The Magic Bullet All Ireland Formula Libre championship got off to a cracking start in Mondello Park on June 13th, a superb final entry of 21 cars promising some good racing. John Downey and Sylvie Mullins were non starters and the remaining 19 which included 5 visiting drivers from Northern Ireland took to a dry track for qualifying after early morning drizzly rain had cleared.

Qualifying turned out to be a fraught affair, the tight confines of the Mondello National track making it difficult for the large pack of fast paced cars to get a clear lap. Dan Daly took pole position with a time of 52.195, but instead of Ken Fildes beside him on the grid it was Paul Dagg, the Formula Ford champion really getting the hang of his Dallara Toyota just two tenths shy of Daly. Next up was Stephen Daly, still boxing above his weight in the little 2000cc Formula Renault. Alongside Stephen was Ken Fildes, the glorious sounding Ralt RT4 qualifying just a tenth slower than Stephen but over a second shy of pole. 3/100 only separated Peter Dwyer and Pat Casey on Row 3 with Eamon Matheson and the ever improving John Daly next up on Row 4, this pair going on to enjoy some good racing during the day. Mick Roche continues to make progress with the Audi turbo powered Dallara, and was joined on row 5 by Jack Frost, quickest of the northern visitors in a similar but Hayabusa powered Dallara built and prepared by his Holeshot Racing team. 2 Van Diemen FX’s occupied row 6 Mark Watkins’ pace in the sports car bodied version dramatically improving since switching from Blackbird to Hayabusa power, with sometime karter Fergus Faherty alongside in the Daly Motorsport Formula Ireland spec car. Both drivers next on the time sheet had curtailed sessions, Peter Dunne ending up in the Dunlop gravel trap courtesy of some freshly fitted brake pads which were slow to work well, as did Ivor Greenwood, who along with Jim Larkham and Stanley Watson had the added complication of learning a new circuit in a busy session. Mark Dempsey, Derek Daly and Gary Graham rounded off the grid in their various 2 litre cars.

When the lights changed to start the first race Dan Daly charged away and in the initial stages looked as if he might pull away. Dagg had other ideas, however and the silver F3 car quickly closed the gap on the leader. Dagg seemed comfortable behind the Reynard and set fastest lap on lap three when he appeared to be sizing Dan up for a move. The move duly came on lap six, with a last minute lunge down the inside at Dunlop corner. Unfortunately, the ensuing contact eliminated Dagg, who suffered a puncture and retired on the spot. This left Dan clear in the lead but a late race safety car intervention allowed the pack to close up whilst Dagg’s car was removed. When the safety car pulled off the track, there was only a lap to run but Dan had to give it all to stop son Stephen stealing the win away, the pair crossing the line less than a second apart. Ken Fildes was a lonely third and must have been left scratching his head as to how he can close the gap to the leaders. Despite having no second gear (a big handicap on the Mondello National circuit,) Eamonn Matheson brought his Mission T5 home in fourth ahead of Michael Roche with Ivor Greenwood showing he can drive cars as well as he can build engines with a great run to sixth, from fourteenth on the grid! There was some good racing right through the field, with the late safety car creating a frantic last lap dash for everyone.

The early morning bad weather returned in time for Race 2, the atrocious conditions forcing the organizers to start the race behind the safety car. Again, Dan led the way but it soon became apparent that Stephen’s nimbler Formula Renault was the more suitable machine in wet conditions. Despite the power deficit, Stephen shadowed his father before launching an attack down the inside of Dunlop Corner. Dan held on to the lead, but only just. Despite his best attempts, that was as close as it got, with Dan managing to ease away slightly towards the end crossing the line almost two seconds to the good. Ken Fildes was once again third, well clear of Pat Casey, who drove well to bring the Nemesis home in fourth, just ahead of John Daly and Matheson. Mick Roche was the last unlapped runner, and full credit where it’s deserved to all the drivers for keeping their cars on the island in the very tricky conditions. Peter Dunne and Paul Dagg’s bad days continued though, both drivers retiring.

All in all, a great day’s entertainment from Formula Libre Ireland, as we have come to expect, and the promise of more to come as the quickest of the new generation F3 cars closes the gap at the front of the field. Mind you, paddock speculation would suggest that catching Dan Daly is one thing, getting by is another. After last Sunday, Paul Dagg and Stephen Daly might just agree……

Leo Nulty