Mondello Park

Sunday April 26^th

Abarth Cup

By Gary Fox

Race 2

Gordon Kellett claimed victory in unusual circumstances following an incident packed Abarth Cup race at Mondello Park.

The race was ended prematurely after just seven laps when Nigel Pratt suffered a heavy collision.

A new race initiative saw a shuffle on the grid, elevating Gordon Kellett to pole for the second Abarth race of the day. It was a Kellett family front row with nephew Alastair lining up beside him in second.

Nigel Pratt started further back in third, with Noel Greene making up the final place on row two.

Nigel Pratt failed to make the most of his positive grid position and was rapidly swallowed up by the pack. Noel Greene also suffered a poor start when a slight wobble in turn one propelled him back down the grid.

The impressive Liam Denning moved up into second by the end of lap one and was putting Gordon Kellett under heavy pressure going down the main straight.

The light rain which fell during the afternoon didn’t make the track conditions too difficult.

Denning was all over the bumper of Gordon Kellett as he looked to find a way past the experienced racer who used all his race craft to repel the advances.

The race ended in dramatic fashion on lap seven, when Nigel Pratt endured a massive impact on the entrance to Dunlop corner.

Clipping the grass, the car spun out of control, flipping twice in mid-air, sending grass and smoke spiralling into the air before smashing back down onto its wheels with a bone jarring impact.

Nigel Pratt emerged extremely fast from the car, despite suffering what was a shuddering halt to his race.

Emergency services were immediately in action as a pre-caution but Pratt luckily emerged unscathed following the incident.

Gordon Kellett had been leading before the incident so he took the win from Liam Denning in second and Clive Pratt in third.