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July 16, 2012

Innovative, exciting format for revived Formula Vee Festival


vee-festival Following an absence of seven years the Irish Formula Vee festival makes its return this weekend (July 21st & 22nd) at Mondello Park with an innovative and exciting event format. The revival of what was one of the most popular events on the Irish racing calendar has come about due to some hard work by the Formula Vee drivers association which has secured the backing of Dunlop Tyres and Total Oils for the two day event.

This Saturday and Sunday will see the running of seven Formula Vee races made up of a single championship race followed by three heats, two semi finals and a final to decide the Irish Formula Vee Festival winner. Sunday's programme will also have a strong line-up of support races including the return to Mondello Park of Formula Ford and the latest round of the Irish Touring Car Championship.

Saturdays programme is made up of a half day of track activity commencing at 13:45. The afternoon will feature the Formula Vee championship race and once this has been completed, all eyes will turn to the three Vee Festival heats. These heats will feature a revolutionary format which should guarantee close racing as drivers will be grouped together by lap times with the fastest drivers racing together in heat 1 the next fastest group in heat two and the slowest in heat three. Saturday's racing will also include two races for Ginetta Juniors and the first Formula Ford race of the weekend.

Sunday will get under way with the first of two races each for Global Lights, Historics, Formula Sheane and The ITCC. The Vee Semi Finals are scheduled to kick off the afternoon's activities followed by the weekends' second race for Formula Ford and the other supporting classes.

The Vee Festival Final will take to the grid for a 16:30 start and once again the action will be spiced up by a new approach, with a number of the top grid positions being reversed just prior to the start. Just how many positions are to be reversed, and therefore who will have the honour of starting form pole position, will be decided by a draw just before the cars take to the track. The fifteen minute race could throw up some surprises with a number of guest drivers expected to take part and the use of a reverse grid adding to the intrigue.

The event includes a number of side attractions which include a Formula One simulator and a Barbecue on Saturday Night which includes a Race Night, the proceeds from which will go to the Barretstown charity. Perhaps the biggest initiative however is the offer of free tickets to the event courtesy of Dunlop and Total Oils and these can be claimed by contacting the Mondello Park office.

Adding to the Volkswagen theme will be paddock displays by Volkswagen owners clubs including 'Eircooled', with members displaying their vehicles as well as completing some parade laps on Sunday. To encourage all fans of air-cooled cars anyone arriving in such a vehicle will be admitted free of charge.

To gain free of charge admission to Mondello Park this weekend you need to arrive at the circuit in an air-cooled car or avail of some of the limited number of free tickets by contacting Mondello Park in advance. Otherwise, a €10 charge for adults will apply with no charge for under sixteen’s. All money raised at the gate will go to Barretstown.

For information on the Formula Vee festival see www.mondellopark.ie/vee.