Taylor and McGrath neck and neck going into final round of Irish Stryker Championship

Rounds 9 and 10 of the Bill Griffin Motors Irish Stryker Championship took place this past weekend on the International Circuit at Mondello Park, with two local drivers impressing around the track.

Jonathan Taylor from Kildangan and Kevin McGrath from Naas have been battling it out for the series and this race was no different. With this being the penultimate round of the series, both men could ill afford to give away any points.

There was a spanner thrown in the works, however, when decorated Dublin driver Michael Cullen made an unexpected appearance for just his second race this year.

McGrath led the field after a great start, but the long international layout allows for more overtaking opportunities, and this played right into the hands of Cullen who carved through the field like a knife through butter and showed why he was so dominant last season.

Taylor began to make up lost ground, but by the end of the first lap Cullen had brilliantly taken the lead.

McGrath remained in second and Taylor made it up to third by the halfway mark Cullen was clear of any danger and as always just reeled off the laps.

Taylor hounded McGrath lap after lap but just could not find a way past and in the end neither could catch Cullen who went on to win the race. McGrath came home in second with Taylor in third.

For race two the top six on the grid were a reverse of the finishing order in race one. Cullen again made light work of those ahead of him and soon took the lead once more.

Taylor though was in second and hung on to Cullen for a few laps but just could not match the Dubliner’s pace.

Taylor also had to think of the remainder of the championship and not risk something failing on the car. However, behind him, his title rival McGrath was starting to take some uncharacteristic chances as he and Dave Reynolds battled for third place.

Cullen eventually clinched another win and another career double, while Taylor came home in second and crucially put another man between himself and rival McGrath. The results leave only very fine margins between the Kildare pair going into the final two races on October 19th, back at Mondello Park.

Speaking after the race, Kildangan’s Taylor was happy with his efforts: "I had a good day, I got maximum points and Kevin (McGrath) did also so I think we are nearly even on points going into the last round,” he said.

“We had a problem with the car in race one but fixed it for race two. We couldn't get near Michael (Cullen) today but that's the way it goes. He is an amazing driver, and he has brought us all on.

“Fingers crossed we can take it the next day but if Kevin does it will be great too as he has never done it, but I am sure it will be neck and neck either way."

McGrath was more relieved after it was all over: "I had a great battle in race one with Jonathan and came out on top there but in race two I made a couple of mistakes while battling with Dave Reynolds and was on the grass a few times,” the Naas driver said.

“I thought I was going to lose a load of time at one stage, thankfully I didn't but I may use that a dropped round. It will be tight going for the last round but sure we will give it our best."