Mondello Park, Racing CircuitRallycross

Mondello Park is Ireland's first and only permanent motor racing circuit, located on farmland at Caragh near Naas in County Kildare, around 30 miles from Dublin. It was conceived by Stuart Cosgrave following the demise of Ireland's dangerous closed-road races, and after construction began in late 1967 the original short circuit opened on 12 May 1968 before a crowd of well over 10,000. Named after a suburb of Palermo associated with the Targa Florio, the name translates as 'little world'. The Duckhams Loop extension followed in 1969, lengthening the lap and helping attract the big-block Formula 5000 cars that became a popular fixture into the mid-1970s. The circuit nurtured a generation of Irish talent, with Derek Daly, David Kennedy and Bernard Devaney among those who began here and later had corners named in their honour, while a young Ayrton Senna won the Leinster Trophy in 1982. After financial troubles, businessman and sportscar racer Martin Birrane took ownership in the late 1980s and drove a major expansion, opening the longer International Circuit in 1998. Upgraded to FIA Grade 2 standard, Mondello went on to host the British Touring Car Championship, British GT, British Formula 3, British Superbikes and a round of the FIA Sportscar Championship through the 2000s. The economic downturn ended most international visits, and the circuit, still owned by the Birrane family, now serves primarily as a hub for Irish national and club racing.

Operated by: Mondello Park Ltd