25/08/2026
Clare Motor Club Youth Academy members travelled to Athboy this weekend for a double-header of IAME and T4 racing, with strong performances across all classes.
In the highly competitive IAME X30 Junior category, James Nolan showed excellent pace throughout the weekend. After qualifying third, just under two tenths of a second from pole position, James put together a strong final to secure a well-earned fifth place finish.
The Academy’s T4 Bambino drivers once again provided plenty of excitement on track. Daire Fitzgibbon qualified on pole position and recovered well after early difficulties to finish third. Robyn Fingleton encountered misfortune with a DNF in Heat 1, but showed great maturity and determination as she continued to gain valuable experience in only her second race weekend. Ollie Conneely enjoyed a standout weekend and capped it off with a superb victory in the final. Ollie showed excellent pace throughout the event and produced a composed drive under pressure when it mattered most. Combining smart overtaking with strong defensive driving, he kept his challengers at bay to take a deserved win for the Conneely Racing Team, marking a brilliant result after a consistently strong weekend.
The T4 Mini class delivered its usual close racing. Competing at Athboy for the first time, Jack Cregg adapted quickly to the challenging circuit and secured sixth place in the final. Billy Greene continued his consistent form, taking third position in both qualifying and the final.
In T4 Junior, the Academy was represented by Jack Fingleton and Jack Conneely. Following a DNF in Heat 2, Jack Fingleton produced what can only be described as a masterclass in racecraft. Starting 12th on the grid for the final, he worked his way through one of the most competitive fields in karting, making decisive overtakes and showing excellent pace throughout to claim a superb victory. Unfortunately for Jack Conneely, contact with another kart brought his meeting to a premature end, ruling him out of the final despite a determined effort throughout the event.
In the T4 Senior category, Kayla O'Sullivan made her first appearance at Athboy after swapping her rally car for a kart. Kayla made significant progress over the course of the day, improving her pace by almost four seconds and demonstrating impressive adaptability across different forms of motorsport.
Away from the racing, it was great to see the Academy members enjoying themselves and supporting one another throughout the weekend. The encouragement and camaraderie between the drivers, both on and off the track, continues to be a huge part of what makes the Clare Motor Club Youth Academy so special.
Overall, it was another positive weekend for the Clare Motor Club Youth Academy, with drivers gaining valuable experience, securing strong results, and representing the club excellently throughout the event. Congratulations to all competitors, teams, mechanics and families for their continued support and commitment.
