SIX DRIVERS TO WATCH

Driver: Derek Tohill Team: PFC RX Car: Ford Fiesta Fast everywhere, Tohill is race fit having contested the opening two Irish Rallycross Championship rounds this year. Being a fan of rallycross’ rich history, the Dubliner is proud to carry the famous GB1 plate in the discipline’s 55th anniversary year. A love of Lydden, a home event at Mondello Park and knowledge of the French round at Dreux where he previously raced in Euro RX could play to his advantage if he contests the full campaign. Driver: Ollie O’Donovan Team: Team RX Racing Car: Proton Iriz So often the bridesmaid in recent years, O’Donovan has switched machinery for 2022 to a brand-new Proton Iriz RX in an effort to go one better and win the title. The car has undergone limited pre-season testing, but O’Donovan’s experience will be key as he bids to add to his 2007 British RX crown. A Euro RX campaign alongside his 5 Nations BRX effort, along with the amount of rallying the Londonbased Irishman has contested over the winter, will only help get the most from car and driver. Driver: Julian Godfrey Team: Julian Godfrey Motorsport Car: Ford Fiesta By his own admission, 2021 wasn’t ideal for sixtime title-winner Godfrey. For a man who has achieved such success by making the best of his worst days, the engineer’s effort was hampered by poor fortune and mechanical dramas, and yet he still wound up joint third in the standings. With that outlook of always collecting as many points as possible, even if not finishing on the podium or scoring wins, Godfrey can have genuine optimism of challenging for a record seventh crown, despite his aging Fiesta. Driver: Steve Hill Team: Hill Rallycross Team Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo A few weeks ago, Steve Hill celebrated his 72nd birthday. At the 5 Nations BRX season-opener in 2021, he set his fastest-ever laps of Lydden Hill. If ever an example was needed that age is just a number, Hill is it. His unique Mitsubishi has continued to take steps forward in performance, and such is the status of Hill as a man that there wouldn’t be an unhappy face in the paddock if he was to make a long-overdue return to the winners’ circle this year. Driver: Roger Thomas Team: TH Racing Car: Ford Fiesta Imported from America a few years ago, but originally built by M-Sport, and subsequently rebuilt by Tony Bardy Motorsport, Roger Thomas’ Fiesta is up there with the best rallycross cars in the world. He admits that despite having raced in rallycross for the last half decade, he still needs to get more experience compared to his rivals, but Thomas has shown flashes of ultimate pace and, when the car is on song, the Welshman can surprise with podiums and even wins this season. Driver: Patrick O’Donovan Team: Team RX Racing Car: Ford Fiesta The RX150 champion of 2021 makes a big and yet logical step up to Supercar for 2022 with his father’s team. The Fiesta is a known quantity, but the level is high in the headline category and O’Donovan will need to add maturity beyond his years to his undeniable outright pace to achieve his desires. In recent years Dan Rooke, Nathan Heathcote, Roberts Vitols and others have impressed in Supercar. O’Donovan has everything at his disposal to make a similar impression.