National Autotesting goes to the races!
Motorsport Ireland National Autotesting is back with a new look for 2024 and the Championship and Challenge head to Punchestown Racecourse on Sunday 23rd June for Round 3 of this year's series!
County Kildare Motor Club have been pulling out all the stops for their return to championship-level autotesting with a fantastic venue and will also be using laser timing gear in addition to the Stopastride.com live timing service! There will also be extended media coverage with live on-the-day updates, multiple photographers in attendance and a highlights video being produced!
As with all MI National level events, there will be 2 different competitions to enter on the day. The "Championship" consists of tests to suit lightweight cars with experienced drivers and the "Challenge" has tests designed to flow for roadgoing cars, novices and those in lightweight cars who prefer more open tests. With the entry costing just €50 per driver, there has never been a more accessible way into National level motorsport.
See full details about CKMC's event, and the Championship & Challenge on irishautotesting.com
Will you be on the start-line?
Looking to the overall standings, the drivers in the Championship section will have some extra pressure over the next few events, with the results after Round 4 being used to set the team selection for the prestigious Ken Wharton International Autotest later this year!
Currently, reigning champion Guy Foster leads after a consistent start with 46 points. Round 1 winner Darren Quille is just 2 points behind on 44 points and is the top RWD competitor. Round 2 victor Peter Grimes leads a 3-way tie for 43 points for 3rd overall, alongside nephew Chris Grimes Jnr and the top placed small saloon driver Damien Doran. The large saloon drivers have completed 1 event each, with Toyota Starlet driver Liam Croston just one point ahead of David Thompson and Liam Cashman, who tie for 2nd in-class, both driving Vauxhall Novas.
In the Challenge, competition is also starting to heat up with road cars currently leading the way. James Mansfield sits on 47 points in his MX5 with Brian Kingston's Suzuki 3 points behind and Daniel O'Donoghue in the family MG Midget another 3 points further back in 3rd. A drop score means that drivers such as Philip O'Reilly, Austin Quille and Rob Fenlon may throw a surprise later in the season, having completed 1 round apiece and scoring some impressive results!
In the novice standings, Daniel O'Donoghue, sharing the MG with his dad, holds a slender 2-point lead over Starlet driver Ciaran Dwyer in what is turning out to be a FWD vs RWD battle for the Europa Cup!