Defending Dunlop RT2000 Champion John Whelan from Naas got his title defence off to a perfect start yesterday at the new look Mondello Park when he took victory in the opening round of the 2001 championship. Driving his Aligned Brokers backed RT2000, last year's champion won the 10 lap encounter from Navan's Brendan Donegan and Rod McGovern from Sandyford.
Driving on the international circuit, morning qualifying saw Whelan post the quickest time to put his car on pole ahead of the Navan Hire example of Donegan. Row two was made up of McGovern and Gordon Kellett (Castleknock) while Mark Turley (Ticknock) and Dunlop Stryker Champion Robbie Bolger (Walkinstown) occupied row three.
Moments after the start, which saw Whelan lead into the first corner, the race was red flagged as the car of newcomer Jack Sleator from Mullingar was sent crashing into the tyre wall and bounced back onto the main straight. Once the track was cleared, the restart again saw Whelan get away cleanly from the line to lead ahead of Donegan. Applying pressure on the Naas ace, the Navan driver's challenge ended when he suffered problems with his brakes. Clear of the chasing field this left Whelan to cruise home to take the win and the 15 championship points on offer.
While Whelan and Donegan led out front, the battle for the final podium position was a Dublin affair between Mark Turley and Rod McGovern, the latter crossing the line first. Starting from the back of the grid due to his brand new car not being completed in time for qualifying, Jonathan Fildes from Clonsilla rewarded the hard work of his KAF Racing team with a strong drive to fifth in his striking Dunlop backed RT2000. Behind him, current Fiat Punto Champion and Dunlop RT2000 Championship returnee Gordon Kellett rounded off the top six for Murray Motorsport.
Also starting from the back of the grid, Derek Cunneely from Lucan and Navan's Pat Donegan, who both had their qualifying times disallowed for being under weight, took seventh and eighth respectively. Driving for championship winning team Racetec, Cunneely recorded the fastest lap of the race to claim a bonus point. Were it not for a broken exhaust midway through, the 1996 Formula Opel Champion could have easily finished higher on his touring car debut. Following yesterday's exciting start to the Dunlop RT2000 Championship, the series now travels to Kirkistown on May 26th.
Filed by Shane Murray
