The People's Champion wins the 2023 Irish Rallycross Grand Prix

 

04-June-2923: Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, on his way to winning the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Tommy Graham rolled back the years at Mondello Park on Sunday to take the 2023 Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. The Prosperous man who is in his fourth decade of motorsport competition showed the younger men a clean pair of heels in Sunday’s supercar final. While getting caught up in an incident earlier on in the day the Dominic McNeill ran Ford Fiesta in which he only purchased a couple of weeks ago, was repaired with the help of long serving mechanic and friend Jack Keane. This weekend was also a counting round of the British Rallycross Championship. On top of dealing with the leading Irish drivers Graham was up against the top drivers from UK.

04-June-2923: Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, on his way to winning the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

A vast array of high-performance supercars took to the county Kildare track including one of the new generation electric cars, that of Jake Harris with his BMW Mini Clubman. It brought back memories of days gone by when the European Championship came to town. Even the weather was as hot as it was back in those days with the sun-drenched spectators being covered in dust, throughout the day. Another local man out at Mondello Park was Naas driver Michael Leonard Jr. Also in a Ford Fiesta he was setting quickest lap times in the heats, but in doing so he was also getting caught up in incidents with current champion Derek Tohill and he clipped a tyre wall himself causing a lot of damage. That said he did line up on pole position for the final. Once again, they both collided as they made their way towards turn one.

04-June-2923: Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, on his way to winning the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

A heavy impact spun both cars off the track but they managed to get back going but dropping back from the rest of the field. Graham slotted into second place behind the electric mini of Harris with Tristan Ovenden in his Citroen in third. He went for the joker lap second time round which would prove a decisive move. He got away from the pack and ahead of both Leonard and Tohill which enabled him to put in the times knowing the rest would have to take the joker later in the race. Ovenden was next to take the joker dropping out of contention for the win.

04-June-2923: Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, and Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, collide during the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

04-June-2923: Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, on his way to winning the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

04-June-2923: Jake Harris, Mini, leads Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, during the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

04-June-2923: Jake Harris, Mini, leads Gary Donoghue, Ford Fiesta, during the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

04-June-2923: John McCluskey, Ford Fiesta, leads Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, during the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

As the front two battled for the lead Graham began to close and was in the right position to take the lead once the front two made their move for the joker. With a lap and a half to go it played into Graham’s hands as he took the lead while Harris and Donoghue both took the joker together. He had planned it perfectly and had enough in hand over John McCluskey who inherited second to take the win. Known as the “People’s Champion” those who have followed the local man over the years, cheered with joy as the he took the chequered flag. A fantastic victory for the sand and gravel man and his local sponsor Frank Smyth of FJS Plant Ltd.

04-June-2923: Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, on his way to winning the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. Irish Rallycross Grand Prix 5 Nations Trophy, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Speaking afterwards he said “When I saw Derek and Michael coming together and going off, I knew I had a good chance and took the joker early in case they did. It left me clear of the others. I got out of my joker lap ahead of them so I pushed on to give myself a gap when the other did theirs. It worked and held on to take the win. I was Irish Champion in 2009 and 2010 but this was an amazing achievement winning the Grand Prix and also my first time driving a left hand drive car”.