Mondello Park speeds into Dublin City for Christmas

Christmas shoppers heading to Grafton Street can visit the Mondello Park Pop Up Experience on 10 South Anne Street during the month of December, writes Trish Whelan.

The motorsport pop-up experience will offer shoppers a welcome respite from the crowds as well as the opportunity to experience the thrill, excitement and strategic planning involved in a real F1 race.

Visitors will be presented with the perfect ‘instagrammable’ moment as they’ll be able to line up and jump into a beautiful green Formula 1-styled single seater racing car, the closest many will ever get to emulating current world champion, Lewis Hamilton. The sensation of driving a single seater racing car just inches off the ground is unlike any other driving experience which would make the perfect Christmas gift experience for the whole family!

Visitors will be able to experience and be part of Mondello Park’s exclusive Virtual Race Academy with the F1 styled simulators and compete in the pop-up’s fastest lap competition with some really great prizes to be won on a weekly basis. Prizes will range from Mondello Park merchandise, race day experiences to the ultimate prize of aF1 Virtual Race Academy simulator for your home!

The Mondello Park Pop Up Experience is open seven days a week until 24 December 2019.

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Mondello.TV to go international

Mondello Park has announced that Mondello.TV, the Live Streaming TV channel run by the Irish circuit, is set to go International as it crosses the Irish sea to broadcast selected races, Live from the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, Kent, on October 26th & 27th.

Joining Mondello.TV in making its first overseas foray will be the Patch Tyre Equipment Fiesta Series, which is also in its début season. The championship, for identical 1250cc Zetec engined Ford Fiestas, has been a huge success in its first year and this success has led to an invite to race at the Formula Ford Festival. More than twenty cars and drivers are now set to make the trip for what will be a fantastic showcase for the new series.

Rallycross Championship set for quick conclusion

The 2012/2013 Irish Rallycross Championship heads into its final stages this weekend at Mondello Park, with Sunday's round six being run by the Carlow Car Club.

Following a long summer break the eight round series will be completed with a quick-fire run of three events within five weeks, finishing with round eight on November 24th.

The Irish Rallycross Championship is currently undergoing a switch from being a Winter championship to running over a calendar year. The current series has been running since October 2012 and following the final three rounds of the 2012/13 series the new championship will begin in February.

Subaru Impreza mounted Andrew Morris is the current leader of the Supercar standings, closely followed by three drivers, John Kelly, Declan Kelly and Thomas O'Rafferty. Morris has a five point lead over John Kelly with his Mitsubishi Evo, while four points further back, Declan Kelly and Thomas O'Rafferty are locked together in joint third place with their Ford Fiesta Supercars. With twenty points for a win these four, along with Subaru driver Paul Pascoe, can all still lift the title.

Mondello Park Jap-Fest

It's almost time for the 2013 Mondello Park Jap-Fest as the County Kildare circuit prepares itself for the biggest Modified Car show of the year, writes Fergus Brennan. The annual festival of Japanese Motoring and Motorsport takes place on Sunday September 8th with support from Monster Energy and a line-up headed by Ireland’s premier Drifting Championship.

While the 2013 Irish Drift Championship decider will be the main attraction at the show there will be much more going on both on and off the track. The show will also feature the final round of the 2013 Irish Time-Attack Series, Car and Motorcycle stunts, Ireland's most impressive Modified Japanese Motors, a show and Shine competition supported by Autoglym and a massive trade area.

Star attractions at Mondello Truck Show 2013

It's all go at Mondello Park as final preparations are being made for Ireland's Biggest Truck Show in 2013, writes Trish Whelan.

The two-day Festival of Trucks to be held at the Co Kildare motor racing circuit on Saturday and Sunday next 20/21 July will feature a number of unique star attractions.

The big attraction is once again the British Racing Championship trucks, with demonstration races on both days of the show. The Racing Trucks will be joined by Round 5 of the Irish Time-Attack Championship where some of Ireland's top cars will battle it out for the fastest lap of the day.

Stunt Ireland will also have some of its top riders there to entertain the crowds while Drift Demo - James Deane and Adrian Walsh will be taking part in the new IDC (Irish Drift Championship) with Deane running his brand new Falken Tyres Mazda RX7 Drift car.

Further on-track entertainment will be provided by the Stop & Go competitors where exhibitors in their tractor-units can drag race each other down the straight and have to stop suddenly within a stop box. The knock-out competition will see the 2013 Irish Champion crowned.

The Courier Race sees courier companies go head-to-head on the main Mondello track where they have to collect, load, unload and deliver their parcels faster than the opposition!

There will also be Truck Displays in the centre Paddock with exhibitors and lines of shining trucks parked all the way out onto the International Loop as in the past.

All prize winners will also receive a Mondello Park Supercar Experience Course with the chance to drive a Porsche car.

The Show concludes on Sunday afternoon with the legendary Ireland's biggest convoy.

