James Fleming Leading The Field At Mondello Park - Photo Credit: Con Connolly
James Fleming took a fantastic brace of victories in Rounds Three and Four of the 2012 Ginetta Junior Ireland Championship at Mondello Park.
On the opening weekend at Kirkistown, it was Jake Byrne who took both victories and he continued his strong form in qualifying, taking pole position for Round Three. Fleming joined him on the front row ahead of Andrew Clarke and Jack Finlay, with Sophie Byrne and Dylan Curley completing the top six.
The front two got good starts off the line, with Byrne using his inside line from pole to keep the lead out of the first corner, with Fleming hot on his heels. Clarke held third early on, but Finlay found a way past on lap four to take the spot.
At the front, Fleming kept the leader under pressure and made a move on lap five to take the lead. Byrne fought back at the start of the final lap, but Fleming re-gained the spot to cross the line for his first ever Ginetta Junior Ireland win. Byrne finished a close second, with Finlay taking third, his first podium in only his third race in the championship.
With the race two grid positions decided from the fastest lap times in race one, Byrne and Fleming shared the front row once again, with an almost identical grid formation from the first race. A great start for Fleming saw him storm into the early lead, but it wasn't long until Byrne found a way back past, with the front two closely pursued by Clarke.
Running a strong fourth was Junior Rallycross front runner Curley, however he started coming under increasing pressure from Sophie Byrne, who was looking for a good race two finish after a first lap retirement in race one.
At the front of the field, a great move on lap four saw Fleming storm back into the lead and a strong drive saw him him make it two wins in two races. Behind, Byrne looked to keep on his tail, however soon came under pressure from Clarke, who made a pass on the final lap to take second, with Byrne resigned to third.
The results mean that Byrne and Fleming now jointly lead the championship ahead of Rounds Five and Six at Kirkistown on Saturday 28th April. The Ginetta Junior Ireland championship is sponsored by The Grid.ie Carlow, gearboxman.com and R.T. Quaife Engineering.
