Jordan Kelly Claims Leinster Trophy Victory at Mondello Park
Kelly adds his name to Irish motorsport history
Jordan Kelly secured one of Irish motorsport’s most prestigious prizes on Sunday by winning the Formula Vee race for the Leinster Trophy at Mondello Park.
The result places Kelly alongside an illustrious group of previous winners. The trophy’s roll of honour includes Ayrton Senna, Eddie Jordan and Mika Häkkinen, making Kelly’s success a significant milestone in his Formula Vee career.
For the young driver, the victory was the reward for an extensive effort behind the scenes. Preparing the Formula Vee car for a race of this importance demanded a major commitment, and the scale of that work made the result all the more meaningful.
Kelly described the win as a huge relief after everything that had gone into getting the car ready. His comments also underlined the personal significance of the achievement: he had watched his father, Brian, race for the same trophy in 2009 and had wondered whether he would one day have the opportunity to compete for it himself.
A landmark result for Kelly
Winning at Mondello Park gives Kelly a place in the history of the Leinster Trophy while also providing a defining result in his Formula Vee career. The combination of preparation, pressure and the trophy’s distinguished roll of honour ensures that Sunday’s success will stand out well beyond the immediate celebrations.
Kelly’s achievement reflects the importance of Ireland’s single-seater racing scene, where established prizes continue to provide drivers with the chance to measure themselves against a long and respected competitive tradition. That same progression through junior categories remains a central part of motorsport, as shown by Ugo Ugochukwu’s Formula 3 title success at Madring.
Eyes on the Martin Donnelly Trophy
Attention now turns to another historic prize. Kelly is hoping to venture out in his Formula Ford for the Martin Donnelly Trophy, creating the possibility of carrying his Leinster Trophy momentum into another major Irish motorsport event.
Following his Mondello Park victory, Kelly will be aiming to add another prestigious trophy to his record. The next challenge will offer him a fresh opportunity to build on a weekend that has already delivered the most significant success of his Formula Vee career.
Ciara Gillan
Ciara is a Dublin native, award-winning film producer, podcaster and writer with 20 years of storytelling experience. A lifelong Leinster and Ireland rugby fan, she turned her attention to the grid after moving to Berlin and co-founding Formula Live Pulse. Now, she applies her producer’s brain to Formula 1, navigating the highs of Oscar Piastri’s rise and the unique stress of being an adopted Ferrari fan. She loves talking and talking about F1, if you give her the chance!