Lucey set for second title

VICTORY in yesterday’s Munster Motor Cycle and Car Club Loose Surface Autocross in Brinny, the penultimate round of the Maxsport Munster Autocross Championship, has virtually assured Gerard Lucey his second title in succession.

The Ballyvourney driver was afforded the luxury of being able to sit out the fourth and final run as his rivals failed to beat his fastest time, set on the third run of the afternoon.

His championship rival, Richard Percy, also in a Special, was well off the pace some six seconds adrift as he trailed his brother, Richard, by less than a second.

Indeed, things got worse for the Nenagh ace who like Lucey, had four wins to his credit entering this penultimate round. Towards the finish of the second run, the clutch cable snapped and his Special careered into a barrel.

It was an opportunity missed, as Lucey failed to improve on his first timed run. Gordon Percy then seized the moment to eke twenty-four hundredths of a second ahead of the opposition. Out on the third run, a composed Lucey set the fastest time of the day with an impeccable performance. He broke the one-minute and six second barrier when he recorded a time of one minute 05.93 seconds.

Gordon Percy retained second although he failed to improve on the time he recorded on the second run. A fourth run saw little change. Gordon Percy was very fortunate when his Special got out of line entering the left hand bend at the bridge.

It mounted a bank, before drifting across the track and up on the opposite bank before he regained control. He finished second with Donal O’Brien completing the top three.

In the classes, Willie Fitzgerald (Honda), who has already clinched Class 1 in the Maxsport Championship took yet another win. Martin Cullinane (Escort) took the honours in Class 2 and JJ Carroll (Astra) kept up his remarkable run of success with his ninth class win of the year.

Elsewhere, Mick Linehan (Escort), Richard Percy (Special), John Shanahan (Special), David Lucey (Special) and Breda Piggott (Honda) were the other class winners.

The Junior class, won by Daniel Lucey (Honda) was keenly contested with Eoin Murphy (Sunbeam) impressing and edging out the Civic of Andrew Lehane.