MEETING REVIEW - Friday 25th July '08

Gp2 Lightning-Rods Challenge Cup

Stock-Rods, Stock-Saloons & Junior-Rods

Gp2 Lightning-Rods - Sam Performance as Monty wins Challenge Cup

Some 28 drivers took part in two Qualifying Heats with the tried and tested reverse grid system used to determine the final grid positions for the Challenge Cup. Raymond Dallas and Owen Cunning occupied the front row for the opening heat which only got as far as the first corner before the reds flags were out following a spectacular rollover from Stephen McCahon. Dallas made the early running on the restart until Shane Gault slipped through on Suffolk bend to snatch the lead. Once in front Gault made no mistake to capture the win ahead of Dallas and Lyle Murray. With the grid reversed for heat two it was Stewart Nicholl and Kenny Greer who found themselves at the head of the field. Greer chopped across the pole sitter into Suffolk bend to snatch the lead, but Nicholl calmly composed himself and regained the advantage at the same spot a few laps later. That’s the way things remained to the flag, with Samuel Stewart following the leading duo home in third. When the points were tallied it was Gault who qualified on pole for the twenty lap final. Joining him on the front row was Montgomery, with Stewart and Murray next up on row two, ahead of Greer and Nigel Doherty. Gault made the break at the start with Montgomery slotting in nicely behind and these two soon stretched out a small gap to third place man Murray. The race developed into a tight duel between Gault and Montgomery, with the Castlerock driver continually probing for any chink in Gault’s stout defence. As the lap boards appeared Murray latched onto the back of the lead tussle and with only two laps to run Montgomery finally squeezed through on the inside to take it up. Montgomery calmly reeled off the remaining distance to secure the Challenge Cup, with Murray snatching second from Gault on the line. Greer was next to finish, followed by Stewart and Kenny Carson.

Stock Rods - #70 Shane Murray sets the pace

The opening Stock Rod heat brought a maiden victory in the senior ranks for Craig Law. The Portadown racer successfully resisted a strong challenge from former Irish Champion Darrell Hanna to take the victory, with Stephen McNiece third over the line. Any hopes of a repeat performance were soon quashed however when Law retired during the early laps of heat two as Michael Byrne eased passed early leader Amy Hanna to take over the running. McNiece was on a charge again and worked his way around the outside of Byrne to power into the lead. Things soon got even worse for Byrne when he found himself embroiled in a pile-up at Suffolk bend which required the yellow flags to clear, Alastair Bolton and Victor McAfee also forced to retire at this point. McNiece controlled the remaining laps after the restart to register his first win of 2008 at Raceway, with Alastair Calvin making good progress through the pack to second, ahead of the battling Micky McFall and Glenn Bell. Law enjoyed another spell out front in the final, but soon found Steven Bolton and McNiece filling his mirrors. Chris Gordon, Shane Murray and Raymond Harper quickly arrived on the scene to make it a six-way lead battle, the group circulating as one group, two abreast by three cars deep! It looked like anybodies race until, as if by magic, the track cleared in front of Murray when Law drifted wide on Suffolk bend and the Yokohama Champion needed no second invitation to surge through into the lead. Once in front Murray would not be caught and pulled away for a comfortable win with McNiece in second and Harper third.

Stock Saloons - No stopping Weir as Winston collects Silverware

The returning Andy Stewart did his best to liven up the Saloons, but could not stop Irish Champion Winston Weir leaving Raceway with more silverware. William Taggart made the most of his yellow grade starting position to record a brace of heat victories, his first of 2008 at Raceway. Stewart went for a wild ride across the grass at the start of the final after a clash with Weir and came to rest in the middle of Fisherwick bend bringing out the yellow flags. Weir quickly took over at the front when the action resumed and pulled away for final win number three at Raceway. Taggart completed a good evening’s work with a solid second place finish ahead of Geoff Martin, Colin Blake and the recovered Stewart.

Junior Rods - #6 Andrew Gamble & #21 Curtis Greer share the Chequered

Andrew Gamble set the pace in the opening Junior race and the Rasharkin lad gradually increased his advantage to finish well clear of Steven McNeill and Jason Harkness. Gamble went from the hunted to the hunter in race two as he attempted to chase down leader Curtis Greer. The Cullybackey lad maintained his advantage all the way to the flag however with Gamble forced to settle for second and Mr. Consistency Harkness third once more

click for official Results