Like Christmas, it only comes once a year. However, unlike Christmas, the British Automobile Racing Club-bannered Bishopscourt event lasts only two days, and presents a unique opportunity for car racers to sample the Northern Irish track that is otherwise exclusively a motorcycle venue.
For many it’s a chance to really extend their machinery – and themselves – on a circuit that probably has more in common with Thruxton or some versions of Silverstone, than any other venue on the island of Ireland.
Once part of the Cold War early warning system, Bishopscourt first hosted motor racing in the early 1960s on a very fast three-mile lap that presented many slipstreaming opportunities. At this point the venue was still an active RAF base but, when that closed, so too did the circuit, which shut in the mid-1970s.
Jump forward 20 years and it opened again, but privately-owned by then and firmly in the hands of the bikers, who have been running it successfully ever since, despite occasional difficulties with local residents and the authorities. Then, 11 years ago, cars returned for an annual two-day outing at a venue that was now about half the original acreage. The circuit’s present length is 1.8 miles and includes the original uber-fast downhill Turns 1 & 2.
BOSS Ireland was the headline act and produced a grid of 12 cars – to begin with – but this was soon whittled down by ‘circumstance’ and a smattering of red flags. There were four of them in race one, caused by mechanical problems. However, despite the stop-start nature of the race, the Formula 3 Dallaras of Cian Carey and Tony Greenan romped away from the rest. Michael Connolly’s Dallara World Series placed third but, in the second act later, was involved in a startline adventure along with fellow World Series pilot Martin Daly and the Dallara Cosworth of Paul O’Connell.
Carey and Greenan charged away once more upon the restart, Carey’s younger car (320) leaving a new outright circuit record with a 107.55mph average speed as he stroked away from Greenan’s slightly older machine (F317). Daniel Faherty, also Dallara mounted, took the third podium position.
Irish Formula Vee never lacks entertainment, and featured more red flags, but it was Colm Blackburn who crossed the line first in both races by less than a second from Conor Melia. Kieran Hannan and Gavin Buckley were also close to the leaders, taking a third place apiece.
Among the SEAT Supercopas, Max Turley twice did the business, although was aided by a track-limits penalty for Dave Maguire in race two, while Keith Hogg also did the double in Formula Sheane. Jackie Cochrane did likewise with his ‘NASCAR’ Sunbeam Tiger among the historics, son-in-law Gareth Thompson flying wingman in both races with the unique Ginetta G10.
Irish Touring Cars proved to be a Honda benefit, Cian Walsh taking both victories from Robert Savage, although Paul Twomey managed to get a Nissan into third spot in the opener.
Mondello-based Strykers fielded a pair of strong grids with Kevin McGrath heading Niall McFadden and Nicole Drought over the line in race one, while Drought turned the tables to prevail in the second encounter. Mark Francis, brother Richard and Paul Thompson topped the lists in NI Sevens the first time around, with the brothers swapping places in the sequel.
