Mondello Park
If you don’t know the name Mondello Park and what it means for Irish motorsport, then you, my friend, have been living under a tyre. Like all Irish ventures it has humble beginnings and many memories. In 1966 in Naas, a simple idea would change auto-history of this island forever solidifying itself as a destination for petrol heads worldwide.
The original track layout was designed and at 1.25km became the blueprint Mondello we know today was built on. In 1968 the track was open and on its way to becoming a destination for auto enthusiasts, in 1969 the track was extended to 1.86km with the addition of the third loop. The name Mondello park would become well known amongst the car community as a destination for drivers, in 1979 the British F3 Championships would be brought to Mondello for the first time. The track would soon be graced by Aryton Senna and his Leinster cup victory in 1982.
Mondello Park aerial view - credit Shift AM
The real vision came from a man who changed the venue forever, Mayo native Martin Birrane. Both businessman and driver, Martin would be the man to take over and give a new lease of life to the park. He extended the track once more to 3.5km, investing in the pits, paddocks, grandstand, museum and other buildings in a massive redevelopment, Mondello is still to date the only venue to achieve FIA status in Ireland, which it received in 2001.
As Mondello has diversified as a venue, the motorsports that are attracted to it have diversified as well. In the last two decades Mondello has hosted everything from F3 to superbikes, to the most recent drift events and monster truck events. The track has something for everybody, offering a variety of driving experiences including Porsche, Ferrari, Formula 1 and much more! Mondello park is surely intertwined in the very roots of automotive culture and is becoming a beacon of the future for many driving enthusiasts.
The newly opened Martin Birrane collection offers a delight of showstopping pieces on display for all enthusiasts to experience free of charge during the race season. Holding pride of place is the BMW M1 Pro car Martin Birrane took class victory in during the Le Mans 24 hour race 1985, the collection ranges from IndyCars, sportscars and even a few NASCARS. From a family day out to a corporate team building day, Mondello has the range covered and will offer an unforgettable experience for everybody.
Don’t believe me? Check out one of the driving experiences today and let me know how I was right.
