The opening two rounds of the PartsforCars.ie Irish Rallycross Championship took place at Mondello Park. It was also a counting round for the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship which saw a welcome return of the top UK drivers who love coming across and battling it out with their Irish counterparts.
The premier class in rallycross are the Supercars and a welcome return to Mondello for local man Ian Barrett in his VW Polo who was out to upset the favourites in Derek Tohill, John McCluskey, Ollie O'Donovan and Julian Godfrey. Other local men Gary Donoghue, William Carey and the Morris brothers Darragh and Michael would also be in the mix.
The Modified class saw a great entry with six county Antrim drivers alone travelling down. Indeed the overall entry saw an increase in northern drivers which was great to see and which bodes well for the futre of rallycross. Niall Carey would be making his debut in the class and would be one to watch in his BMW Compact. Peter McGarry had to make a switch to a Ford Fiesta as his VW Polo is still not ready from a rebuild. Tommy Graham another local man was back out in his old Ford Fiesta and ex Dermot Carneige car but this time it has been converted to rear wheel drive. The Coyne brothers would also be ones to watch out for and and all eyes would be watching Michael in his new Citroen DS3. That said Bovill brothers, Derek Lenehan in his Toyota MR2 and Ricky McAlonan in his nova would also be ones to tach out for. The increasingly popular IRX Junior class saw a health entry of youngsters take to the grids in a mixture of Mini's and fiestas. Add the IRX Clubman, Rallycar, Autocross, Super Buggies, BRX Super Retro classes it would be a busy and action packed weekend.
The weather also played its part as the tail end of storm Amy lingered on Saturday morning leaving conditions very wet and the track more slippy than usual. It dried out as the day went on but some showers came down which left tyre choice difficult. The track layout on the Saturday saw the drivers skip the usual second corner on the rallycross circuit and use the long run down to the hairpin on the normal race circuit. It would provide another overtaking place and give the drivers a chance to stretch their cars legs. The sight of the Supercars making their way down the straight really showed how quick these top level rallycross machines really are.
In the supercars the heats saw wins for William Carey, Derek Tohill and Ollie O'Donovan overall on times. The early heats saw the heaviest rainfall leaving the drivers fighting to keep their powerful machines on track as they tried to find grip. As the day wore on the weather improved and the track dried but the odd shower of rain kept making setup and tyre choice difficult. As semi final one got under way in was Derk Tohill on pole from Ian Barrett with John McCluskey and Darragh Morris behind. Sadly WIlliam Carey didnt make it out due to mechanical problems. As the lights went out it was Barrett who got the better start but as he moved across Tohil was right alongside and both men touched, hitting the armco barrier in the process. Tohill had to back out or it could have been a bigger incident. They still were ahead of the pack though and raced to turn three. Barrett held him off but a nice move into rallycross 3 saw Tohill take the lead and immediately pull away. McCluskey took the joker lap on the first lap which payed off as he was up to second on the final lap when Barrett took his. Tohill was too far ahead though and took the win.
In the second semi final Ollie O'Donovan was on pole from Garry Donoghue and Julian Godfrey with Michael Morris behind, sadly Derek Jobb once again had mechanical problems with his Ford Escort and was a non starter. O'Donovan got a bad start and it was Godfrey who lead into turn one from Donoghue with O'Donovan in third with all the work to do. As they made their way to turn two both he and Godfrey collided which at first didnt look that much but a rear link arm broke on O'Donovan's car leaving the rear wheel hanging on only just. He did well to avoid hitting anyone else but his race was run and would leav him at the back for the final. The race was restarted after O'Donovan's car was remved from the track. The re run saw a great battle with Donoghue being pushed all the way to the end to take a great win.
For the final it was Tohill on pole from Donoghue and Godfrey, with O'Donovan at the back with all the work to do. It would not be easy but if he wanted a chance of a win he would have to get past McCluskey and Barrett early on to give himself a chance with the front three. He got ahead of the Morris brother off the line and made a much better exit out of turn one and got up the inside of Godfrey and Barrett on the run to turn two. Godfrey then ran wide and into the gravel at turn two but got back on just ahead of Darragh Morris but as he came back across before turn thee he hit the front of Morris and spun ending his chances on a decent result.
