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 International Circuit (1998–present) | |
| Location | Caragh, County Kildare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°15′27″N006°44′42″W / 53.25750°N 6.74500°W /53.25750; -6.74500 |
| FIA Grade | 4 |
| Owner | Birrane family[1] |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Major events | Current: Drift Masters (2018–2019, 2022–present) Former: BSB (2003–2007) BTCC (2001–2006) British GT (2004–2006) EuroBOSS Series (1996–1999, 2001–2002, 2006) FIA Sportscar Championship (2001) Formula Palmer Audi (1999, 2001) |
| International Circuit (1998–present) | |
| Length | 3.621 km (2.250 mi) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:28:708 ( Johnny Laursen [de],Benetton B197,2006,F1) |
| Intermediate Circuit (1998–present) | |
| Length | 2.816 km (1.750 mi) |
| Turns | 13 |
| National Circuit (1969–present) | |
| Length | 1.860 km (1.156 mi) |
| Turns | 6 |
| Race lap record | 0:47:380 ( Sylvie Mullins,Gould GR55B, 2023,BOSS Ireland) |
| Short Circuit (1968–present) | |
| Length | 1.250 km (0.777 mi) |
| Turns | 6 |
Mondello Park is Ireland's only international motorsport venue and is located inCaragh, County Kildare off theR409regional road, approximately 48-kilometre (30 mi) fromDublin city centre.
The Mondello Park short circuit was designed on farmland nearNaas in County Kildare by Stuart Cosgrave in 1966, following the demise of theDunboyne motor races on traditional and dangerous roads inCounty Meath. The circuit opened in 1968, and was extended via the National Loop the following year. Well-known Irish drivers such asDerek Daly,David Kennedy,Tommy Byrne andEddie 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 businessmanMartin 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 includedFIA certification and pit garages with hospitality and conferencing facilities above, along with a museum that features significant cars from international motorsport history including aJordan 194 andJordan EJ14, severalLola Cars examples reflecting Birrane's ownership of the marque, machinery that ten-timesLe Mans driver Birrane raced in period, and other items of motorsport history.
Notable Leinster Trophy winners at Mondello include thriceF1 world championAyrton Senna (then known as Ayrton da Silva) in 1982, F1 race driversJohn Watson,Mika Hakkinen andTakuma Sato; andJordan Grand Prix founderEddie Jordan during his driving career.
Guest appearances and demonstration runs at Mondello include those by Jordan driverDamon Hill as guest of honour, World Rally ChampionCarlos Sainz in hisToyota Corolla World Rallycar, andDavid Kennedy shaking down aJordan Mugen-Honda 199 in 1999, broadcast onRTÉ during a season that marked Jordan's most successful campaign while Northern Irish driverEddie Irvine challenged for the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, marking a high-point for Irish motorsport on the international stage.
The 2000s marked the most high profile time for the Irish Circuit, as Domestic series from Great Britain came over to Mondello Park every year. These included theBritish Touring Car Championship which ran from 2001 to 2006, theBritish GT Championship from 2004 to 2006 and theBritish Superbike Championship which ran from 2003 to 2007 where Jonathan Rea took his first ever BSB win in the last ever race at the circuit. Mondello Park also hosted a round of theFIA Sportscar Championship in2001.
Mondello Park is now owned by Birrane's family following his death in 2018.[2]
Currently, Irish Car Championship, Rallycross,kart and Principal Insurance Masters Superbike Championship racing events take place. In the past Mondello Park hosted the Irish round of theBritish Superbike Championship,British Touring Car Championship,British GT Championship and theBritish Formula Three Championship. InternationalPickup Truck Racing,FIA Sportscar Championship,EuroBOSS and historic car racing events also have taken place.
The biggest Irish circuit racing events, Formula Vee Festival and Leinster Trophy, take place in Mondello Park every year.
Other recurring motorsport events includedrifting championship, Jap-Fest, Ireland's only Japanese car show, Historic Festival, historic car show and racing event. Mondello Park Racing School is on-site. General public car and motorbike circuit track days are organised. A small museum containing a number of rally and track cars from the past 30 or so years is also on-site.
In 2018, Mondello Park hosted Round 6 of theDrift Masters European Championship, and has been on the event's calendar ever since, although it was not used in the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
The 2019 motor racing season at Mondello Park consisted of car racing days, six rallycross racing days, seven drift days and 26 motorcycle racing days. Formula Vee Festival took place on 13–14 July, and Leinster Trophy on 14–15 September.
In the 2020 motor racing season Mondello Park had plans to host 16 car racing days, seven rallycross racing days, 12 drift days and 14 motorbike racing days, however, the calendar was disrupted byCOVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
In 2021 Mondello Park signed a 5-year deal to promote and organise Irish Circuit Racing.[3] In past years, various Irish Motor Clubs shared this task. Irish Circuit Racing consisted of five two-day events in 2021. Mondello Park has also hosted five rounds of Rallycross, five rounds of Rallysprint, Fiesta Endurance Race, and a number of motorbike racing days in 2021.
It was established in 1968. Following investment and development in 1999–2000, the circuit was awarded FIA International status in 2001.
Situated on 110 acres the facility incorporates 3.621 km (2.250 mi) of race track, 24 race garages and 12 Hospitality Suites. It is host to national and international race events, motor shows, car & bike track days, training schools and corporate events.
The Circuit also has 3 km of extreme off-road driving trails and a 5-acre off-road activities centre and the Museum of Motorsport.
As of October 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Mondello Park are listed as:[4][5]
The "Reverse Circuit" has also been used as a variation in National and Rallycross configurations.
This racetrack appears in the videogamesNeed For Speed: Pro Street,CarX Drift Racing Online,GT Legends andTOCA Race Driver 3.
It is also available forAssetto Corsa as third-party content through the official laser scanning of the present layout, or a made-from-scratch recreation of the track in its 1987 form.