The 2022 FIM MiniGP Ireland Series reached its half way point at the popular Whiteriver Karting venue on Sunday June 5th, where Finnan Wherity maintained his unbeaten record with another maximum points score. The fourteen year old from Dublin secured his third win in a row, with two heat victories and a second place, to lead the chase for the places on the Irish team at the FIM MiniGP World Final in November.
As part of the FIM Mini GP World Series for ten to fourteen year olds, the top riders from the Irish Series will represent their country in the World Series final in Spain and it is currently Wherity who looks the most likely to be first to secure one of those coveted spaces. The youngster maintained his 100% record on Sunday beating Ulster rider Lewis Mullen into second with Cork’s Fionn O’Connell third.
Wherity arrived at the County Louth track with a comfortable championship lead, following his win in the only race completed at Mondello Park in May. At Round 2, Finnan had taken the top spot from Alfie Flynn and O’Connell, with Wherity’s closest challenger, Mullen, failing to finish for the second time this season.
Race one at Whiteriver started with Wherity on pole position from Mullen and O’Connell and it was these three who dominated the top positions from the start. Wherity converted his pole position into a lead, with Mullen and O’Connell close behind. At half distance the series leader began to pull clear and at the flag he had his fourth race win of the season with Mullen six seconds back in second place, followed by O’Connell.
Race two was lead by Mullen with the top three riders again well clear of the chasing pack. Wherity immediately began to put pressure on Mullen and got past when the leaders encountered back markers at the half way point. This time around Mullen put up a much stronger challenge to finish less than a second behind Wherity with O’Connell again third.
Mullen made the best getaway in race three to lead from the start but was under pressure from Wherity right up until the closing stages. In the final few laps Lewis continually came out best when lapping back markers meaning Finnan never got close enough to mount real challenge, but his second place was still enough to give him the overall round three win.
At the seasons half way point Finnan Wherity has a comfortable lead in the championship from O’Connell. Alfie Flynn sits third despite being slowed at Whiteriver by an arm injury which meant he could only finish tenth, with Mullen up to fourth place.
The MiniGP Racers now have just two weeks to prepare for their next event, which takes them to Kartworld in Cork on June 19th before they get a break until the second Mondello Park appearance of the season in late August.