Fiat Abarth Championship

Mondello Park

Sunday August 23^rd

By Gary Fox

Liam Denning was back in top form on his return to Mondello Park after completing a commanding set of double victories in the Fiat Abarth Championship.

Qualifying on pole position, he made the most of his track advantage to control the race from start to finish.

The double win vaulted Denning ahead of Alistair Kellett in the Championship rankings ahead of the Leinster Trophy weekend.

Clive Pratt completes the trio at the top of the Championship table after the Carlow man come home second in race one and fourth in the second race of the day.

As is the norm in the Abarth Championship, the front few rows of the grid are reversed for the second race, this winner of race one Denning back in fourth spot.

Undeterred by his starting position and sensing the opportunity to grab some vital points, he made a blistering start, blazing past the two cars ahead and setting his sights on pole position and by lap three was leading the pack.

Denning has been among the most consistent drivers on the grid on all year, and barring a bad accident mid-season has found himself on the podium at every available opportunity.

The current Championship leader outlined the possible outcomes ahead of the last meeting of the season, he said, ‘Anyone of three people can win it now, myself, Alastair or Clive Pratt- there’s 40 points available, so theoretically anyone of the three of us can win it.

In race one; if you were lucky enough to win, you could tie up the Championship, if the other two weren’t as lucky.’

Denning has been pleased with how the year has gone so far, he says ‘The class has been brilliant, lovely close racing with low damage. It’s been the best ever (year of racing) and that goes down to all the lads who are racing.’

Simon Quinn was pushing the leaders hard to a podium positions and took home two third places, Quinn notching a fastest lap of 1:05.635 in the second race of the day.

Gearbox problems all through the morning qualifying session impacted on Alastair Kellett’s hopes of pole position.

This left the Championship hopeful back in fourth spot, but yet only three tenths of a second off pole position.

Kellett found himself locked in a battle with Simon Quinn and it was in this position he finished the first race of the day.

The second race of the day was a big improvement for Kellett, ironing out any earlier mechanical problems to come home in second spot and secure vital points behind Liam Denning.

Speaking after the race, Kellett was philosophical about the results, he said ‘I am getting closer to the front of the grid but Liam is just that slight bit quicker – It is more for Liam’s to lose (the Championship) than mine to win’.

This sequence of results sees Liam Denning in a commanding position ahead of Alastair Kellett with Clive Pratt back in third going into the final round of races on September 13^th at Mondello Park.