Up front Tohill lead but only just from Donoghue and McCluskey and O'Donovan. The front four were now right together giving the crowd lots of entertainment. O'Donovan made his next move into turn one and got ahead of McCluskey. He was on a charge and with Tohill not breaking away as he did in the semi final a win was still on. A mistake into the final corner saw O'Donoghue run wide letting O'Donovan get on his inside and with better drive again made another spot into turn one and into second. The second half of the lap saw him close right up to Tohill with both still having to do their joker lap. O'Donovan went first and did it very well neat and tidy not loosing anytime. Tohill needed to put in a quick first half a lap to keep his lead after he did his joker. It was close and as he exited the second chicane O'Donovan was halfway through rallycross two. He had done enough and pipped Tohill going into rallycross three. A brilliant drive and a tight defence line into the final corner sealed the win with Tohill unable to make it a drag to the line. A very entertaining final and also a clean and fair battle too. From last to first is not an easy thing to do at Mondello. As O'Donovan isn't doing the Irish Championship Tohill opened up his new campaign with maximum points and spoke afterwards " Yeah a solid result for round one, didn't, get the win today but Ollie drove well. Your have to get though a lot of races to get to a final in Irish Rallycross but I'm Delighted to start off the new campaign with a win."
In the modified class it was battles between the both the Coyne's and Bovill's with Peter McGarry in there also. Willie Coyne, Stanley Bovill and Peter McGarry all came out on top in the heats which were all close run races with all cars very evenly matched. The conditions made it twice as hard as they have only two wheel drive unlike the 4wd Supercars. In the semi-finals Willie Coyne had a comfortable win over Niall Carey but the second semi final was a closer run thing between the two Bovill's both with just over a second separating them in the end. For the final it was Willie Coyne on pole from Stanley and Samuel Bovill. Niall Carey qualified a great fourth for his first modified final with Michael Coyne beside him. As the lights went out Samuel Bovill got a lightning start and shot into the lead from the outside of the front row. Stanley Bovill got a great start two to slot into second leaving pole man Coyne back in third. A mistake at turn two by Bovill saw Coyne take advantage and move into second. It was the like the opening heat all over again the little Opel Corsa chasing the fiesta with the inside rear wheel on both cars lifting in the corners.
The fiesta had the power advantage though as a couple of times coming out of turn one Bovill went very sideways but had the legs on the straight to hold the lead. Coyne took his joker at the halfway mark timing it to perfection to stay ahead of Carey. Noe he had to put in quick laps to get an advantage when both the Bovill's did theirs. He didn't need the escort ahead to hold him up if he was to take the lead. It didn't matter though as Samuel Bovill had also put in quick enough times to keep his advantage as he exited the joker on the final lap and held the lead to the flag. It was a close finish but very deserving to the Antrim man. A happy 'Maun' as they say in his part of the world spoke after the race " Very pleased with the day, I got a great start in the final and had to go really deep into the corners as I knew Willie was behind me. At he started of the day I forgot the car was setup for the dry from Pembrey but everything went well in the end and hopefully it will again tomorrow."
In the Juniors Logan Hoey picked up where he left off last season winning two of the three heats and his semi final. Cody Mahon however kept him honest winning heat two and his semi final. So it was really going to be between these two for the final. As the lights went out both got a similar start but Hoey had the inside line and squeezed Mahon out wide on to the loose which dropped him to third allowing David McAdams into second. These junior cars are very evenly matched which leads to close racing and this race was delivering this. Hoey's circuit racing experience came into effect at turn three making better exits each time allowing him to open a gap to McAdams and Loonam. Ailish Sexton was also going well and her increase in speed since last season was noticeable hold third by the halfway mark. She still the joker to do but a strong fifth was on the cards but a mistake exiting the joker cost her time and dropped to sixth. Up front Hoey was well clear and in command. He took his joker with ease and took the win carrying on his form from last year. Speaking after the race Hoey was happy at how his day went " It was a good day, I wanted to get a good start to the season and give myself some breathing room come the end of the year. I hope to do the same tomorrow and win again but anything can happen".
In the Buggies Jack Newman and Ben Walsh battled all day with Newman coming out on top with Paul Brogan in third. Stephen Lipsett took the win from Ken McGrath and Ian Lawlor in the rallycar class. One of the best races of the day came from the visiting SuperRetro class from the UK. Charles French in his beautiful Forst Escort and Alan Crokett in his equally beautiful Opel Kadett swapped places all day and again in the final. It brought back memories of rallycross meetings of old to those old enough to remember these cars being the ultimate machines to have. French took the win by just under a second.
For Sunday the weather was much better although cloudy no rain fell and the tyre choice was made easier. Sadly Gary Donoghue was missing in the supercar class as he his father Joe a great motorsport man sadly died earlier in the week and he decided to sit out the Sunday races. In his place though Niall Murray former circuit racing champion got behind the wheel of Donoghues car. A heavy impact in the third heat between McCluskey and O'Donovan brought out the red flags. Once restarted it was O'Donovan who came home first to add to his earlier heat win. Tohill was avoiding the drama as much as he could but after a win in heat one he got hit from behind by Ian Barrett and went into the gravel exiting turn two. Come the final it was important Tohill won it for his British championship bid.
