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[Formula Ford, UK] Charlie Donnelly Increases UK Formula Ford Advantage |
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Monday, 15 August 2005 |
Charlie Donnelly Increases UK Formula Ford Advantage Fifteenth 2005 Podium Finish Brings Title One Step Closer
Irelands Charlie Donnelly increased his UK Formula Ford series lead to a massive 82 points following the latest championship double header at Silverstone today (Sunday August 14th). Driving on the full Grand Prix track for the first time Donnelly added another second place to his string of podium finishes and followed up with more points in the second race to edge close to securing the 2005 British Formula Ford crown.
Qualifying took place early on Sunday morning and Donnelly put in two solid performances on the unfamiliar track to line up third for both races, just behind team Jamun Racing team mate Duncan Tappy and main championship rival Joe D'Agostino.
Race one was led from start to finish by Tappy but with Donnelly having one eye on the championship situation he was happy to shadow D'Agostino in third throughout and take no chances which would jeopardise his title aspirations. Having safely tracked his rival for most of the race Donnelly was presented with second place on lap eight when the American driver retired having lost fourth gear. The championship leader then eased off and cruised home with a two second advantage over third place.
Initially the order in race two was much the same as in race one with Tappy leading from D'Agostino and Donnelly. That situation was not to last for the third placed car as Donnelly was struck by the same problem that D'Agostino had suffered in race one. The Irishman was determined that he would maintain as much as he could of the advantage he had gained in race one and soldiered on with the damaged gearbox despite his best lap being seven seconds slower than the leaders.
Donnelly dropped down the order eventually winding up in twenty second place overall but eight in his class to pick up fourteen more valuable points. His determination to do what D'Agostino had failed to do and finish the race boosted his championship chances to the point where he is now very close to building an unassailable lead at the head of the standings.
Despite the disappointment of race two and losing his record of having finished on the podium in every race this season, Donnelly was delighted to have again increased his championship lead. "Another good weekend, despite the gearbox problem in race two" was the Irishman's initial reaction. "I was happy to sit in third in race one and was delighted to be gifted second. It was unfortunate not to have taken another podium in race two but by sticking with it and finishing, I have increased my championship lead for the third event in a row, which cant be bad. The team have been great again, the gearbox problem was one of those things that can happen at any time. I cant wait for the next event at Snetterton now as all I need is to maintain my points advantage over the two races there to be crowned champion."
Rounds seventeen and eighteen of the twenty race series take place at Snetterton in Norfolk on September 24th and 25th and Donnelly will be hoping to leave the ultra fast circuit as the first Irish winner of the UK Formula Ford Championship for fifteen years.
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