Tohill Does the Double at IRX rounds 3 and 4

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, FOrd Fiesta, on his way to victory in the Superfinal. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture Barry Cregg.

Derek Tohill made it two wins from two at the wknd in Mondello Park, for rounds three and four of the partforcars.ie IRX Championship. On Saturday for round 3 the cold weather and eventual hail shower made life hard for competitors choosing the correct tyre and compound for the heats and finals. 

Hoping to build on his championship lead after winning the opening rounds. It looked good with a second place behind local man Tommy Graham in the opening heat and a win in the second but a collision with rival Michael Leonard in the third, through no fault of his own dropped him down in the times but he was still quicker enough to start from pole for the final. 

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, left, Ford Fiesta, leads John McCluskey, right, Ford Fiesta, with Michael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, and Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, into turn one during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

His thrusty Ford Fiesta known as 'Molly' had a few battle scars but he would have a lot more by the events end on sunday. A great start off the line gave him the lead into turn one and he was never headed although fellow ford driver John McCluskey kept him honest right to the chequered flag finished just under half a second behind. Another win in the Superfinal gave him a terrific double.

Sunday dawned for round four of the championship and it look as if the Tohill's good run came to and end in heat one. Yet another collision this time with rival McCluskey resulted in a broken rear suspension and a dnf. However the partsforcars.ie team worked their magic and had the car fixed in time for heat two. He repayed them with two second places in the following heats. The dnf earlier meant a second row start for the final though. A good start saw him move up to third going into turn one but a coming together with John McCluskey saw him loosing his front bumper and wing.

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, leads Darragh Morris, Subaru Impreza, during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Poor 'Molly' was looking very second hand but still seemed to be handling resonable enough to continue although crucial time lost to rival Leonard who was out front and looking strong. Try as he might Tohill could not cath him and had to take the runner up spot this time. For the Superfinal he would start in the middle of the front row sandwhiched between his two rivals who were also team-mates. Yet again the partsforcars,ie team worked wonders and 'Molly' was looking new again. Tohill got the start right and got the jump on his two rivals and lead into turn one.

Instead of working together the two Murray Motorsport run cars did not give each other an inch and as a result they collided and both ended up in the barriers exiting turn one. While McCluskey got back going Leonards races was over with his right rear wheel hanging offand pulled off track at turn three. Tohill was out front and by the end of lap two he was cruising. McCluskey battled his way back to fourth by the end. It was another Superfinal win for Tohill, to round out a hectic weekend's racing.

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, leads John McCluskey, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

03-March-2024; Derek Tohill, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

02-March-2024; Derek Tohill, left, Ford Fiesta, leads John McCluskey, Ford Fiesta, with Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta and MIchael Leonard, Ford Fiesta, into turn one during the Supercar race. partsforcars.ie IRX Championship, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

A break to the 25th and 26th of May where the British championship travels over for a round of their championship and also to contest the Irish Rallycross Grand Prix. An event not to be missed if last years was anything to go by, where local driver Tommy Graham took the win. Tohill will be out to add that trophy to the cabinet.