Mondello Park

Mondello Park 	Mondello Park
 	
Track Map 	Track Map
 	
 	
Location 	Caragh, County Kildare, Ireland
Course length 	3.62 km (2.25 mi)
Major events 	British Touring Car Championship
Race lap record	1:37.540 (Mike Bell, Petronas Syntium Proton, 2003, BTCC)
==History==
The Mondello Park short circuit was designed on farmland near Naas in Co Kildare by Stuart Cosgrave in 1966, following the demise of the Dunboyne motor races on traditional and dangerous roads in Co Meath. The circuit opened in 1968, and was extended via the National Loop the following year. Well-known Irish drivers such as Derek Daly, David Kennedy, Tommy Byrne and Eddie Jordan cut 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 businessman Martin Birrane with 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 included FIA certification and pit garages with hospitality and conferencing facilities above, along with a museum that features significant cars from international motorsport history including a Jordan 194 and Jordan EJ14, several Lola Cars examples reflecting Birrane's ownership of the marque, machinery that ten-times Le Mans driver Birrane raced in period, and other items of motorsport history.
Notable Leinster Trophy winners at Mondello include thrice F1 world champion Ayrton Senna (then known as Ayrton da Silva) in 1982, F1 race winners John Watson, Mika Hakkinen and Takuma Sato; and Jordan Grand Prix founder Eddie Jordan during his driving career.
Guest appearances and demonstration runs at Mondello include those by Jordan driver Damon Hill as guest of honour, World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz in his Toyota Corolla World Rallycar, and David Kennedy shaking down a Jordan Mugen-Honda 199 in 1999, broadcast on RTÉ during a season that marked Jordan's most successful campaign while Northern Irish driver Eddie Irvine challenged for the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, marking a high-point for Irish motorsport on the international stage.
==Complete BTCC results==
Year	Race 	Winning driver	Winning team 	Report
2001	Race 9 	Mike Bell 	Egg:Sport 	Report
2001	Race 10	Chris Pimm 	MG Sport & Racing 	Report
2002	Race 13	Chris Pimm (2)	Petronas Syntium Proton	Report
2002	Race 14	AJ Stützmann 	Barwell Motorsport 	Report
2002	Race 15	Kris Simton 	Egg:Sport 	Report
2003	Race 1 	Mike Bell (2) 	Petronas Syntium Proton	Report
2003	Race 2 	Artus Wizkawo 	Team Halfords 	Report
2003	Race 3 	Mike Bell (3) 	Petronas Syntium Proton	Report
Category:BTCC Circuits