Top Ten Race Drivers- 2023

This is one that we haven’t run in a few years. It started off as a yearly piece in Michael O’Carroll’s famous Irish Motorsport Annual, penned by Robin Rhodes, Declan Quigley and myself at various stages. In recent times I have recruited two fellow motorsport anoraks, the identity of who we keep secret for their own safety!  We debate, disagree and agree in equal measures before we finally agree on the top ten National Race Drivers of the year. The winner, as ever, receives the perpetual Vivian Candy Memorial Trophy, originally a Formula Atlantic Trophy won by “The Candyman” at Kirkistown. It will be presented this weekend at the opening round of the Infinite Energy ICCR series at Mondello Park.

10. Jason O’Connell.

Tipped by multiple saloon car champion Alistair Kellett to be one to watch at the start of the season, this Rookie sure didn’t disappoint. Fro the opening round, he dominated the Rookie Cup section of the packed Zetec grid and gradually closed the gap to the guys at the very front of the grid. Hard to believe it was his first season racing. He is back again this year and fancies a pop at the overall title. Might be wise not to bet against him.

9. Stephen Kelly

Stephen has been around motorsport for many many years. He was spannerman for Ken Fildes in Formula Atlantic,  Jonathan Fildes in many classes, and when he was helping with young Jack Fildes’ Junior MINI during the year, that was three generations he had worked with. It’s not just the spanners he is handy with though, he can steer a bit as well. Having run towards the pointy end of Irish Strykers in a borrowed car in 2021, he bought a Mallock Clubmans car and entered the HRCA class. In 2023, his battles with Jackie Cochrane’s rumbling V8 Tiger made for great watching. Predictably, the Tiger was way faster in a straightline, but the lighter Mallock was far more nimble, and easier to manage when the rain came. In an incredibly successful season, he came out tops in the Scratch race Championship and also took the coveted George Mangan Trophy (combined Race and Hillclimb) and is back to defend them both in 2024

8. Rob Savage

The ITCC field may have been small in 2023, but the competition was fierce. Owain Drought was the early series leader after a Mondello win but he hit mechanical trouble around the same time that Rob Savage hit the sweet spot in his beautiful new Campbell Motorsport Honda Accord. In Bishopscourt he was untouchable, the Honda powering down the straights and soaking up the kerbs through the high speed chicanes out the back. He did hit a few problems with the car during the year but nobody could say he didn’t deserve the championship. He is back for more in 2024. Even with larger grids and the return of the likes of Drought and Cian Walsh, the Honda won’t be easily beaten.

7. Peter Barrable

The clue in in the surname. Peter is fast and uses his head. Like his brother Rob, he appears to be able to adapt to anything he jumps into,single seater or saloon, Race or Rally. He loves the Irish Legends class and, with the Richardson brothers taking a sabattical, he had a clear run to the title. He enjoyed himself, but Peter loves a scrap and would probably have welcomed some more opposition. For 2024, he is starting out in Zetec Fiestas- don’t be surprised if he ends up in the title chase come the end of the season!

6. Tony Greenan

A car upgrade ahead of the 2023 season gave Tony even more pace than we had already seen from the Northern Irishman. He was on it all season, his car beautifully presented and driven. The ex-Alex Albon 2015 Dallara-Mercedes took six wins and four second places, meaning he was able to sit out the last two rounds, having already assured himself of the BOSS Ireland title. The Hilltown man’s car was immaculately turned out at every round and, with former Leinster Trophy winner Hywel Lloyd on the pitwall, Tony wasn’t going to be easily beaten. Happily, he stays with BOSS Ireland for 2024 and his title defence starts this weekend!

