After a long 2 month layoff, Barry-John McHenry returned to action at the Ty Croes circuit in North Wales last weekend for rounds 5 and 6 of the 2009 Dunlop Abarth Cup. Having struggled with a down on power engine thus far in the season, the BT racing team had worked around the clock on Barry-John’s Tom Kane recovery backed car and after a  successful two day test in Kirkistown in Northern Ireland , both team and driver were confident of a good result.

In Friday testing on the quick Ty Croes circuit, Barry-John was immediately on the pace, surprising many of his fellow teams and competitors as he lapped on the pace of the pole time in 2008. Unfortunately the heavens opened for qualifying and with minimal wet testing, Barry was back in 9^th place on the grid for race one. It stayed wet for the race and the decision was made to go for a points finish. Barry-John stuck to this plan and having made a place early on, drove steadily to bring the car home in 8^th place.

To the team’s delight, the rain stopped and sunshine arrived before race two. Barry-John started in 10^th place but as soon as the lights changed, he began a charge which had the crowd on their toes. Just two laps in, he had moved up to sixth pace and was closing the gap to fifth! By mid race he had taken fifth place and with a string of quick laps, began to close on the leading pack, comprising Liam Denning, Alistair Kellett, Gordon Kellett and Noel Greene. Despite being the fastest car on track in the closing stages, Barry-John ran out of laps, but crossed the line a delighted 5^th place.

“I’m delighted, both for myself and BT racing”, said Barry-John afterwards, “we proved today that we are now genuine frontrunners in this competitive series and we’re not finished yet!”

"It’s a big step forward for us all” said team boss Brendan Travers, “and there is definitely more to come. We’re aiming for a podium soon and I’m confident we’ll get it!”

Barry-John is supported by:

Tom Kane Recovery, Thrifty Car Rental, McHenry Car Sales, JH Autobody, Functional Training Ireland and BT Racing

Barry-John McHenry travels to Kirkistown in Northern Ireland this Friday to test his 170bhp Punto Abarth before heading over to wales on the 3/4/5th of July for the next round of the championship. Having suffered various mechanical problems with a down on power engine, the car has now been completely rebuilt by BT Racing, and both team and driver are confident of a productive days’ testing. The former Uno Cup race winner has struggled with an engine some 15bhp down on the class regulars but he made the decision to have the car rebuilt during the mid season break. “BT Racing have traced the problem”, he said, “and the car is now producing a lot more power. Kirkistown, on the Ards Peninsula, is the fastest circuit in the country so that is where we will test the car!” The car has already been on a rolling road and is running perfectly, just in time for the second half of the season. Barry-John and the team faced a race against time to prepare the car before this weekend as they have a packed schedule of racing and testing ahead, with five weekends of the next eight fully booked up with race meetings!

Barry-John will also race at the Phoenix Park International Races in the centre of Dublin in August and he plans a big weekend there, with full hospitality and catering for his guests and sponsors. This meeting takes place on 8/9 August so keep your diary free and keep an eye on www.mchenrycarsales.com for further details!!

As ever, Barry-John’s racing campaign is supported by:

Tom Kane Recovery , McHenry Car Sales , Thrifty Car Rental , JH Autobody, Functional Training Ireland , BT Racing