Patch Tyre Equipment Junior MINI Challenge Update

The Patch Tyre Equipment Junior MINI Challenge has gained traction  in 2023. The number of registered drivers is now in double figures and there are more cars already in build. With the regs being broadly similar to the Kirkistown series, and the cars also being eligible for the ICCR Future Classics series at Mondello, there are plenty of opportunities for dual use, making the racing extremely cost effective.

Reuben Kernohan took the opening two rounds in Mondello Park in April, just defeating highly rated Mondello Park scholarship winner Bobby-Joe McFall in the process. Kernohan hasn’t raced since though and, for a while at least, it seemed none of the others could get near the Mondello car. At the Leinster Trophy meeting, it was obvious that progress had been made and it had all closed up and the Junior drivers gave fantastic entertainment.

When the 120bhp machines took to the Mondello International circuit for qualifying, it was McFall’s name at the top of the timesheets early on. If we thought that was that, however, we were to be swiftly disabused of that notion! Logan Hoey, who has been blindingly fast since his late entry to the series at the July ICCR meeting, soon banged in a fast lap to put his name at the head of the field. As teams shuffled their pitboards on the Mondello pitwall, there was another flurry of activity as everyone grabbed their phones to check the live timing. The order had changed again and it was Holly Dunnion this time who was fastest in the Energia car.  In the closing minutes of qualifying, it all changed again and it was series leader McFall who claimed pole for race one, from Hoey, who was just a tenth ahead of Dunnion. NI visitor Kyle Irvine was fourth from Darcy Kilfeather and Adam McNamara.

Having had a roll at Kirkistown, Jack Fildes, incredibly was back in the paddock with a newly built car.  His dad Jonathan, Bob Copeland and a few others had burnt the midnight oil for the previous ten days and in truth, the car was still being finished in the paddock on Saturday morning. The Naas Court Hotel liveried car (below)was a thing of beauty and despite missing qualifying, would start at the back of the opening race.

McFall made a good getaway in the opener, with Dunnion, with a cracker of a start. grabbing second. Hoey was immediately on the attack but if there is one thing we have learnt this season, it’s that Holly is at her best in battle. Logan managed to ease by only to fall to a late lunge down the inside, putting the Energia car back up to second. As they exited Bridgestone and went up Kennedy’s rise, Logan used his superior exit to ease alongside and had the inside line for Lola. Holly repeated the move on the exit though and they were side by side once again on the long run down to 7A.

All this, of course, was allowing McFall to ease away. Hoey eventually came out tops after a highly entertaining battle and, as Dunnion’s tyres appeared to go off, began to chase down the leader.  A series of fastest laps saw the Dundalk youngster smash the class lap record and close the Mondello liveried car right down, but he ran out of laps and McFall had it all under control to take the chequered flag and continue his incredible winning streak. Dunnion joined them on the podium to spray the fizzy pop, continuing her impressive run of podium finishes. In her wake, Adam O.Mahony drove well to come out tops of a close battle with Darcy Kilfeather. Ben O’Malley was next up with Kirkistown star Kyle Irvine and Jack Fildes having both retired early on.

In race two, with the class racing for the Ann Stevens Trophy, Hoey, continuing to impress, matched revs and grip to perfect to grab the lead as the pack headed under the BMW Bridge and down towards Turn One. He looked confident in the lead but McFall was soon shadowing him and a well timed lunge into Bridgestone saw the series leader back in his usual position, but only briefly! A better exit meant that Hoey was able to draw alongside on Kennedy’s Rise, giving him the inside line for Lola.

This is how it went on for a number of laps in what was a highly entertaining battle. They were never more than a length apart, sometimes a bit too close, brief contact sending them both wide at Southwide Corner at one stage.  Once again though, it was Bobby-Joe  in front when the flag fell, for an incredible sixth win in a row.  Hoey was second, with Holly Dunnion just over a second behind. Fourth was Darcy Kilfeather, her best finish of the season, with Ben O’Malley, Adam McNamara and Jack Fildes next up.

All this means, of course, that Bobby-Joe McFall has strengthened his position at the top of the championship standings, from Hoey, who moves to second on dropped scores from Holly Dunnion. It is far from over however, as the Junior Drivers have a double challenge at the final ICCR round of the year at Mondello Park on October 15th. Not only do they have the last two rounds of the series on the Mondello Park National layout, but they have two digtal rounds. Using Mondello Park’s Virtual Race Academy suites, the drivers will compete in a series of heats and then a final to score championship points. All going well, the numbers should be in double figures for the first time as the female trio of Charlotte Copeland, Leah McManus and Ailish Sexton all plan to test ahead of the event and could end up on the grid.