In May 1968 John Keaney, at the wheel of a Mini Cooper S, won the inaugural race held at Mondello Park, and the driver will return to the circuit to lead out a parade of Minis as part of Mondello's 45th birthday celebrations.
Opened 45 years ago this month (May 2013), the original circuit, with its 0.8-mile loop, would be unrecognisable to current competitors who have raced at the Kildare track since Martin Birrane took over in 1985 and extended the track to three kilometres.
To celebrate the venue's 45th anniversary, the next car race event, on June 8th and 9th, will run as the "Mondello 45", with a new award, the Birrane Trophy, being presented to the winner of the race that has the biggest grid of the meeting. Additional features are being added to the event to create a celebration of Mondello Park's history including a Mondello Park birthday party in the circuit bar on Saturday night.
Admission for the event has been set at just €4.50 for adults with under sixteens admitted free of charge, though if you arrive in a Mini (and Mondello is not too picky about the era) you too will gain free access to the event.
With reduced admission, a birthday party, the Mini parade, additional attractions still to be announced and top quality action, the event looks to be one of the highlights of the motor racing year.