Mighty Quinn back on track

Dunboyne’s Niall Quinn made a sensational return to racing in Snetterton last weekend following a three year spell on the side-lines, to come away with pair of podium finishes that included an overall win in what was the former championship winning driver’s first endurance race of his career.
In a last minute deal with top British outfit Team HARD. Quinn was using the opportunity to evaluate his options ahead of a planned full return to racing in 2020. 
Enjoying many years of success in karting and single seater racing around the world, taking on the final round of the 2019 GT Cup Championship would be his first taste of true endurance racing, something he was relishing.
With limited mileage in advance of the weekend itself, it was certainly in at the deep end for the former Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the year. Saturday’s track conditions were far from ideal for Quinn who was set with the task of getting to grips with the hugely popular and successful Ginetta G55 on a soaking wet Snetterton circuit. 
Added to this, steering rack failure in qualifying would limit his running to a single flying lap. However, that one lap would amazingly place him in second on the grid for the opening sprint race of the weekend. 
Sadly however, unable to ready the car in time for the race, Quinn was forced to sit on the side-lines and lament what could have been.
Picking himself up for the second race of the day, this time the much longer 50 minute encounter, Quinn had it all to do starting from the rear of the field. 
As the lights went out, Quinn set off on a charge that would see him move past  10 cars on track, including a superb move around the outside of the challenging Coram corner to pass the newly crowned GT Cup champions in the McLaren. 
As is often the case in endurance racing, an ill-timed safety car would drop the Team HARD driver down a lap from the main pack, meaning Quinn would have to settle for ninth overall and second in the GTA class.
Joined by Ginetta GT4 Supercup and GT Cup regular, Sam Randon on Sunday, Quinn was looking forward to the chance of working with a co-driver on a now dry Norwich circuit. 
Teaming up for Sunday afternoon’s 50-minute endurance race, Randon started the race and put in a superb display to dive into the pits from the class lead. Handing the car over to Quinn, he matched his GTA class rivals pace to maintain their 10-second advantage at the head of the class and secured a superb victory to complete a very positive weekend.
“I am really happy with how the weekend turned out. It was a real shame to miss the sprint race due to the steering rack failure, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy coming from the back in the Endurance race," said Quinn.
"It was a real challenge making progress through the field of cars with different strengths and weaknesses and figuring out where the Ginetta could do the job and get by. 
"Sunday was another great day, Sam did a fantastic job in the first stint and I’m delighted I could finish the job and get a win for the team. Thanks to Tony and all of Team HARD. for the opportunity.”
The 31-year-old Dunboyne man began his racing career at 10-years-old, racking up three national kart championship titles between 2000 and 2005. 
This led to an invitation to join the coveted Red Bull Junior Team which spring-boarded Quinn into professional motorsport.
Quinn has raced Formula BMW, Formula 3, Formula Palmer Audi, Indy Lights, along with a two-year spell as test/reserve driver for A1GP Team Ireland, from 2008 through to the team's World Championship-winning 2009 campaign.
A proven race and championship winner, Quinn now has his sights set on the International GT/Touring Car Racing scene.