After a three year absence the EuroBOSS Series returned today to the Mondello Park circuit in the rolling hills of Kildare, Ireland to compete in the 'Leinster Trophy' race weekend. Absence had certainly made the heart grow fonder as motorsport fans flooded to see the fifteen car grid which included many of the series regulars and a healthy entry of local drivers.

As the Mondello pitlane opened for the two practice sessions it was Team Ascari who showed early pace with team boss Klass Zwart fastest ahead of fellow Ascari driver Johnny Laursen. 2005 Champion Patrick D'Aubreby delighted the fans by setting the third fastest time just in front of Pierre Schroeder from Luxembourg. British driver Tony Hansford started the weekend on the wrong foot when he crashed his Footwork Cosworth into the barrier at 240kph breaking his right suspension and ending his hopes of competing. Also out of contention was guest driver and local man Bob Copeland who had to retire his Reynard with technical problems.

Ten cars lined up on the grid for Saturday's sprint race. Among the ranks three guest drivers from the Irish Formula Libre series; Simon McKinley in the Lant Warrier, Dan Daly at the wheel of a V6-powered Reynard Holden and Alan Kessie in his Ralt Holden. Having suffered engine problems on the warm-up lap, Frenchman Patrick D `Aubreby was forced to line up at the back of the grid having qualified third.

As the lights turned green Klass Zwart in the pink and grey liveried Ascari Benetton shot off into the lead as team mate Laursen struggled to get off the line. Laursen's poor start caused Belgian driver Henk de Boer to veer off onto the grass to avoid contact with the stricken Ascari. The initial pace was frantic until lap two when the safety car was deployed so marshals could remove the stricken cars of McKinley and Kessie. With three minutes remaining in the race the safety car pulled off into the pit lane and the race resumed with Laursen ahead of Zwart, Schroeder, Daly, de Boer, Becker and Tavares. As the two Ascari drivers battled closely together, Laursen ran wide causing his Ascari Benetton to spin gifting the race win to Zwart. Meanwhile Henk de Boer squeezed his Coloni Cosworth V8 past the Reynard of local hero Dan Daly, taking the Master Class victory. Pierre Schroeder held on to take third place making it an all Ascari podium.

Result - Race 1 - Sprint Race 1. Klaas Zwart - Ascari Judd V10
2. Johnny Laursen - Ascari Judd V10
3. Pierre Schroeder - Ascari Judd V10
4. Henk de Boer - Coloni Cosworth V8
5. Daniel Daly - Reynard 92D Holden V6
6. Karl-Heinz Becker - Dallara Nissan V6
7. Carlos Tavares - Dallara Nissan V6

Not classified
Patrick D`Aubreby - Benetton Ford V8
Simon McKinley - Lant RT2 2.4l
Alan Kessie - Ralt RT23 Holden V6

Fastest lap: Johnny Laursen in 1:29.946 = 140.204 kph

Local drivers Simon McKinley and Alan Kessie worked hard over night to repair their cars to join the grid in front of a massive home crowd. As the cars took to the grid, sprint race winner Klass Zwart struggled with gearbox problems forcing the Dutchman to start from the pitlane.

Johnny Laursen held his nerve as racing got underway, starting well and building a commanding lead head of the 10-strong field. At the back of the grid Henk de Boar, Karl Heinz Becker and Carlos Tavares began trading lap times providing the crowd with some enthralling wheel to wheel action. Mid-field entertainment came in the form of Simon McKinley, whose spectacular sideways driving style inspired the spectators to spur him on in his relentless pursuit of Schroeder's V10-powered Ascari Benetton. As McKinley turned up the heat, the nail-biting action had the crowd rising from their seats.

Irish hopeful and current Formula Libre leader Dan Daly for the most part had an uneventful race. Having driven is own race throughout the 25 minutes he suffered massive engine problems three laps from the finish allowing Belgian Henk de Boer to pass the troubled V6 Reynard, taking sixth place and with it second spot on the EuroBOSS Masters leaderboard.

As the race entered its final minutes, Zwart was on a charge and free of D'Aubreby and Schroeder put down the hammer in a bid to catch leader Laursen. His chances of closing the gap were dashed when his earlier gearbox gremlins returned forcing the Series leader to slow and for the Benetton Ford V8 of D'Aubreby to re-pass for second place.

At the chequered flag, Johnny Laursen had dominated the race and posted a new outright lap record for the Mondello Park International circuit. Zwart managed to dispatch D`Aubreby despite only having four gears but could do nothing to stop Laursen's lights-to-flag charge to victory. D`Aubreby scooped up third despite a strong performance and Pierre Schroeder took fourth. Simon McKinley ended his weekend on a high taking his first victory in the EuroBOSS Masters class.

Result - Race 2 1. Johnny Laursen - Ascari Judd V10
2. Klaas Zwart - Ascari Judd V10
3. Patrick D`Aubreby - Benetton Ford V8
4. Pierre Schroeder - Ascari Judd V10
5. Simon McKinley - Lant RT2 2.4l
6. Henk de Boer - Coloni Cosworth V8
7. Daniel Daly - Reynard 92D Holden V6
8. Karl-Heinz Becker - Dallara Nissan V6
9. Carlos Tavares - Dallara Nissan V6
10. Alan Kessie - Ralt RT23 Holden V6

Fastest lap: Johnny Laursen in 1:28.708 = 142.161 kph (Outright Lap Record)