Category: Car Racing

Motorsport Ireland Leinster Trophy Car Race 1934-Present

Tallaght Motor Racing Circuit 1938 [Reference: 7]

Leinster Trophy Car Race 1935-1949

YearWinnersCar
Skerries CircuitHandicap Libre
1934Jack Toohey1645cc Adler Trumpf
Tallaght CircuitHandicap Libre
1935Jack Toohey933cc Ford
1936Jack Toohey933cc Ford
1937Desmond McCracken1.122cc Morgan
1938“Jock” St. John Horsfall1.950cc Aston Martin
1939C. Ernie Robb1.496cc Alvis Special
1948William Leeper972cc Sieger
1949Race Cancelled
Wicklow CircuitHandicap Libre
1950M. Pearse Cahill1287cc Iona Special
1951Mike Hawthorn1496cc TT Riley BWK324
1952J. Desmond TitteringtonAllard J2
1953Freddie SmithFord Special
1954Bill Lacey1250cc MG TD
1955David Piper 746cc Empire Lotus IV
1956J. Brian Naylor1484 cc Lotus Eleven Maserati
1957J. Brian Emerson948cc Buckler
Dunboyne CircuitHandicap Libre
1958John W. Anstice-Brown948cc Austin Healey Sprite
1959R. Alec Jameson692cc Berkeley
1960Gerry Ashmore1475cc Cooper Climax F2
1961Tommy Hayden1098CC Lola Climax
1962Bob Olthoff3000cc Austin Healey
1963Sidney J. Taylor1216cc Lotus Elite
1964Jack Pearse1594cc Lotus Kincraft Ford 4.7
1965Chris Summers5308cc Lotus 24 Chevrolet V8
1966cancelled- ferry strike
Bishops CourtHandicap Libre
1967Dave Furlong1498cc Lotus 7 Ford
Mondello Park Club CircuitFormula Libre
1968John Pollock1.6L Crossle 12F Ford
Mondello Park National CircuitFormula Libre
1969John Pollock1.6L F2 Lotus 48 Ford
1970Brian Nelson1.6L Crossle 18F Ford
1971John Watson1.6L Brabham BT30 Ford
1972Ken Fildes1.8L Crossle 22F
Mondello Park National CircuitFormula Atlantic
1973Tommy ReidBrabham BT38/40 Chevrolet
1974Patsy McGarrityChevron B25 Ford BDA
1975Jay PollockCrossle 28F Ford DBA
1976Patsy McGarrityChevron B29 Ford DBA
1977Patsy McGarrityChevron B29 Ford DBA
Mondello Park National CircuitBritish Formula 3
1978Eddie JordanChevron B29 DBA
1979Trevor TempletonRait RT1/78 Toyota
1980Trevor TempletonRait RT1/78 Toyota
1981Ray MallockRait RT4-218 Ford
Mondello Park National CircuitEFDA FF 2000
1982Ayrton SennaVan Diemen RF82 Ford
1983Cor EuserVan Diemen RF83 Ford
1984Mauricio GugelminReynard SF84 Ford
1985Bertrand FabiReynard SF84 Ford
1986Henrik LarsenReynard SF86 Ford
1987J.J. LehtoReynard SF87 Ford
Mondello Park National CircuitEFDA GM Opel Lotus Euroseries
1988Mika HakkinenReynard FVL Mk.1 Opel 2.0L
1989Paolo de CristofaroReynard FVL Mk.1 Opel 2.0L
1990Vincenzo SospiriReynard FVL Mk.1 Opel 2.0L
Mondello Park National CircuitUK Vauxhall Lotus
1991Jason ElliottReynard FVL Mk.1 Opel 2.0L
Mondello Park National CircuitFormula Lotus Opel Irelande
1992Wym EckmansReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
1993David L.WrightReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
1994Vivion DalyReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
Mondello Park National CircuitEFDA GM Opel Lotus Euroseries
1995Jason WattReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
1996Derek CunneelyReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
1997Marcello BattistuzziReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
Mondello Park International CircuitEFDA GM Opel Lotus Euroseries
1998Etienne van der LindeReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
1999Tomas SchekterReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
Mondello Park International CircuitFormula Europa Cup Ireland
2000Paul DaggReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
2001John O’HaraReynard FVL Mk.2 Opel 2.0L
Mondello Park International CircuitFormula Ireland
2002Robby ColemanVan Diemen FR02 Ford 2.0L
2003Emmett QueenanVan Diemen FR02 Ford 2.0L
Mondello Park International CircuitFormula BMW UK
2004Simon Walker-HansellMygale Formula BMW FB02 1.2L
Mondello Park International CircuitFormula Ford 1600
2005Neville SmythRay GRS05 Ford
2006Kris LoaneVan Diemen RF92 Ford
2007Peter DempseyRay GRS07 Ford
2008Robert BarrableSwift Ford
Mondello Park International CircuitFormula Vee
2009Garry NewsomeSheane VW
2010Daniel PollerySheane VW
2011Ray MooreLeastone 004 VW
Mondello Park International CircuitFormula Sheane
2012Kevin SheaneSheane VW
2013Barry RabbittSheane VW
Mondello Park International CircuitFormula Ford 1600
2014Stephen DalyRay GR11 Ford
2015Stephen DalyRay GR11 Ford
Mondello Park International CircuitBoss Ireland
2016Hywel LloydDallara F3/08 Mercedes
2017Cian ClearyDallara F3/11 VW
2018Stephen DalyDallara F308/11
2019Barry RabbittTatuus F Renault
International Leinster Trophy Car Race 1935-Present Winners [Reference: 1-5]
Leinster Trophy 2019 [Photo topgear.ie][Ref: 8]

