Mondello Park
 | This article includes a list of generalreferences,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(December 2021) |
 Map of the track | |
| Location | Caragh,County Kildare,Ireland |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT(UTC+0) IST(April–October,UTC+1) |
| Coordinates | 53°15′27″N006°44′42″W/ 53.25750°N 6.74500°W |
| FIA Grade | 4[a] |
| Owner | Birrane family[1] |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Major events | Former: BSB(2003–2007) BTCC(2001–2006) British GT(2004–2006) EuroBOSS Series(1996–1999, 2001–2002, 2006) FIA Sportscar Championship(2001) |
| International Circuit (1998–present) | |
| Length | 3.621 km (2.250 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:28:708 ( Johnny Laursen,Benetton B197,2006,F1) |
| Intermediate Circuit (1998–present) | |
| Length | 2.816 km (1.750 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| National Circuit (1969–present) | |
| Length | 1.860 km (1.156 miles) |
| Turns | 6 |
| Race lap record | 0:47:380 ( Sylvie Mullins,Gould GR55,2023,BOSS Ireland) |
| Short Circuit (1968–present) | |
| Length | 1.250 km (0.699 miles) |
| Turns | 6 |
Mondello ParkisIreland's only international motorsport venue and is located inCaragh,County Kildareoff theR409regional road,approximately 48 km (30 mi) fromDublincity centre.
History
[edit]The Mondello Park short circuit was designed on farmland nearNaasinCounty Kildareby Stuart Cosgrave in 1966, following the demise of theDunboynemotor races on traditional and dangerous roads inCounty Meath.The circuit opened in 1968, and was extended via the National Loop the following year. Well-known Irish drivers such asDerek Daly,David Kennedy,Tommy ByrneandEddie Jordancut their teeth on the circuit in the 1970s and early 1980s, going on to international fame, but financial difficulties emerged thereafter.
Mondello was purchased by businessmanMartin Birranewith the Royal Irish Automobile Club in 1986, and Birrane bought the facility outright one year later once the scale of investment became clear. The circuit was extended to 3.621 km (2.250 mi) with the opening of the International Circuit in 1998. Subsequent upgrades includedFIAcertification and pit garages with hospitality and conferencing facilities above, along with a museum that features significant cars from international motorsport history including aJordan 194andJordan EJ14,severalLola Carsexamples reflecting Birrane's ownership of the marque, machinery that ten-timesLe Mansdriver Birrane raced in period, and other items of motorsport history.
Notable Leinster Trophy winners at Mondello include thriceF1world championAyrton Senna(then known as Ayrton da Silva) in 1982, F1 race driversJohn Watson,Mika HakkinenandTakuma Sato;andJordan Grand PrixfounderEddie Jordanduring his driving career.
Guest appearances and demonstration runs at Mondello include those by Jordan driverDamon Hillas guest of honour, World Rally ChampionCarlos Sainzin hisToyota Corolla World Rallycar,andDavid Kennedyshaking down aJordan Mugen-Honda 199in 1999, broadcast onRTÉduring a season that marked Jordan's most successful campaign whileNorthern IrishdriverEddie Irvinechallenged for the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, marking a high-point for Irish motorsport on the international stage.
The2000smarked the most high profile time for the Irish Circuit, as Domestic series fromGreat Britaincame over to Mondello Park every year. These included theBritish Touring Car Championshipwhich ran from 2001–2006, theBritish GT Championshipfrom 2004–2006 and theBritish Superbike Championshipwhich ran from 2003–2007 where Jonathan Rea took his first ever BSB win in the last ever race at the circuit. Mondello Park also hosted a round of theFIA Sportscar Championshipin2001.
Mondello Park is now owned by Birrane's family following his death in 2018.[2]
Events
[edit]Currently, Irish Car Championship, Rallycross,kartandPrincipal InsuranceMasters Superbike Championship racing events take place. In the past Mondello Park hosted the Irish round of theBritish Superbike Championship,British Touring Car Championship,British GT Championshipand theBritish Formula Three Championship.InternationalPickup Truck Racing,FIA Sportscar Championship,EuroBOSSand historic car racing events also have taken place.
The biggest Irish circuit racing events, Formula Vee Festival and Leinster Trophy, take place in Mondello Park every year.
Other recurring motorsport events includedriftingchampionship, Jap-Fest, Ireland's only Japanese car show, Historic Festival, historic car show and racing event. Mondello Park Racing School is on-site. General public car and motorbike circuit track days are organised. A small museum containing a number of rally and track cars from the past 30 or so years is also on-site.
The 2019 motor racing season at Mondello Park consisted of car racing days, 6 rallycross racing days, 7 drift days and 26 motorcycle racing days. Formula Vee Festival took place on 13–14 July, and Leinster Trophy on 14–15 September.
In the 2020 motor racing season Mondello Park had plans to host 16 car racing days, 7 rallycross racing days, 12 drift days and 14 motorbike racing days, however, the calendar was disrupted byCOVID-19 pandemicrestrictions.
In 2021 Mondello Park signed a 5-year deal to promote and organise Irish Circuit Racing.[3]In past years, various Irish Motor Clubs shared this task. Irish Circuit Racing consisted of 5 two-day events in 2021. Mondello Park has also hosted 5 rounds of Rallycross, 5 rounds of Rallysprint, Fiesta Endurance Race, and a number of motorbike racing days in 2021.
The circuit
[edit]It was established in 1968. Following investment and development in 1999–2000, the circuit was awarded FIA International status in 2001.
Situated on 110 acres the facility incorporates 3.621 km (2.250 mi) of race track, 24 race garages and 12 Hospitality Suites. It is host to national and international race events, motor shows, car & bike track days, training schools and corporate events.
The Circuit also has 3 km of extreme off-road driving trails and a 5-acre off-road activities centre and the Museum of Motorsport.
Lap records
[edit]As of April 2022, the fastest official race lap records at the Mondello Park are listed as:
Layout configurations
[edit]-
“Intermediate Circuit” -
“International Circuit” -
“National Circuit” -
“Short Circuit”
The "Reverse Circuit" has also been used as a variation in National and Rallycross configurations.
Simulation / Video Game
[edit]This racetrack appears in the videogamesNeed For Speed: Pro Street,CarX Drift Racing Online,GT LegendsandTOCA Race Driver 3.
It is also available forAssetto Corsaas third-party content through the official laser scanning of the present layout, or a made-from-scratch recreation of the track in its 1987 form.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Times, The Sunday (24 March 2019)."Irish Rich List 2019: profiles 101–150, featuring Conor McGregor and Rory McIlroy"– via www.thetimes.co.uk.
- ^"History".
- ^"Mondello Park to Take over Irish Circuit Racing".
- ^abcde"Lap Records Mondello Park International Circuit"(PDF).4 December 2022.Retrieved26 March2023.
- ^"2005 Mondello Park British F3 – Round 19".Retrieved23 July2022.
- ^"2001 Mondello Park SRWC".Retrieved23 July2022.
- ^"2 h 30 min Mondello Park 2001".Retrieved23 July2022.
- ^"2007 Mondello Park BSB Race 2 Statistics".Retrieved23 July2022.
- ^ab"BTCC 2006 » Mondello Park Round 4 Results".Retrieved23 July2022.
- ^"Lap Records Mondello Park National Circuit"(PDF).
- ^"XXIX Leinster Trophy".Retrieved23 July2022.