Mondello 10^th May

Abarth Cup Race 2

By Gary Fox

For the second time in three races the Abarth Cup race was brought to a dramatic and sudden halt following a heavy collision.

The race had started brightly with Alastair and Gordon Kellett making it a family affair on the front row with Liam Denning and Clive Pratt completing the first four places.

Noel Greene, the victorious driver from race one started from fifth on the grid as he looked to build on his recent good form.

In total, 11 Abarths lined up in the warm summer sunshine for the final group race of the two day meeting at Mondello.  

Barry John McHenry, despite showing such promise in his debut race never managed to get involved in the today’s action as he looked well off the pace.

Alastair Kellett launched his Abarth powerfully off the grid to get away cleanly, holding off Gordon down into Honda corner with Liam Denning rapidly joining the race for the lead.

A substantial incident at the start of lap two caused the race to be halted as Liam Denning became the latest Abarth driver to suffer a heavy impact following Nigel Pratt two weeks ago.

In the hotly contested skirmish for second spot, Liam Denning and Gordon Kellett both went for the same patch of track with Denning unfortunately coming off worst.

Both Abarths appeared to touch as they approached the exit of turn two, with Denning careering off the track, before impacting very heavily with the bank on the exit of the newly named Motopoint turn.

Racing was immediately stopped, with the emergency crews working for over 30 minutes to free Denning from the stricken Abarth.

When it was brought back to the pits, the considerable damage was clearly visibly on the driver’s side of the Abarth which explained the lengthy delay in removing the driver from the wreckage.

Both the Mondello rescue and medical teams deserve full credit for the thorough and competent manner in which they dealt with Liam Denning’s crash.

The long delay didn’t help drivers as they were forced to wait in the baking hot afternoon sun back on the grid.

The Abarths restarted for a shortened 12 minute race with the pack reverting back to original grid positions, minus the unfortunate Denning.

From the re-start, both Kelletts were immediately back on the pace with Alastair forced to defend aggressively from the advances of Gordon.

Gordon Kellett’s race ended in a plume of blue smoke midway through the second lap of the new race, as he just about managed to limp back to the pits before retiring.

Winner of the opening race, Noel Greene found himself ideally situated behind the front two. His cause was further helped when Clive Pratt dropped off the pace considerably on lap three.

With Pratt dropping back and no longer pushing him for the top spot, Alastair Kellett was able to concentrate on the track ahead of him and establish a one second lead after lap four.

Further back down the grid, Nigel Pratt manage to sneak past Paul Copeland

Clive Pratt recovered from whatever caused his lack of pace in the middle section of the race to reel in Alastair Kellett at the start of lap six. Kellett being forced to slam the door shut on the challenger going down into turn one, with the slightest of touches between the cars.

Alastair Kellett managed to hold off rampaging Pratt who in turn held off the late advances of Noel Greene.

Star Performance: Clive Pratt

Fastest Lap: Clive Pratt 2:02 .616

Final Classifications

1. Alastair Kellett
2. Clive Pratt
3. Noel Greene