TOHILL CONTINUES HIS DOMINANT MARCH AMID IRISH RALLYCROSS BATTLERS

Derek Tohill continued his dominant form in the Irish Rallycross Championship on an unseasonably dry and sunny early-March day at Mondello Park.

The reigning British and Irish Rallycross champion claimed a clean sweep in the second round of the Irish RX series, setting the fastest time in each of the qualifying heats, before leading the Supercar final and Superfinal throughout.

On his second start in a Mitsubishi Mirage Supercar, Paul Nolan qualified second for the Supercar final, but it was Declan Kelly, driving a OlsbergsMSE-built Ford Fiesta, who finished second in the Supercar encounter behind the similar car of Tohill.

When Nolan jumped the Superfinal start lights and was put to the back of the grid for the restart, Kelly was left unchallenged to finish second behind Tohill in the Superfinal.

The battle on track was for third, as Modified final winner Peter McGarry ran behind the leading duo throughout in his rear-wheel-drive Volvo C30, fending off pressure from Subaru Impreza Supercar runner Andrew Morris to secure the final podium position. Nolan climbed to fifth, while Opel Corsa racer Wille Coyne, who had pushed McGarry hard in the Modified category, finished sixth in the Superfinal, just in front of Vauxhall Nova-driving brother Michael.

Results

Irish Rallycross Championship Organiser: Mondello Park Sports Club When: March 6 Where: Mondello Park, County Kildare Starters: 78

Super Final: 1 Derek Tohill (Ford Fiesta) 3m47.095s; 2 Declan Kelly (Ford Fiesta) +6.082s; 3 Peter McGarry (Volvo C30) +15.051s; 4 Andrew Morris (Subaru Impreza); 5 Paul Nolan (Mitsubishi Mirage); 6 Willie Coyne (Opel Corsa); Supercar: Tohill; Modified: McGarry;

Junior: Joshua Power (Peugeot 106); Buggy: Conor Shaw (Casmat); Open Clubman: Jason McConnon (BMW Mini);

Rally Car: Shane Mulligan (Peugeot 206);

Autocross: Ian Barrett (Speedcar Buggy)