The Alloy Repair Centre Fiesta series has, due mainly to the influx of a raft of new competitors, been highly entertaining thus far in 2026. The July TengTools ICCR was held on the International layout meaning many of the new drivers would be getting their first taste of the full 3.6km track.
Charlie McKillen lined up on pole position for race one but when the lights went out the hugely experienced Derek Graham got a better start and chopped across his bows to take the lead down into Castrol. Behind them, Tim McQuaid tucked into third ahead of Adam O’Mahony and the hard trying John Elliffe. Graham appeared to eke out a gap almost immediately and as they headed out onto the international loop had a few lengths in hand over McKillen. McQuaid was third but already coming under pressure from O’Mahony. Behind this was Michael Graham, Daniel MacDonald, Elliffe, Trevor Farrar and Jonathan Kirwin.
A few laps in and McKillen had got his head down and closed the gap with Graham having to defend for the first time. McQuaid had eased away from O’Mahony whilst Michael Graham was going well and had got a little closer to both. Daniel MacDonald had also put in a good lap and had shaken off his pursuers to tack on to the leading group. On the 3rd lap, Graham went a little wide out of Bridgestone and McKillen got alongside on the hill up to Lola. He sat around the outside and on the long back straight outdragged Graham down to 7A and B. Graham was later on the brakes though and just about managed to take it back.
McKillen continued to pile the pressure but Graham remained unruffled out front. Despite this, they were still increasing the gap over McQuaid, who was holding a slight gap to O’Mahony, with Graham Jr still right there too. Then it was McDonald, Farrar and Elliffe, who had lost a place with a grassy moment at Nordic Spirit.
Coming out of Lola, O’Mahony’s car faltered and in a flash, McQuaid was away and Michael Graham was past. It appeared to get going again but coming onto the main straight it slowed to a crawl again and the Kerryman’s race was done, his cruel luck once again robbing him of a top result.
The following lap, Michael Graham executed the switchback superbly at Southside to relieve McQuaid of third, with McDonald and Farrar right with them once again. Then it was Kirwan, McGeehan, Bartlett, McGinley, Owen Cullen, Matt Devereux, Grimes, Deery and Nolan, with Elliffe having also retired.
At the flag then, it was a delighted Graham who took the honours, having soaked up massive pressure for the duration. McKillen was second with Michael Graham joining his Dad on the podium in third.
For Race two, as ever, the top six were reversed, meaning it was Farrar on pole from McQuaid, McDonald, Michael Graham, McKillen and Derek Graham. Farrar got a great launch to lead the pack away, with McQuaid second and Michael Graham third. Behind, Derek Graham, on a big charge, had scrabbled his way around McKillen at Castrol and also got McDonald on the run to Turn Three. When McDonald got a touch out of shape at Lola, McKillen didn’t hesitate and was also ahead before they got to 7A.
Elliffe was also going well and as they finished the opening lap, was up to McDonalds back bumper. Derek Graham, having had a superb opening lap, was already shadowing Michael in third. Into Southside and as Farrar defended, McQuaid tried the switchback but was rebuffed by the leader, who remained unruffled. O’Mahony meanwhile, was on an almighty charge up from the back, hoping his electrical issue was finally sorted. As McKillen closed down the Graham duo, Derek’s red car slowed and he was headed to parc ferme, having hooked a kerb and unusually, punctured a front tyre.
McQuaid was still piling the pressure onto Farrar, getting alongside on the brakes into 7A but Farrar once again held him off. On the run up to Birrane’s Bends, McQuaid stuck it down the inside and, after a little but of mutual elbowing, emerged in the lead. Almost simultaneously, O’Mahony, who had cleared most of the field at this stage, again ground to a halt and you could almost hear collective paddock groan as the popular Kerry youngster pulled to the side of the track once again.
As they rounded Castrol, McKillen managed to sit around the outside of Graham and as they went through Campion, the Northern Ireland driver gave him racing room, the duo then running all the way to Turn Three door to door, with Graham hanging on. McDonald, belying his lack of experience, had got the head down and closed right up on this pair again. Graham held off the attack but this briefly became a four car train as Elliffe, who had started right at the back, had caught them after a great charge up the field!
As McKillen looked down the outside of Graham into Castrol, he almost lost the place to McDonald who made an optimistic lunge when he saw the gap opening. Elliffe was delayed by a huge moment at Lola, which he held onto well but fell off the back of the train as a result.
Further back in the pack McGinley and McGeehan were embroiled in an almighty scrap with Devereux right with them too. Next up were Bartlett, Kirwan and Cullen who were also scrapping mightily. As they scrapped, the improving David Deery had closed them down too.
As McQuaid made his getaway, Farrar had Graham Jr in his mirrors as the startline clock counted down the minutes. At the flag then, it was a delighted McQuaid who took the win and put his title aspirations very much back on track.. Having perfected the switchback at Southside in race one, Michael Graham executed it to perfection again and was fully alongside Farrar on the run to the line, with Graham taking the place by the closest of margins! McKillen was fourth, from the impressive McDonald and Elliffe. Next up was McGinley who held off McGeehan’s attack for the entire race, the gap just half a second at the flag. Devereux was next up from Bartlett, Kirwan, Cullen, Deary, Nolan and Grimes.
Images from Marc Quinlivan Photography
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