Why Tohill will be on a mission in 2021
When Irishman Derek Tohill stepped up to the European Rallycross Championship in 2008 as a van-andtrailer effort in the Production-based Division Two category, it was a huge logistical step up for a driver who had only previously raced in the UK and Ireland.
He has since become a regular Euro RX racer (and title-winner) and, for one year in 2014, raced in World RX too.
But, 2021 poses a whole new challenge of racing in British RX in the current state of the world.
But, the multiple Irish champion has unfinished business in British RX. He just missed out on the title in 2019 and is more eager than ever to compete.
“The biggest challenge for the 2021 British Championship is to just get there. If we can manage that, then we will have won our own battle against Covid and Brexit,” he said.
“The next challenge is to get some seat time to feel comfortable in the car again, unlike most of the British RX field, we have had only one event in the past 12 months. Myself, the car and the team will be a little rusty but it’s just like riding a bicycle – we’ll take our time to get back into the swing of things but hopefully we’ll be in the mix come the final of round one.”
Tohill hopes his entry to the doubleheader at Lydden this weekend will help pave the way for more UK-Irish competition in the near future.
“I feel it’s important to compete at Lydden as it will be a recce for other Irish drivers to hopefully compete in rounds later in the championship,” he says. “I believe it’s very important to support British RX too as it’s supporting Irish rallycross by visiting Mondello Park in July. Covid permitting that should be an amazing event.”