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Denning in pole position to win Punto title
2003-09-10 - By Philip Byrne
The final two rounds of the 2003 Fiat Punto Abarth Cup will take teams and competitors to Mondello Park this Sunday (14th September) with Liam Denning (Rathfarnham) in pole position to win the title.
 Set to debut Fiat's latest Punto model, Denning enters the final 'Super Race Sunday' meeting 22 points clear of his nearest rival Karl Leonard (Naas). Despite having one more win to his credit than Denning, Leonard has it all to do if he is to stop the title going to the Steve Griffin Motorsport driver.
While much of the attention will be on Denning and Leonard, the biggest battle of the weekend will be for third place in the championship with no less than five drivers in with a shout.
Quentin Smith (Rathfarnham) currently holds third but the AMF Motorsport driver will have to fend off tough challenges from Joey Freeburn (Armagh), Gordon Kellet (Castleknock), Bob Copeland (Drumree) who returns having missed three races while on his honeymoon and a very much on form Bill Griffin (Clondalkin). Griffin won last time out when the Fiat Punto Abarth Cup made its first appearance at the prestigious non-championship Phoenix Park Motor Races and will be one to watch this weekend.
Others drivers capable of showing well this weekend are Carlow brothers Clive & Nigel Pratt both of whom showed great pace at Mondello last time out. Switching to champion elect team Steve Griffin Motorsport, Barry Rabbitt (Dunsaughlin) will be aiming to end his 2003 season on a high note in his Deliverance backed Abarth.
Two new faces on the grid will be Dunlop National Rally Championship title contender Michael Barrable (Swords) and racing returnee Gary O'Brien (Cabinteely). Barrable is normally found hard at work behind the wheel of a World Rally Car but the Dublin Fiat dealer should have little trouble adjusting to the 170Bhp Blaupunkt 'Guest' car. A former Fiat Uno Champion and Sexton Trophy winner Michael is no stranger to being surrounded by 20 plus cars.
With backing from Ireland's largest same day national courier FasTrack, Gary O'Brien joins reigning champions Murray Motorsport for the season finale with a view to a full assault on the 2004 Championship. Having been a front runner in both Formula Vee and MKI Puntos we can expect the diary manufacturer to mix it at the front.
Also supported by Dunlop and Wrangler, the Fiat Punto Abarth Cup Sprint race is scheduled for 14:25 with the 15 lap Feature race due to get underway at 16:30.
Fiat Punto Abarth Cup Standings after Round 11 of 13
1. Liam Denning (Rathfarnham) - Steve Griffin Motorsport - 137
2. Karl Leonard (Naas) - Murray Motorsport - 115
3. Quentin Smith (Rathfarnham) - AMF Motorsport - 76
4. Joey Freeburn (Armagh) - Vehicle Glass Racing - 73
5. Gordon Kellett (Castleknock) - Murray Motorsport - 65
6. Bob Copeland (Drumree) - Murray Motorsport - 63
7. Bill Griffin (Clondalkin) - Steve Griffin Motorsport - 54
8. Brian Hade (Rathfarnham) - Steve Griffin Motorsport - 24
9. Nigel Pratt (Carlow) - Pratt Motorsport - 23
10.Clive Pratt (Carlow) - Pratt Motorsport - 17
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