It was O'Donovan who lined up on pole position from William Carey who had a brilliant run all day, with Tohill on the outside of the front row Niall Murray and Ian Barrett were behind on row two with McCluskey, Julian Godfrey and Darragh Morris on row three. Tohill got the best start from the outside and lead into turn one from William Carey who made an excellent startto get ahead of O'Donovan in third. Behind them though it was carnage as Niall Murray hit the back of Ian Barrett which spun him into the unfortunate Julian Godfrey who had nowhere to go. The polo was badly damaged and Barrett's race was run there and then. Murray's car wasn't in great shape either but he managed to get going and get back into the race. Carey ran wide at turn two letting O'Donovan by and now it was going to be a battle between him and Tohill. Tohill was flying though kept putting in fast laps and it showed as try as he might O'Donovan was using all the road and more in his efforts to stay with him. He would close right up to him from turn two across the loose up to the final corner but loose the gained ground down the straight. On the penultimate lap Tohill took the joker first and would need to be pin perfect to keep his lead once O'Donovan took his joker lap. He did and he retained his lead and held it to the line to take the win and maximum points in British championship to bring it to the final round. William Carey came home in third with Niall Murray in fourth.
Speaking after the race Tohill was very pleased with his day "I knew I had to win that race so I threw the kitchen sink and everything else at it. It was really important for the championship and also for the Irish too making it a double is a great way to start the season".
In the Modified class it was Peter McGarry who took the honors in heat one from Samuel Bovill who carried on Saturday's good form to take second ahead of Willie Coyne. Once again in heat two it was McGarry ahead of Coyne but Bovill finished down in eight but in heat three in was a repeat of heat one as the top three finished in the same order. That said it was closely fought all the way in the heats between the top three. Local Man Tommy could not be counted out either with a fourth and a third in two of the heats. For the semi final one it was Peter McGarry who won from Samuel Bovill and Pete Dornan. In semi final two it was Willie Coyne from Ricky Alonan and Niall Carey. So for the much anticipated final it was McGarry on pole from Coyne and Bovill. McGarry got the best start and lead into turn one from Bovill and Coyne. the front two drifting round turn on in unison. Coyne tried to go down the inside at turn two but Bovill blocked him straight away. Coyne who never gives up tried to cling on to the back of Bovill who was driving very well but could not get close enough for a move. This let McGarry open a slight gap in front. Coyne took the joker first but got stuck behind Carey on the exit for a couple of corners and dropped time. Which let Bovill stay in second when he took his joker. McGarry reeled of the final laps and too the flag in comfort. Not as close a race as Saturday's but one that made up the disappointment that McGarry had in the semi final after breaking a wishbone.
Speaking after the race McGarry was delighted to get the win " We had good pace all weekend really, I just got caught out in a newly formed pothole out the back and broke a wishbone. From this morning on I knew we had a good chance. The car is brilliant and handles so well and does what you want it to do ans we were setting some really good times. There is serious pace in modified and a great mix of cars, front wheel drive rear, wheel drive and great bunch a drivers too. I'm hoping to have the polo out the next day as we spent the time since the end of last season rebuilding it and trying a couple of different things while we can. "
In the juniors true to his word Logan Hoey was again the man to catch as he won all the heats and his semi final with ease. Cody Mahon was the only one to stay within some distance of Hoey all weekend but its early days yet in the championship and anything could happen. For the final it was Hoey on pole from Mahon and Ailish Sexton. Once again it was Hoey and Mahon got fairly similar starts but Hoey had the inside line and lead into turn one but drove Mahon wide and onto the loose. This let Hugo Loonam up the inside into second. Sexton dropped back at turn two but made up places as the race went on and cam ehome a solid fifth place in the end. Try as he might Loonam could not catch Hoey who once again put in the times and pulled a gap which was enough to hold to the end. Mahon got back up to third but could not catch Loonam. It was the perfect week end for Hoey who did the double and started off his title defence in style.
In the Clubman modified class Abbie McGuinness was in a league of her own all weekend and did the clean sweep winning her heats, semi finals and finals. Although she was dominant all weekend, Dessie Martin and Leah McManus were not too far away either and will get quicker in the coming rounds. In the IRX Super Buggies it was Ben Walsh who too the honors from Kevin Sharkey and Paul Brogan. In the Super Retro class Alan Crokett and Charles French had another brilliant battle with Crockett taking the win on the way to the line by.2 of a second!
So after a long wait the first round of the 2025/2026 IRX Rallycross Championship was over. Some great racing throughout all classes all weekend in various weather conditions was put on by own home talent and overseas visitors. Thanks to all the marshalls and volunteers who helped run the meeting and to our visitors from across the water for coming.
The next round of the championship takes place on November the 29th and 30th of November.
