Anglesey Circuit

Fiat Abarth Championship

Saturday 4^th July - Race 2

By Gary Fox

Alistair Kellett earned a hard fought victory in race two of the Abarth series on the Coastal track at Anglesey.

A grid reversal for the top four drivers from the first race saw Alistair propelled to pole position, with Clive Pratt in second, Gordon Kellett in third and winner of race one, Liam Denning in fourth.

An action packed start saw Gordon Kellett blaze past Clive Pratt into second who slipped two places to fourth with Denning gaining a place for third.

Race winner Alistair Kellett stressed the importance of a good start, he said, “Get away fast, once you’re in the lead its not too bad, they (the pack) will be battling behind you -holding themselves up, you can get two car lengths on them.”

Clive Pratt had a moment to forget on only the second lap when an error saw him veer off course, a move which sent him spiralling back through the field.

Barry John McHenry was relishing the dry track, gaining a number of places in the early stages. The in-form McHenry would go on to set a number of blistering laps as he sliced through the pack.

Back at the head of the field, the family duel between Alistair and Gordon Kellett was continuing to enthral spectators with Alistair hoping to reverse the results from race one.

The McMahon brothers were yet again quickly involved in some adventurous racing, family rivalry rising to the surface.

Arthur and Roger McMahon welcomed John Denning into their battle as he attempted to make progress through the pack.

The afternoons racing ended badly for Roger McMahon when impact with another McMahon brother on the entry to the corkscrew saw him shoot off onto the grass and he didn’t rejoin the race.

Flying Barry John McHenry soon locked his sights on Paul Copeland before streamlining past him on his way to fifth place after a full lap of nip and tuck action.

McHenry was pleased with his weekends racing, he said “I love the track- it is a very good setting - it’s nice to get away.”

An evolving battle in the podium positions allowed Alistair Kellett to stretch his lead from Gordon in second spot.

Noel Greene and Liam Denning were going door to door in the battle for third spot which culminated in an impact at the entrance to Rocket corner, Denning managing to hold onto the back of the car and keep Greene behind him in fourth.

With Green and Denning locked in the battle for third, McHenry was taking every advantage to close the gap, including a personal fastest lap. Fastest lap of the race went to Alistair Kellett with a 1:21.565.

Further back in the thick of the action, Nigel Pratt and Barry McMahon were exploring every inch of the Welsh track, with the yellow Abarth of McMahon putting increasing the pressure on the leading Pratt.

Bolting out of the corkscrew with the chequered flag dropping in the distance, Noel Greene seized one last chance to sneak past Liam Denning, but Denning just had too much and held on for third spot.

Arthur McMahon triumphed in the McMahon family battle, coming home ahead of his brother Barry further back.

On the balance of the weekends racing, Barry John McHenry was delighted with the outcome but expressed his frustration with race one, he said “ “I didn’t have the pace in race one, didn’t know why – we had the pace yesterday (in qualifying) so we knew it was there.”

When asked about future plans for the season he was quick to outline his goals, he said “I want to keep building on today and get higher and higher in every race, that’s the plan.”

Alistair Kellett was also full of praise for the Anglesey circuit, which overall, received resounding positive feedback from the drivers over the course of the meeting, he said “It’s brilliant - the first half is really fast, the second half is really technical and slow so you have two tracks in one”