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WATERFORD RACEWAY ROUND 1

The Pike 2 March 2025

The Waterford Raceway season started in chilly, dull but dry conditions at the beginning of March, with a slightly disappointing entry of 43 cars, which was less than any of last year’s rounds, although we’ll have to wait and see whether this was simply down to some of the regulars being slow to wake up from the winter break.

The major change this year has been a realignment of the classes which, in theory, should lead to a greater depth of competition in most groups. The standard 1-litre Micra based Class 1B now becomes Class 1, with the previous “modified” Class 1, that had seen a major drop off in entries over the years, now becoming Class 2, with a limit of 1200cc. The previous Classes 2 and 3 have effectively been merged with a 1400cc limit and a few engine restrictions, notably retaining the standard carburettor or injection system for the engine being used. Class 4 remains as it was, up to 1500cc 16-valve or 1650cc 8-valve, with the hope that some of the quicker, mainly Honda-powered class 3s, would move up to race w ith the outwardly similar cars in Class 4. This class still includes the Pike’s unique 1600 Hot Rods, old National Hot Rod chassis with 8-valve Opel power, of which there are still a few about, the challenge being to tempt them back to the track. Class 5 is still anything up to 1650cc with no full spaceframes allowed, and Class 6 is nominally up to 3500cc, previously featuring several Outlaw Hot Rod type cars which again need some encouragement to return to the Pike. The Juniors still race in their established Production and Rookie groups; the Productions being for drivers aged 12 to 16 in Class 1 K11 Micras, while the Rookies have a minimum age of 10, but are significantly slowed by a club supplied restrictor plate. The “Stock Rods”, normally just referred to a “Stocks” as they have no similarity with Stock Rods elsewhere, had more or less died out by the end of last year, but have one new entry so far this year, while the Ladies’ class is still very competitive despite its lack of numbers.

After four of five laps of practice for everyone, the day’s racing, sponsored by regular supporter Kieran Sandford Motors, racing started with a 10-car grids in CLASS 1, five of the ten drivers being graduates of last year’s Junior class. As expected, the racing proved very competitive; maybe a bit too much so, resulting in all drivers being reminded of the expected etiquette on a track that’s somewhat more challenging than a standard oval. After a favourable grid draw, last year’s 1B champion Callum Swayne ran away with the first heat, with Stephen O’Shea in second, holding off Junior graduates Jack Roche and Daryl Deane. When the reversed grids came into play for the second round, the action hotted up with Daryl Deane passing Aoibhe Fitzgerald for the win, while Stephen O’Shea’s “widest Micra in the west” fended off Callum Swayne and Jack Roche. Paddy Fitz and newcomer Eamon Burke completed the finishers, as Adam and Cillian Rooney, now with a yellow Micra each, after sharing a car last year, both hit problems. Daniel Eager took out one of his Wicklow-based fleet of Micras, but the back straight wall grabbed it on his first practice lap, so he completed the first heat sharing son Jamie’s Junior car instead. Eamon Burke was probably the furthest travelled driver, from Castleisland, near Tralee, but was starting his career as hopefully a Pike regular, 25 years after racing as a visitor from the Kerry clubs that are sadly now dormant.

Seven cars made it for the final, in which Cillian Rooney headed the early laps before Jack Roche took over, Jack then holding off Daryl Deane, Callum Swayne, Cillian Rooney and Aoibhe Fitzgerald in a close battle, chased by Paddy Fitzgerald although Eamon Burke dropped out when his engine went sick. Overall, Daryl Deane and Jack Roche took the top two places on their first “senior” outings, with Callum Swayne third.

CLASS 2 began controversially as the leaders battled on the road with Ladies’ class leader Katie Egan. Shane Hickey had passed Michael Kiersey for the lead, but Michael stayed with him and squeezed back onto the inside line on the last lap, the coming-together entering the last corner putting Shane out and seeing Michael win from Conor Fitzgerald. Shane’s car was off the pace in heat two, but Conor stayed with Michael and found a way past in the closing stages to take the win. In the final, Shane held off Michael all the way, with Conor in third. Michael Kiersey was the overall winner, from Conor Fitz with Shane Hickey having to settle for third, just this once!