Revived Formula Vee Festival at Mondello

Mondello Park

For the second year running, the Irish Formula Vee festival will take place at Mondello Park this coming weekend (July 6th & 7th) with an innovative and exciting event format and live internet streaming on Mondello.TV, writes Fergus Brennan.

The revival of this event proved very popular last season and the event returns with continued backing from Dunlop Tyres.

A total of eight Formula Vee races will be run over the two days starting with the championship encounters on Saturday. The festival will then kick into action on Sunday, with three heats followed by two semi-finals and the final.

Patch Type Equipment Fiesta Championship

The recent introduction of a new budget saloon racing series, the Patch Tyre Equipment Fiesta Championship, has been Irish Motor Racings' success story of the year. Having only been conceived in late 2012 the series is already providing the biggest grids and most competitive racing of any Irish championship.

The formula of near standard cars with tightly controlled regulations and very strict policing has enticed drivers from a number of other series to take part, along with the biggest ever influx of new competitors to be created by a new class.

With such a wide variety of levels of experience on the grid, amongst the almost forty competitors, the organisers, Mondello Park, have decide to offer an additional incentive to new comers in the form of a Rookie Cup.

Weekend of celebration for 'Mondello 45'

Mondello 45, a celebration of 45 years of Ireland's only International Motor Racing Circuit, is set to take place at Mondello Park this Saturday night followed by a full days racing on Sunday, writes Fergus Brennan.

Saturday night's Birthday celebration will be hosted by Mondello Park owner Martin Birrane and will include a rare interview with Mr. Birrane along with interviews with Stuart Cosgrave, one of the founders of the circuit, and other famous names from Mondello Park's past and present. Prior to the party a guided tour of the Circuit's museum will take place at 19:00 and both the museum tour and the party are free events open to all motorsport enthusiasts.

Further details of 'Mondello 45' Celebrations

Mondello Park

With less than two weeks to go to the biggest car race event of the season thus far, more details of the 'Mondello 45' have been confirmed.

The 45th Birthday celebrations for Ireland's only International Motorsport venue, take place over the weekend of June 8th & 9th beginning with a special evening on the night of Saturday 8th in the circuit’s Clubhouse Bar.

To mark the occasion and for the first time, circuit owners past and present will appear on stage together to give the audience a real insight into Mondello Park, from its conception to the current day.

Jack (13) qualifies for Pro Championship event

The first round of the new premier Irish Drifting Series, the Irish Drift Championship, produced a number of star performances including one by thirteen year old Prodrift Academy graduate Jack Shanahan from County Cork, writes Fergus Brennan of Mondello Park.

Competing in the Semi Pro division, and the concurrent Rookie Cup, Shanahan wowed the judges with some superb drives which saw him finish as second best rookie and third overall in the Semi-Pro competition.

The opening round of the IDC took place in Mondello Park, Co Kildare, the home of the Prodrift Academy, where Shanahan first learned his Drifting skills. Eighty drivers across three classes rolled into the historic Motorsport venue, vying to rise to the top of their respective divisions.

Truck Show and Racing return to Mondello

After more than a 10-year absence, the Mondello Truck Show makes a welcome return to the Irish Show scene complete with the return of the popular Truck Racers. Always one of Mondello Park's most popular events, this two-day festival of road transport will be held at the County Kildare motor racing circuit on 20 & 21 July.

Truck displays, trade stands and competitions will form the main off-track ingredients of the show. On-track entertainment will be provided by the popular Truck Racing, which will see a selection of the top trucks from the UK championship take part in a number of demonstration races over the two days of the show. The 1000hp racers will be backed up by a number of additional track activities, including a Truck V's Car Car challenge and the Irish Time-Attack championship.

Mondello launches corporate website

Mondello Park has just launched a new Corporate website to showcase its venue and activities to potential visitors, both domestic and international.

Since its opening back in 1968, Mondello Park has been established as the home of Irish Motorport. The County Kildare track was purchased by UK based Irishman Martin Birrane in 1986 and with major redevelopments in the last ten years, is now a top class corporate event venue.

As well as the 3.5km Internationa Circuit, the 120 acre site also hosts a 4x4 course, plenty of open spaces for Clay Shooting, Falconry and other activities. The Pitlane Garage complex also houses ten Corporate Suites, all with wifi, and a full hotel spec kitchen where the resident chef can produce anything required by Mondello's many corporate guests.

The 55 vehicles on their fleet means you can drive a variety of vehicles, from 4x4 Jeeps, Porsche Supercars and Racing Saloon cars, even a F1 style single seater race car, all with the help of highly trained instructors.

Full details are now available on Mondello Park's newly launched corporate website - www.mondello.ie/corporate

Novice wins 'Become A Racing Driver' competition

Novice racer Stephen O'Keeffe was presented with the opportunity to fulfil his Motor Racing Dreams at Mondello Park last weekend, as he was announced as the winner fo the 2013 Mondello Park and Sheane Cars sponsored 'Become A Racing Driver' Competition.

