Sport

Dempsey to give it his best shot in three-in-a-row bid

MOTORSPORT: PETER DEMPSEY is one of Ireland's most successful sports people competing abroad, the 22-year-old Ashbourne driver…

BRIAN FOLEY
Fri Aug 22 2008 - 01:00

MOTORSPORT:PETER DEMPSEY is one of Ireland's most successful sports people competing abroad, the 22-year-old Ashbourne driver winning two successive rounds of the Star Mazda Championship at Road America, Wisconsin, and Trois-Rivieres in Canada.

Driving for the Texas-based Andersen Racing, Dempsey led from pole on all 40 laps of the 1.506-mile street circuit in the Quebec town, also setting the fastest lap at a speed of 87.802mph. He almost had to pull out of the North American equivalent to European Formula Three due to lack of funding.

Following his back-to-back wins, Dempsey said: "It is hard to believe that three weeks ago it looked like I was going to have to stop. It is thanks to Dan Andersen and his team that I am now back in the hunt for the championship."

Dempsey goes for a hat-trick of wins tomorrow at the Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario. "It's a big ask to win three-in-a-row but I will give it my best shot," said Dempsey.

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Eamonn Boland (Wexford) and Damien Morrissey (Waterford) can clinch the Global Tarmac Rally Championship in the Toddsleap Ulster International Rally which starts today in Armagh City. They have 75 points from six rounds, with Mark Higgins second on 40 points. Gareth MacHale on 34 points is best of the rest.

Boland, Kevin Lynch, Kenny McKinstry, Peadar Huirson and Derek McGarrity in Subaru WRCs are seeded in front of the British Championship contenders Mark Higgins (Subaru Impreza), Guy Wilks and Gwyndaf Evans in Mitsubishi Evos, and David Higgins (Impreza) in Group N cars. Number two seeded Eugene Donnelly has withdrawn.

The Higgins brothers, David on 48 points and Mark on 40, lead the British Championship. David Bogie (Dumfries) on 39 points leads the British Mitsubishi Challenge. Ulstermen Richard Cathcart (38) and Neil McCance (31) are split by Nick Elsmore (34). Early leader Danny Barry (Enniskerry) has slipped to fifth on 28 points, with Keith Cronin (Bantry) sixth on 24 points.

Following two recent wins in Limerick, Simon McKinley has pulled out a two-point lead over reigning champion Paul O'Connell in the Magnus Technology Hillclimb and Sprint Championship. The MEC's weekend speed events at Ashford, Co Wicklow are the two penultimate rounds.

Sunday's race meeting at Mondello Park includes important championship rounds. Brian Kelly (92 points) heads Paul Sammin (87) in Formula Vee.

Jonathan Fildes (85) leads Rod McGovern (75) and Ronayne O'Malley (64) in Dunlop Supercars. Clive Pratt (104) leads Liam Denning (91) in Fiat Abarths; Alister Kellett (138) heads Gary Cunningham (109) in the Punto series and in the Uno class, the leader is Alan Quinn (120) from BJ McHenry (110).

Dan Daly, Ken Fildes and Eamon Matheson are the top three in the fastest race of the day for Formula Libre cars.

Ford Escort Mk2s driven by Pat Donegan, Rodney Wilton, Gary McPhillips, Trevor Mulligan and Michael Curran are split by the Toyota Celica GT4 of number two seed Tom Holton in Sunday's Hellfire Rally run out of Oldcastle. Stuart Darcy in a Subaru Impreza is seeded number seven.

WEEKEND FIXTURES, Today: Northern Ireland MC, Ulster International Rally, starts Armagh, 3pm. Saturday: Ulster International Rally, restarts Armagh, 7am; MEC, Sprint 1, Ashford, Co Wicklow, 11am. Sunday: Castle AC, Hellfire Rally, starts Oldcastle, Co Meath, 10am; TDC, Autotest, Burgage, Blessington, Co Wicklow, 10am; MEC, Sprint 2, Ashford, Co Wicklow, 11am; Co Kildare MC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, noon.