The Fiesta ST class has been fiercely competitive in 2026. Charlie McKillen has battled mightily with the experienced Derek Graham, as well as the LOH tended car of relative newcomer Tim McQuaid. To add the the excitement, Michael Graham, Derek’s son, has got to grips with the ST, having graduated from Zetecs, Adam “The Ballybunnion Bullet” O’Mahony has shown stunning pace but been nobbled by a hard to trace mechanical issue, and a horde of other newcomers are closing the gap with the frontrunners – an ideal recipe for some top class saloon car racing tomorrow at Mondello Park, where the title will be decided!
At the Leinster Trophy meeting last month, a strong grid of the Alloy Repair Centre backed cars showed up but once again it was the Murray Motorsport car of McKillen who took the all important pole position. It was close though, with McQuaid less than a tenth off in his newly acquired ex Marcus Hayes car, bought in haste after his original machine was destroyed in a high speed incident at Kirkistown!
The father and son combination of Derek and Michael Graham would occupy row two, from Adam O’Mahony and the impressive Oran King. Then it was newbie Daniel McDonald and Trevor Farrar. Row five was the improving Matthew Devereaux and incredibly, Phil Maloney – on his class debut. “First Lap Phil” actually had to run down the paddock after Zetec qualifying to jump into his ex Ross Barnes ST for qualifying. (Unsurprisingly the See It Live drone followed his progress!). Next up were Chris Jones, Jason McGeehan and Jonathan Kirwan.
Tim McQuaid rocketed off the line when the lights changed for the opener and was across the bows of McKillen before they pulled second gear! Derek Graham was third into Castrol from Michael, O’Mahony and the late braking Farrar. As they came back into the main arena, Graham launched it down the inside of McKillen for second. McKillen was caught unaware and, even though he sat around the outside, Graham was almost fully ahead as they headed up towards Lola for the first time. McKillen managed to outdrag him up the hill though and retake the place on the brakes into Lola.
At the end of the opening lap then, it was McQuaid leading strongly from the Grahams, O’Mahony, Farrar and McDonald. Farrar was going particularly well here, and O’Mahony, no doubt keen to move forward, was having to drive with one eye on the mirrors. Moloney was holding off Kirwin, Laverick and Chris Jones in what was another great scrap.
Up front, McKillen had hauled in McQuaid who had gone into full defensive mode. O’Mahony meanwhile, had shaken off Farrar and was closing in on both Grahams as we reached the halfway mark. The leader went wide at 7B but just about managed to hang on on the hill up to BIrrane’e Bends. McKillen saw half a gap and went for it. Under the watchful eye of the See It Live drone, the cars made contact and were both off. This handed the lead to Derek Graham, from son Michael and the Bullet was up to third. Slightly further back, Farrar was holding off a very racy Daniel McDonald, with Oran King right there too. McKillen had rejoined right behind this group but they weren’t in a compromising mood!
The Kelly Motorsport machines of Pauric McGinley, David Deery and Jason McGeehan were also locked in combat just behind with Chris Grimes shadowing the Donegal drivers at close quarters. Just as the cameras closed in on this scrap, Deery missed his braking point (and thankfully his team mates) into Castrol and parked in the kitty litter, ending his race. This caused a red flag, which matched the faces of a couple of drivers in Parc Ferme immediately afterwards!
This gave the win to Derek Graham from Michael, with Adam O’Mahony finally sorting the issues that plagued him all season, a delighted podium visitor in third. Farrar and McDonald were next from King, who had showed well, McQuaid was seventh and McKillen, receiving a ten second penalty for “avoidable contact” was classified eighth. Moloney, on his debut and Kirwan rounded out the top ten.
With the top six reversed to form the race two grid, Oran King would take up pole position, with fellow newbie Daniel McDonald alongside. Farrar and O.Mahony were on row two, followed by the two Grahams, McQaiid and McKillen. McDonald made a blinder to lead away with O’Mahony going down the outside of everyone to emerge from Castrol in second. Kirwan and Jones made contact and spun but happily, both were able to continue.
Graham was on a charge and sliced down the inside of Farrar into 7A on the opening lap to snatch third. McDonald out front was driving his Precision Tint and Graphics machine superbly and if he was under pressure, it wasn’t showing. McKillen got up the inside of King into Southside for fifth but King wasn’t handing it over without a scrap and the pair were door to door all the way to Turn Three before McKillen was able to complete the move. Derek Graham was on a charge too and he had caught the two leaders, with Farrar between him and title rival McKillen. McKillen replicated his move on King the next time round at Southside, moving himself to fourth ahead of Farrar and within sight of Graham.
O’Mahony, headlights ablaze, was trying everything to hassle McDonald but the impressive Kiwi was refusing to get ruffled in what was a very impressive performance. Just behind them, in almost a replica of his race one Birrane’s Bends incident, McKillen stuffed it down the inside and into the side of Graham’s car, driving him wide. Graham was none too pleased and returned the compliment into Nordic Spirit taking the place back, with both cars now very much the worse for wear.
At the flag then, it was a delighted McDonald who came of age with a superb win and his mentor Kevin Doran was equally ecstatic in parc ferme. O’Mahony was second but appeared to have the engine let go on the run to the line – it subsequently transpired a top hose had blown, and the engine was fine. Derek Graham was third, from McKillen, with both cars showing significant battle scars as they crossed the line.
Michael Graham was fifth from Trevor Farrar, Wayne Laverick and Phil Maloney, who made it two class top ten finishes on his ST debut. A late race charge had got McGinley away from his team mates and up to ninth, with Tim McQuaid crossing the line a disappointed tenth on a day that had promised so much for the former championship leader.
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