Following a season which saw reductions in entries across all of its events in 2009 Mondello Park has announced an exciting programme for 2010 which sees the return of a number of overseas championships and the introduction of a number of all new events.
Car racing events are set for a shake up in 2010 with new event formats and the return of some International classes. On the domestic Championship front a smaller number of more spectator friendly car racing dates, with more races per event, will be run. Classes with smaller grids will run together to free up time and this will also allow entry fees to be reduced for the coming season. To facilitate the event programme, Saturday afternoon qualifying from 4:00pm – 6:00pm will be introduced at some events and this will allow Sunday to be taken up almost entirely by racing.
One of the International championships making a return to Mondello Park this season will be the Pick-Up Racing series from the UK and they will be the feature class of a two day event in July, where it is hoped a UK Pick-Up V’s Irish Supercar challenge race will be part of the programme. In addition to this, initial agreement has been reached to run a Pick Up for double Irish Champion Rod McGovern, which will add further excitement to the event. A feature race for the Leinster Trophy event in September is also being worked on with a well known International championship which is looking to make a return to Ireland.
Short circuit Motorcycling in the Republic of Ireland will also see some changes in 2010 with the Mondello Clubman and National championship events, which previously ran separately, being combined within a new race day format which will include a Mondello Park championship for the first time. The big prize money, Mondello Masters, will continue to be a part of the circuit’s calendar in 2010 with a single event scheduled for October. With just one, end of season, Masters event to concentrate on the circuit’s management intend increasing the prize money and promotional budgets with the aim of attracting an even more impressive line-up than achieved for previous Masters races. Further information on the Masters event will be announced as the season progresses.
Endurance will be a key word for the circuit during the coming season as three long distance events could potentially feature in the calendar. The very popular Fun-Cup endurance series returns to Mondello Park following a year off and this Europe wide series for VW Beetle look-alikes will hit Mondello in August for a single six hour event. In advance of that, discussions are at an advance stage between Mondello Park, the IMRC and UK/Irish Historic Competitors with a view to hosting the venues first ever historic long-distance races with the running of a Historic Endurance Car event in April. The first distance event of the season will however be the longest, and possibly the slowest, as an eight hour charity motorcycle race will open the two wheeled season at the circuit on February14th. The reason the event will be the slowest is due to it being run for standard Honda 50’s. Fifty teams of four riders will battle around the Mondello National circuit with ! lap times in the region of two minutes, double that of a Superbike, expected to be the norm. The Valentine’s Day Mondello enduro will be run as a benefit for the Dublin Rape Crisis centre and with a number of very big names from Irish Motorcycle racing being lined up to take part it should be a lot of fun.
The final new initiative will be the first ever running of Tarmac Multi-Stage Rallysprints at the Kildare venue. Two events are currently scheduled, one in February and one in July and the first of these single venue Rallies will be organised and promoted by The Rallysport Association. February’s event will not only be the first ever Mondello event of its kind, but will also be the first ever Inter-Provincial Rallysprint competition. Competitors will compete for individual glory with the top ten drivers from each province scoring for their team. Awards will be presented for the overall result as well as in a number of classes with the top province also receiving a perpetual trophy.
Speaking on the announcement of the 2010 calendar, Mondello Park managing director john Morris said, “Having emerged from a difficult year for Motorsport, we’ve been able to re-organise and consolidate our racing activities to give competitors better value for money and spectators a better show on the day. Currently 2010 is shaping up to be a better year and hopefully the sport will be stronger at the end of it.”
2010 will be one of the most varied and exciting years in the more than forty year history of the circuit as the venue continues to grow and diversify. Full details of all of Mondello’s upcoming events, along with additions to the programme, will be available through www.mondellopark.ie, where spectators can also sign up for free text and email alerts to keep them up to date with all the news from Irelands only International Motorsport venue.