The Corkman can now look forward to racing in the Irish Formula Sheane Championship this year with all costs covered.

31 year old O'Keefe became the third winner of the competition following in the footsteps of Mayo's Sean Hynes and Bray's Timmy Swail. The prize is valued at over €15,000 and will provide him with everything he needs to go motor racing including coaching, all testing and entry fees, use of a Formula Sheane race car supplied and maintained by the Sheane Factory in Wicklow, all running costs and a fulls et of racewear to keep, courtesy of Murray Motorsport.

The next Stage for Stephen will be a test day at Mondello Park before tackling his first race weekend at Bishopscourt, Co Down in May.

'Classic Live' at Mondello

This Father's day, Mondello Park will once again play host to the Classic Car and Motorcycle event of the year, writes Fergus Brennan, 'Classic Live', in association with Irish Vintage Scene magazine.

The show will feature more than 800 exhibits many of which will take to the track at some stage during the event, and will be a huge attraction for families looking for a unique way to entertain their dad on Fathers day.

Return of Summer Rallycross to Mondello Park

Both the UK Rallycross Championship, and Summer Rallycross, are welcomed back to Mondello Park on Sunday 12th June with the staging of round 3 of the 2011 Quaife MSA British Rallycross Championship by the County Kildare Motor Club, writes Fergus Brennan.

A massive ninety car entry is expected to take to the grid with the spectacular Rallycross Supercars heading the bill, supported by a very healthy grid of Supermodified cars, the first appearance in Ireland of the RX150 Buggies and the Irish début of the Suzuki Swift one-make series. To celebrate the return of the series to Ireland, Mondello Park is offering Adult admission for just €10, with under sixteen’s free of charge. In addition groups travelling together can make even bigger savings with a car full of spectators gaining entry for just €30.

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Alfas will dominate Classic Car Show

The annual Classic Car Show scheduled for this coming weekend at Mondello will feature one of the biggest gatherings of Alfa Romeo cars ever seen in Ireland.

As part of the centenery celebrations of the Italian brand, Alfas will be the centrepiece of the show and all of them will take part in the final parade.

Cars of various vintages are expected, from pre war racing cars to iconic sixties classics such as the Alfa Spyder and more modern sporting saloons such as the GTV and 75, with the display topped off by a selection of cars from the current Alfa range.

Three groups of high speed track sessions for performance cars will start the day off and will be followed by races for historic saloons and sportscars, Pre 1955 race cars and historic single seaters. The track activity will be rounded off by one of the most popular parts of 'Classic Car Live', the parade laps, where show exhibitors get the chance to take their cars for some slow laps of the circuit.

Tickets for the event are priced at €10 for adults with under 16s admitted free.

ITCC next weekend at Mondello

The new Mondello Park car race season gets under way this weekend with all eyes on the eagerly anticipated debut of the Irish Touring Car Championship (ITCC). Sunday's nine race programme, organised by the Irish Motor Racing Club, will offer a mix of single seater, saloon and sportscar action, with the ITCC expected to be the big attraction as it brings back variety to a Saloon Racing scene dominated by one-make championships.

The new ITCC series will take over from the Mondello Park organised 'Saloon Libre' class and is open to any modified car as long as it is based on a four seater production vehicle. The championship will feature a host of drivers making the switch from other saloon racing series, some from the Mondello Park Time-Attack championship and an influx of Track Day drivers taking their first steps into competitive motorsport.

Despite only being announced earlier this year at least twenty cars are expected to make the grid for the championship's first ever race and all of the cars in the series will be familiar to the man on the street, which is part of its attraction. Hot-hatch favourites such as the Honda Civic, Honda Integra and Volkswagen Golf Gti will be joined by BMW, Mazda, Mini, Peugeot, Opel and Rover, with many other makes expected to join in as the season progresses. The championship kicks off with a single race scheduled for 14:00 and is expected to draw a large new audience of modified car and track day enthusiasts.

Also guaranteed to provide excitement at the season opener will be the ever popular Formula Vee class, which lines-up for its usual qualifying race and final, with the qualifier opening proceedings at noon. A more than thirty car entry will battle it out through qualifying, and the 'B' race, to decide the grid for the 'A' race, which will be one of the highlights of the day. Less numerically strong but just as entertaining will be the high speed Formula Libre single seaters, which this season will move up a notch in terms of competitiveness, due to the arrival of some very quick and relatively modern Formula 3 machinery.

Supporting the Saloon and single seater feature events will be two classes opening their season with double headers, the super-fast Global Lights and the ultra competitive combination of Fiat Punto's and Uno's. The programme will be completed by a single race for historic racing cars. Adult admission to Sunday's event is just €15.00 with under 16s admitted free of charge, further information is available from the Mondello Park web site where fans can also subscribe to the circuits free email and text alert service.

Fergus Brennan.