Alloy Repair Centre Fiesta STs to Race For O’Reilly Trophy at the Leinster Trophy ICCR Meeting

With just four rounds of the championship left to run, the Alloy Repair Centre Fiesta ST standings have closed right up, meaning the two races at next weekend’s Leinster Trophy meeting are crucial for anyone with aspirations to take the 2024 title.

Ross Barnes has been the man on form this year, his Morgan Dempsey tended Barnes Autohouse machine having been first to the chequered flag on three occasions. Victor Cullen, who has been gaining plenty of seat time, courtesy of his concurrent Stryker Championship campaign, and some very competitve outings in the family Lotus Cortina in the UK, is next up and, having taken a hard fought win from his father Michael in Anglesey, will be keen to add to his tally. This, allied to a DNF at the second Anglesey race for Barnes, means Victor is only two points off the series lead. Perhaps the real danger man though is Michael Cullen in the second LOH Motorsport/Beacon Medical car. A disastrous start to the season, while the team worked to trace and elminate a problem, meant that after the June meeting, the former multiple saloon, and reigning Fiesta ST champion was languishing well down the order. Once the car was sorted though, he was predictably back on form and has taken two wins and two seconds in the last four races to vault himself back into contention for the championship. He lies third, four points off Barnes and two off Victor.

Unfortunately Kian O’Brien suffered an engine failure in Anglesey meaning he didn’t start either race, but despite this the 2023 Kirkistown MINI Champion lies in fourth place, just ahead of Roy White. White missed two rounds early on, so also loses nothing when scores are dropped. The ex rally champion’s car control is little short of sublime in the wet and with the summer we have had so far, nobody will be surprised if one, if not both of the final two ICCR meetings is run in wet conditions. If this happens, he is worth a punt each way! Newcomer Tim McQuaid has been a revelation this year in his LOH fettled car. He missed the last meeting but not before he took an impressive wet weather win in race two at the June meeting. His pace would suggest he can run at the very front, should he return to the fray next weekend. Brendan Fitzgerald is next up, having taken two runner up spots in the second, reverse grided races so far this season. A DNF in the first round hasn’t helped his points tally, but like a few others, won’t have to drop any rounds at the seasons end. similarly, Darragh McMullen, who lies eighth, had a non finish due to a gearbox issue at the Anglesey meeting.

 

 

This weekend will see the strongest grid of the year for the Alloy Repair Centre backed class, with almost 20 cars entered for Sunday’s double header, the penultimate race weekend of 2024 for the series.  The class regulars mentioned above will be joined by Charlie McKillen, making his second appearance of the season, multiple saloon champion Derek Graham and NI MINI and Future Classic regular Jack Conachy. As ever, both races will be streamed live on the ICCR social media platforms and YouTube channel.