Motorsport: Sixth for Alex Dunne at interrupted Macau Grand Prix

Ugo Ugochukwu become the first American driver to win the race since Bob Early’s victory in 1981. 

Offaly’s Alex Dunne in the SJM Theodore PREMA Racing finished sixth in the Macau Grand Prix. Picture: Supplied.

Racing with the SJM Theodore PREMA Racing outfit, Offaly driver Alex Dunne finished sixth in the 71st Macau Grand Prix that was interrupted several times as McLaren junior driver Ugo Ugochukwu converted his pole position into a race win to become the first American driver to win the race since Bob Early’s victory in 1981. 

The race began and finished under the Safety Car. Dunne from Clonbulloge, who is part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, was seventh in the first qualifying session but suffered in the second session when he was slowed by a pile-up.

Saturday’s qualifying race was red flagged after just eight minutes when Rinatro Sato hit the barriers at Post 15 Bend and was collected by Dunne and his team mate Dino Beganovic. Although it restarted, there were several more red flags. A downpour soaked sections of the track and there was a brief stoppage to allow the cars to fit wet tyres, the race restarted albeit behind the Safety Car but the track was too wet particularly around Lisboa Bend and the qualifier finished under caution with Dunne in P12.

The race itself also started under the safety car due to the damp conditions and after it peeled away there was a pile-up at the right-handed Lisboa Bend on the first racing lap when Australian James Wharton collided with the tyre barrier. A lengthy red flag followed before the action resumed at the Guia Circuit, however, there was only one more lap before the Safety Car was deployed after another driver made contact with the barriers.

Dunne, who was eighth having lost a place in the closing laps due to front end damage, could do little to improve his position in a race that had a total of four re-starts, he was promoted to sixth following the exclusions of Matteo de Palo and Rashid al Dhaheri, who crossed the line fifth and sixth respectively. 

Afterwards, he said “After qualifying it was always going to be very difficult. But I feel, given the conditions, I maximised on what was possible. The pace from the first lap of FP1 (Free Practice) was super strong and that carried through the weekend. The team did a really good job with the car in all conditions and it was a pleasure to work with them.” Dunne will now prepare for his next race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (November 29/30).

Meanwhile, Max Hart’s participation in the FIA World Touring Car Championship was disappointing, he retired his Z-Speed Hyundai towards the end of the first race and on the fourth lap of the second race.

Motorsport Ireland has added Celbridge driver Jason Smyth (18) to the list of nominees for this year’s Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Award. Earlier last week David Maguire (Rathgar) and Sean McGovern (Sandyford) were announced as the “wildcard” nominees that appeared to conclude the selection process. Smyth’s selection wasn’t issued to the usual media outlets is on the Motorsport Ireland website. According to sources, it appears that the Motor Racing Commission were responsible for Smyth’s selection. The monthly selection ended over seven weeks ago and there was no explanation for the delay, the overall winner receives the magnificent Sexton Trophy and funding to the tune of €50,000.

Smyth competed in Formula Ford during the season and won the Northern Ireland Formula Ford Championship while he also achieved some strong results in the United Formula Ford Championship with Team Dolan, he is the only single seater racer to be nominated for this year’s award. His grandfather Dick Smyth won the Sexton Trophy in 1983.

The entry list for the forthcoming Killarney Historic Rally was announced over the weekend. The top ten is: 1. Jonny Greer/Niall Burns (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4); 2. Donagh Kelly/Rory Kennedy (BMW M3); 3 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Legacy RS); 4. Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800); 5. Neil Williams/Anthony O'Sullivan (Ford Escort RS1800); 6. Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (Ford Escort RS1800); 7. Denis Moynihan/Martin O'Brien (Ford Escort RS1600); 8.Tomas Davies/Shane Buckley (Ford Escort RS1800); 9. Tom Clark/Alistair Wyllie (Ford Escort RS1800); 10. Ray Breen/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Legacy RS).