Leinster Trophy Abarths: 2008 Season Finale

Hal McGuckin & Jillian Stewart

The Dunlop Abarth Cup reached its conclusion in a rain-sodden Mondello park on Sunday 14^th September with a nail-biting final round that saw front-runners battle to the bitter end for the top spots in the overall standings. A dry Qualifying session on Sunday morning saw Noel Greene, fresh from victory in the previous round, put his car on pole for the race. The two championship contenders Liam Denning and Clive Pratt lined up at P2 and P3, with Gordon Kellett (sitting third in the championship) in P4. Nigel Pratt qualified in P5 and was the only other person (mathematically) who could secure third position in the championship overall.  The track was wet but the heat was on in Mondello, as the top five had all to play for.

When the lights went out there was the usual charge into the first corner, but with so much at stake, it was all or nothing here for some. Nigel Pratt was the unlucky one who spun off into the gravel trap and was forced to retire, ending his race and dashing his hopes of a top three finish in the championship.  Noel Greene held the lead for the first lap, before an adrenaline-fuelled Liam Denning got past, with his sights clearly set on winning. Noel followed him relentlessly and was hot-on-his-heels for the next three laps, until they eventually had a coming-together at the back of the circuit that resulted in Liam spinning off.  Liam rejoined in ninth position and was left with a mountain to climb at this stage of the race, but valiantly fought his way back up to seventh before the chequered flag. Noel held the lead to the chequered flag to take his second consecutive win in the competition.  His win was to be of particular significance as it saw him snatch third place in the Championship from under the nose of Gordon Kellett, with just two points separating the drivers in the end.

Meanwhile one of the newcomers for this season Andrew Stewart, who started the race in P6, capitalised on scuffles at the front end and was quietly moving up the field.  Andrew worked his way up to fourth place just behind Clive Pratt, who had been holding third place and shadowing the leaders up to this point. In the fallout from the action in front, Andrew managed to get ahead of Clive into what had become second place with Liam Denning spinning-off.  He held this position for the next lap until Clive (now smelling his championship victory), made a daring move up the inside at the DiscoverIreland.ie corner, to re-claim the position.  The first three crossed the line in that order, with Andrew recording his first podium finish to end his championship debut in 2008 on a high.

Gordon Kellett (still in contention for third in the championship going into the race) held fourth place until a spin on lap 6, but managed to resume in sixth place, a position which he held to the finish. The mistake cost him dearly, shunting him to fourth place in the Championship standings as a result, as rival Noel Greene reaped the benefits and claimed third place.  Gordon was overtaken by nephew Alistair Kellett (current Punto Mark 1 champion) who was keen to impress in his first outing of the season in an Abarth.  He did not disappoint and finished in a mighty fourth place.  Alistair hopes to move to the Abarth Championship next season and, as a multiple Uno and Punto champion, will be a welcome addition and a force to be reckoned with in 2009. David Pratt finished fifth to round off a good season for him. The other points finishers were Roger McMahon, Darragh Brennan (enjoying his first points finish of his first season from a limited programme of outings), Arthur McMahon and Paul Copeland, who finished in eleventh but got the last point as Alistair Kellett is not registered for the championship.

The unique mix of experience and fresh, raw talent of the Abarth Cup promises plenty more drama for the future, and as the 2008 chapter closes, the consistently high standard of the competition this season bodes well for an equally gripping campaign next year.