Cross makes it two wins from two

CURRENT Formula Vee champion and 2023 series leader Anthony Cross made it two wins from two starts after taking victory in the second round of the Selco.ie championship at Mondello Park on Saturday, reports Barry Cregg.

His points haul was further boosted by the fact that runner-up in round one Jack Byrne got put off track causing him not to score any points in this round.

Qualifying was very close as always with the top eight drivers covered by the same second.

Lee Newsome and Colm Blackburn locked out the front row with Cross and Jack Byrne in third and fourth.

Blackburn got the best start and moved ahead on Newsome on the run towards turn one.

Cross slotted into third and then on the exit of turn two a missed gear by Newsome allowed Cross by on the run towards turn three.

Blackburn held firm in the lead holding his racing line round the tight county Kildare track making it hard for those behind to get by.

Further behind Ronan Doherty the young man from Antrim who has shown great pace already in his first year of racing collided with Sean Newsome at the final corner.

The safety car was deployed for several laps to take Sean Newsome back to the paddock.

On the restart Blackburn held the lead but only for a lap as Cross made his move going into turn one.

Byrne tried to follow but was blocked but was successful a lap later.

The front three were now out on their own and providing great entertainment for the spectators.

Three abreast arriving into turn one each lap with only an inch between each other’s wheels.

Cross though again showed why he is the current champion, keeping his laps tidy and smooth, holding his racing line making those behind work hard to try and get by.

While under massive pressure he again soaked it all up.

However, Blackburn had not given up just yet and got back into the lead in a move going into the esses.

Cross responded immediately with a move round the outside at turn one which also let Byrne past by turn two.

This move by Cross would prove vital in the outcome.

Two laps later Blackburn tried to go for a gap that wasn’t there and hit the back wheel of Byrne spinning him round at turn one.

Afterwards Cross was relieved to get the win.

“Again, qualifying was tight, and I wanted to be on the front row but it wasn’t to be but I got a good start and got into second on lap two and settled in.

“It was a great race with Colm and Jack it was close the whole way.

“Then Jack was gone and I had a small gap to hold for the last lap so I just brought it home”.

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