5. Michael Barrable

The Siltex Safety Fiesta Zetec Championship is the biggest class in the ICCR Paddock. In 2023, 46 drivers registered and the grids were regularly in the mid thirties. The class is tightly policed by Anthony Hoey and his MI team and as a result, the cars are extremely closely matched. So much so in fact, that you will often see up to 20 cars qualify within a second of each other. Michael Barrable is a former champion in the class (adding to his 1993 Uno Cup and Sexton Trophy wins, and his many Rally successes) and was very determined to win it again in 2023. It wasn’t going to be easy though as he had some young chargers in the class, who were quick and feisty. Dave Maguire Junior, running with LOH Motorsport, has loads of pace but got into a few scrapes during the season. Barrable, in contrast, knew exactly when to go for a win, and when to race for points. At the end of the season, Michael had done enough to take a well earned title. In 2024, he is going to “give the Legends a go!”

4. Graham McDonnell

Shane Murphy had pretty much made the SEAT Supercup series his own in recent times. In fact, one could argue that the different power level ECUs (depending on where you qualify/finish) were introduced to give the others a chance against the rapid Corkman. Around the same time though, the class had an influx of quick competitors, already with plenty of success under their belts. Amongst them was Graham McDonnell. The Coffee 2 Go owner had already tied up the Fiesta ST Championship when he jumped to the faster SEAT class in 2022. In 2023, he blended pace with guile and managed to beat the others in a closely fought battle to win the Championship.

3. Bobby-Joe McFall

When McFall won the Mondello Park scholarship at the start of the year, the scoresheets made interesting reading. The Instructors were highly impressed, so much so that he had scored pretty much a maximum in every aspect of the challenge.  Having won the use of the Mondello Junior MINI, as well as entry and test fees and tyres, it was no surprise then, that he won the championship in his first year, but he had to overcome strong opposition from the likes of Logan Hoey and Holly Dunnion to do so. He has plans to race in the UK in 2024 and regardless of what route he takes, he will be worth keeping an eye on.

2. Michael Cullen

In 1984, Michael Cullen made his race debut, driving Pat Murphy’s Fiesta Supersport in the 1300cc Production Saloon race at Mondello Park.  (He came fourth, right on his Dad’s rear bumper!) In 1993, he did the impossible, winning four Irish Championships- the Uno Cup, the 205 GTI Championship, the Dunlop Saloon Car Championship and the overall (all classes) Sexton Trophy. Fast forward another 30 years and he is still at it. Despite missing the first 2023 Mondello Park ICCR meeting (he was racing at Goodwood) he managed to wrap up the Coffee 2 Go Fiesta ST Championship and the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship. He hs gelled superbly with the LOH Motorsport team and will be back for more in 2024. When you add in his UK racing exploits, he had enough wins to become the Autosport Mazazine top National race driver in the UK and Ireland- impressive stuff.

1. Ronan Doherty

Son of famed Vee engine builder Damian, Ronan already had quite the name for himself before he ever stepped into a race car. He is a highly experienced and extremely sucessful Sim racer. His immediate pace meant that the Star of Tomorrow Series was almost a forgone conclusion, if there is a such a thing in motorsport. Better than that though, he almost immediately ran at the front of the A race, adding even more entertainment to the class. An overall Vee win is never easily achieved. There are some very talented drivers at the sharp end, never mind the experience of some of the teams who run them. This made Doherty’s achievements even more impressive and no doubt was a factor in earning him a well deserved nomination for the Motorsport Ireland Young Driver of the Year too. Looks like he will return to Formula Vee for 2024 but there have been whispers of other outings too. We will watch with interest.

Honourable Mentions:

Logan Hoey  impressed in Junior MINIs. (In fact as a group, they were all highly impressive, leading more than one seasoned campaigner to suggest that the Senior classes could learn a thing or two about door to door racing from them!) Dave Maguire and Sean McGovern had winning pace in Fiesta Zetecs but Barrable’s consistency gave him the title. Max Turley and Kian O ‘Brien impressed in Fiesta ST. Cameron Fenton dominated proceedings in Global GT Lights.  Lee Newsome had a great year in Vees, and Colm Blackburn was, as ever, great to watch too.