Southside People West - 27th May 1998
Neil Shanahan (18), from Churchtown, has extended his lead in the Ford of Ireland Formula Ford Zetec Championship after winning the sixth round of the series yesterday at Mondello Park.
The Bachelor Inn/Blaupunkt backed driver took the win on the new international circuit which was in use for the first time at last week’s Super Prix meeting.
Neil, who is currently doing his Leaving Certificate in St. Mary’s College, Rathmines, qualified on the second row of the grid in fourth spot. But we made a superb start to the nine-lap race, getting the jump on both the pole sitter Philip Kehoe, and third spot driver George McAlpin. This put him in second position behind Chris Paul.
The RIAC Dunlop Driver of the Year made a number of attempts to pass his championship rival Paul, but it wasn’t until lap 5 on the newest part of the circuit that he could pull off a certain move for the lead.
Once passed. Neil opened up a gap from Paul with the veteran driver unable to respond to the youngster’s charge.
Cheered on from the pit lane by his parents Liam and Mary, and the Mick Merrigan Motorsport team, Neil crossed the line two seconds ahead of Paul to take his third win of the season.
In setting the fastest lap of the race, Neil established the lap record for the fastest ever lap in Formula Ford Zetec, thereby getting a bonus championship point.
This result puts the talented youngster three points ahead of Chris Paul in the championship, with PhIlip Kehoe a distant third.
Commenting on the race Neil said: “The race was like a reverse of the last race in Pembroke, where I led, and Chris was on my gearbox all the way round. The only difference was that this time I managed to get passed Chris. lt’s great to win the first race on a new circuit and become it’s first lap record holder,” he added.
And fortunately for Neil his next race is not until June 21st, which means that he has plenty of time to do some studying for his upcoming exams.
