ex karter John Elliffe also missed a meeting but was right in the mix when he did show. You won’t miss his lurid liveried ST, complete with Terry Fullerton logo on the numberplate!

Chris Grimes Jnr has been quietly making progress in the last few meetings and was in touch with the lead bunch at the last meeting, Anglesey might suit the Autotest man!  Having missed the early season races to concentrate on his Leaving Cert exams, Victor Cullen is back in the second LOH car and,  as Michael learned at the last meeting, won’t give an inch to anyone, family or not! It’s great to welcome Gordon Kellett back to the grids after a long sabatical. Gordon, a seasoned and successful tin top races, may be racing just for fun these days, but don’t expect that to get in the way of a hard battle.

The racing in the Coffee 2 Go supported class has been amongst the best in the paddock in 2023 and this won’t change at Anglesey. My tips for the top? Cullen is the safe bet obviously, but Turley is worth a punt and the odds would be good on Roy White if the heavens open! In fact, there are probably 6 or 7 potentials but that just shows how close the racing is this year.

Action images from Marc Quinlivan Photography