17-car entry for Irish BTCC event
Over 15,000 spectators are expected at the home of Irish motor racing to watch the BTCC series that was secured for Ireland through sponsorship from Bord Fáilte's International Sports Tourism Initiative.
The works teams of Vauxhall, Honda, MG and Proton along with privateer Honda's, Peugeot's and Vauxhall's constitute the 17-car entry. Meanwhile, the Production Class consists of BMW, Alfa Romeo, Honda and Peugeot and their presence increases the grid to 25 cars. The Vauxhall pairing of reigning champion James Thompson and Yvan Muller start the season as championship favourites.
However, if pre-season form is an indicator, then MG and Honda will give Vauxhall strong opposition as they chase a third title in a row. Irish eyes will focus on Alan Morrison (Honda) and Colin Turkington (MG) in the BTCC races. Morrison took his first race win late last year and will be keen to begin 2003 on a high note.
A sudden illness prevented Turkington from taking his place on the front row of the grid in Mondello last season. In the UK Zetec race, Charlie Donnelly from Naas is the only Irish representative. He drives for the Comtec team in the Avon Junior Division of the series. Tomorrow's itinerary is dominated by the various qualifying sessions, although there are two Legends races and a Porsche Carrera Cup GB race.
Racing on Monday apart from the two 25-lap BTCC races (12. 55pm and 4. 00pm) also include rounds of the Formula Ireland and Fiat Punto Abarth championships. Donegal's Damien Faulkner will drive the guest car in the new Porsche Michelin Carrera Cup Great Britain, which has its first two rounds at the Kildare track. Faulkner has already experienced the Porsche guest car during the support races in last season's British Grand Prix in 2002.
Cork's Alan Dwyer is the latest addition to the Formula Ireland series and having finished runner-up in the Ford Zetec Championship on two occasions, he will give the championship regulars plenty to think about. Paul Sammin won the opening round in Kirkistown one of the closest races since the series began in 2002. The likes of Emmett Queenan, Paul Dagg and Mark Smith should make Monday's race equally as intense.
Meanwhile, reigning champion Robby Coleman has announced that he will contest the German BMW series that begins in Hockenheim next weekend. Meantime, the British Formula 3 and GT Championships move to Snetterton this weekend. Cork's Michael Keohane continues to race with the Promatecme outfit and will decide his long-term plan after the double-header in East Anglia.
The Chris Weller outfit have made some changes to the rear suspension with the Dallara kit, and Keohane can expect better handling capabilities from the Honda-engined Dallara. With Jamie Green showing exceptional form and Nelson Piquet, Alan van der Merwe, two of the other early season pacesetters, Keohane is fully aware of the need to take a major share of the 21 points on offer for each of the two races.
Currently fifth in the standings, the Clonakilty driver is only seven points off second-placed Rob Austin and a further 14 adrift of van der Merwe. Adam Carroll (Sweeney Racing) will be hoping that his Lola Dome chassis will show further improvements from its sixth place in the second race in Donington Park. In the Scholarship Class, Steven Kane and Ivor McCullough are the Irish representatives.
In the GT Cup, Cork's Matt Griffin and his TECH9 team-mate, Briton Patrick Pearse should have too much pace for their rivals, Keith Robinson/Neil Cunningham (Morgan Aero 8).
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