Report

The Leinster Trophy Car Race is the Highlight of the Motorsport Ireland Calendar. It has a long history dating back to 1934, and is currently run over the International Circuit at Mondello Park, Co. Kildare, but was also run at the Skerries Circuit in 1934 before moving to Tallaght (1935-1949), Wicklow (1950-1957), Dunboyne, Co. Meath (1958-1966) and Bishops Court in 1967 before moving to the Mondello Park Circuit.

The Leinster Motorcycle & Car Club was founded in 1921. In 1923 they began organissing 100-mile Motor-Cycle Races, and in 1930 the Leinster Trophy moved to a new circuit around Skerries-Rush-Lusk. In 1934 they ran the first Leinster Trophy Car Race, which was won by Miss Fay Taylour, driving a car owned by Fianna Fail TD, Robert Briscoe.

In 1935 the circuit moved to Tallaght, as the Skerries circuit was not suited to 4-wheeled vehicles, and the race continued around the Tallaght Circuit until 1939, and the outbreak of World War II. It was restarted in 1948, and continued for two years.

Two sons of Arthur Conan-Doyle, who wrote The Sherlock-Holmes books, took part in one of the races.

The race ran from Main St, Tallaght, along to Templeogue Bridge, then down Firhouse Road to Old Bawn, and back up to Main St, Tallaght.

The Circuit moved to Wicklow in 1950 and the Dunboyne, Co. Meath in 1958, before finding a permanent home in Mondello Park, Co. Kildare in 1968. The race became part of Formula Atlantic in 1973 and then in 1978, British Formula 3, with Eddie Jordan, later to own a Formula 1 team, winning the race that year driving a Chevron B29 DBA

Other famous winners have included Formula 1 Champions, Ayrton Senna, in 1982, driving a Van Diemen RF82 Ford, and Mika Hakkinen, in 1988, driving a Reynard FVL Mk.1 Opel 2.0L. it was during this period, 1982 to 1999, that the Leinster Trophy became part of the European Formula Drivers Association. Most winners during this time drove Reynards, either Reynard FVL Mk.1 or Mk.2 Opel 2.0L or Reynard SF84 Ford

In 2000, the race became part of Formula Ford 1600, most years, with Stephen Daly winning twice in 2014-2015, and again in 2018.

Tallaght Motor Racing Circuit 1930s [Reference: 6]

References

Websites

[1] South Dublin County Council Library (2018) The Tallaght Motor Racing Circuit 1935-1948 [Internet] Available from: https://localstudies.wordpress.com/2018/08/23/the-tallaght-motor-racing-circuit-1935-1948/ [Accessed 21 January 2020]

[2] South Dublin County Council Library (2018) Motor Race Posters 5 [Internet] Available from: https://localstudies.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/motor-races-poster-5.png [Accessed 21 January 2020]

[3] Manning Brian, Motorsport.ie (2018) Leinster Trophy 75th Anniversary Facts & Figures [Internet] Available from: https://motorsport.ie/2018/09/12/leinster-trophy-75th-anniversary-facts-figures-by-brian-manning/?fbclid=IwAR13bM9MtqJPx6BJL7O09ad90cmzbP_1JrvcFT1it1nEZoF7pik9gLgDWwA [Accessed 14 May 2020]

[4] Motorsport Ireland (2018) Results for 15/16 September 2018 [Internet] Available from: http://www.motorsportireland.com/results/18-09-16/Results_for_15_16_September_2018.aspx [Accessed 14 May 2020]

[5] Motorsport Ireland (2019) Results for 14/15 September 2019 [Internet] Available from: http://www.motorsportireland.com/results/19-09-15/Results_for_14_15_September_2019.aspx [Accessed 14 May 2020]

Images

[6] The Old Neighborhood of Tallaght (2020) Photo by Gerard Byrne January 16, 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/82831633_2841136469308052_8550734644532740096_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ohc=LgqZziLm1rEAX-d9ty6&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=273a80ebca45486f28c0d39fd4bebc18&oe=5ED8022B [Accessed 21 January 2020]

[7] The Old Neighborhood of Tallaght (2020) Photo by Gerard Byrne January 16, 2020 “Tallaght 1938 a very rural place” [Internet] Available from:https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/82451742_2845370152218017_9178026459338375168_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=EtfknZ95SdMAX8oSdep&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=e8e76b2681b2feba22df578c9c98eea9&oe=5E9AADA3 [Accessed 21 January 2020]

[8] Top Gear (2019) Car Race Season Closes with Annual Leinster Trophy [Internet] Available from: https://i2.wp.com/www.topgear.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/fullsizeoutput_5b42.jpeg?zoom=1.25&fit=1024%2C683 [Accessed 14 May 2020]

Further Reading

McCullagh, Robin, The Tallaght Motor Races 1935-1948 (Dublin, 2011).

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Richard Declan Mulcahy

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 14 May 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.