Mondello Park - Formula Vee - 17/18th September
The Leastone team returned to Mondello Park last week when the Irish Formula Vee championship held a double header on the International circuit, marking the final visit to the Kildare circuit for 2016. Mark Reade made the transition from Formula Vee to the BOSS class for the weekend, which was to battle for the coveted Leinster Trophy on Sunday. Formula Vee regular Kevin Cahill was joined by teenager Jordan Daly, who was making his single seater debut following a number of years karting and a recent successful test.
Kevin had a solid qualifying, lining up 3rd of the Finol Star of Tomorrow runners for both races that would take place, one on each day. Jordan continued to build on his limited running, enjoying an error free session, chipping away at his lap time with each tour.
Kevin’s came to a halt with an opening lap incident that left him a spectator for the remainder of the race. Daly had a solid first race, staying out of trouble and bringing the car home in one piece. His pace continued to improve as he continued to gain knowledge of the notoriously tricky international circuit, knocking over 2 seconds off his qualifying time.
The main race saw pretty much a repeat for both drivers, Kevin ran into trouble off the start and Jordan continued to gain confidence in the car, shaving a further second off his lap time, and logging a 16th place result in the process.
Sunday was made all the more difficult with rain soaking the track from early in the morning. The rain continued throughout the day, meaning that Daly had to contend with a sodden track for the first time in a single seater.
Kevin looked to put his frustrating Saturday behind him by at least completing the first lap, which he did and quickly settled down into a good rhythm. Jordan avoided trouble in the opening laps but was caught out by the greasy conditions on lap 3, running wide and bogging the car down in the gravel trap at the Esses.
Cahill kept plugging way but lost contact with the battling Finol Star of Tomorrow group and had a steady but lonely run to 4th in class. Unfortunately for him, this ruled him out of contention for the Finol Star of Tomorrow championship with one round to go.
The team now focus on the final round of the Formula Vee championship, which will take place in 2 weeks at Kirkistown. Kevin will look to round out a solid rookie season and will once again be joined by Jordan Daly as he evaluates a possible full time drive for 2017.