The concurrent LADIES class was won by Katie Egan in her new 1400 Starlet-Honda, beating the Class 2s on the road each time. Second in class was Chelse Eager, struggling during the day with driveshaft problems after some winter mods. Also out in this group was Liam Kiersey, debuting a Mazda 323 in the STOCKS class.

CLASS 3 should have featured 6 cars, but Darragh Healy broke his smartly repainted Starlet-Fiat in practice. Sean Foley’s Honda-powered Starlet led all the way in the first heat, chased by Co Meath driver Sean Coss’ Starlet-Honda, holding off Mick Boland, returning to the Pike in the ex-PJ O’Sullivan Suzuki-powered Starlet. David Browne returned as part of the strong Wexford contingent, in a tidy Micra, and led the second heat away, but Mick Boland soon took over and won from Sean Foley, Sean Coss, David Browne and Danny Coss, making his Pike debut in a well turned-out Toyota-powered Starlet 70. Mick Boland won again in the final, once more followed by Sean Foley, Sean Coss, David Browne and Danny Coss. Overall Mick Boland won from Sean Foley and Sean Coss.

CLASS 4 was joined by the one CLASS 6 entry, Tom Hill in his Nissan Turbo-powered 205. It was action all the way with close battling between the three Wexford Starlet-Hondas of Andy Foley, Craig Kinsella and Kieran Cooney and Killiam Swayne’s Micra. Wayne O’Shea should have joined them, with his Micra upgraded from last year’s Class 2 spec, but his engine was a few weeks away from being finished, so he signed on to share Stephen’s Class 1 Micra, although he didn’t actually make it to the grid. Tom Hill, meanwhile, was putting on a show, drifting the immaculate 205 more and more spectacularly as he fought past the battling FWD cars. Andy Foley held off Kieran Cooney and Killian Swayne to win the first Class 4 battle, with Tom Hill passing them all in the last couple of laps to take the flag. Second time out, with Killian having problems, Craig Kinsella fended off Andy and Kieran all the way, while Tom dived past them into the last corner. The final was a four-way fight most of the way, although Killian started trailing smoke and pulled off with a couple of laps to go. Again Craig held off Andy and Kieran for the Class 4 win, with Tom again getting through for the overall win on the last lap. The Wexford men filled the podium with Andy Foley the winner from Craig Kinsella and Kieran Cooney.

The JUNIOR PRODUCTION grid, despite losing so many of last year’s front runners to the senior ranks, still held up well with eight cars. Reigning Champion Cole McGann, starting his last Junior season, had to be pushed off before the first race, which Sean Ryan led most of the way until he lost power on the last lap, handing the win to Wicklow’s Jamie Eager, who’d come through well from the back of the pack. Eoin Robinson, Sherise O’Shea, the slowing Sean Ryan, Ben Fitzgerald and Tommy Fong all crossed the line together ahead of Luke O’Connell, the only one so far stepping up from last year’s Rookie class. Tommy Fong, putting last year’s unfortunate accident behind him, led for much of the next race, eventually losing out to Sean Ryan for the win, while Cole McGann came from the back to third and Sherise O’Shea just beat Jamie Eager, Ben Fitzgerald, Tommy Robinson and Luke O’Connell in the next places.

Luke O’Connell looked to be enjoying the extra speed over the Rookies as he led the final away, before being passed by Tommy Fong, with Jamie Eager coming through to take it up and hold on to win. Tommy had to pull off in the closing stages and Sean Ryan took second from Sherise O’Shea and Ben Fitzgerald, whole Eoin Robinson just beat Luke O’Connell to the line. A penalty in one of the races cost Jamie the overall win, so Sean took that from Jamie and Sherise.

The ROOKIES completed the day’s programme with seven entries, all so far continuing from last year. Anna Fitzgerald win the first race from Tom Robinson and Keelan Gleason. The two youngest drivers, Sean D’Arcy and Keelan Gleason, both starting their first full season, took turns leading the second race before Anna came through for another win ahead of Tom, Keelan, James Leahy, Sean and Katelyn O’Connell. Ruby McCarthy, after problems in the heats, led the final away, seeing off a challenge from Sean D’Arcy before James Leahy eventually hit the front and took the win. Anna recovered from a slight moment to take second ahead of Tom, Ruby, Keelen, Sean and Katelyn. Anna took the overall win from Tom and James.

A promising start to the season then, and we’ll look forward to the second round, coming up on 30 March.