Tohill Takes 10th IRX Rallycross Title

Gary Donohue, Honda Civic, leads the field into turn one during the supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

For the final two rounds of the Partsforcars.ie IRX Irish Rallycross championship drivers face a completely new track layout at Mondello Park. The new course would be the same that will be used in the upcoming and much anticipated FIA European Rallycross round in July. The weather was the best all season with very hot conditions but would cause its own problems with dust and tyre wear. The new layout however which would run in the opposite direction than normal but it is also very tight with few overtaking places. It was also a counting round of the British Rallycross Championship which brought a great entry of overseas drivers in the Super Retro and Supercar classes. Local men Derek Tohill, Peter McGarry and Logan Hoey were out to clinch their championship in the Supercar, Modified and Juniors classes respectively. 

In the supercar class Tohill was out for title number ten in a row! The switch to Peugeot power last year brought new hunger and motivation for the Dubliner and to make the amount of titles an even number was also an added quest this year. It would not be easy though as Gary Donoghue was back out in his Honda Civic as well as his team-mate John McCluskey in his civic. It would be all eyes on Kildare man Michael Leonard in his beautiful Audi S1 after his switch from the VW Polo he used at the last round. Also the other Kildare man Tommy Graham would be there in his Ford Fiesta along with fella Fiesta man and William Carey. Not forgetting English visitors Julian Godfrey and Tristan Ovenden.

Julian Godfrey, Citroen DS3, centre, leads Tommy Graham, left, Ford Fiesta, and Thristan Ovenden, VW Polo, into turn one during the supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Thristan Ovenden, VW Polo, leads Julian Godfrey, Citroen DS3, into turn one during the supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, during the supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Gary Donohue, Honda Civic, leads Michael Leonard, Audi S1, into turn one during the supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

It was a clean sweep during the heats on Saturday for Leonard avoiding any trouble while those behind didnt. Tohill and McCluskey came together a couple of times and let him get clean away but that said he was driving very well and clearly clicked with the Audi S1 and was unstoppable in the final and took the win comfortably by nearly 3 seconds. Sunday looked like more of the same with a clean sweep of wins in the heats and semi-final. However he didn't get the best of starts in Sunday's final and had to back out of a first corner duel with Tohill and Donoghue. Donoghue held firm over the next couple of laps and lead them with neat and tidy driving. Tohil and Leonard were however closing the gap but a mistake on lap 3 at turn 3 nearly saw Leonard run into the back of Tohill but quick reactions saw him missing him by millimeters  but the time lost was enough to end his run of wins for the weekend. 

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, during the Supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, during the Supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, during the Supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Then as Donoghue exited the joker lap he ran wide on the exit letting Tohill through and with Leoanrd still having to do his joker lap it was looking good for the current champion. Leonard though was putting in a quick time and it was going to be close. He ran wide but it wouldn't have to been enough that earlier mistake had cost him too much. He emerged from the joker in second and Tohill brought it home for the win and with it his tenth Irish title. It is a fantastic achievement for the Dubliner who is in a real purple patch of form lately after his win in France a couple of weeks ago and the win also helped his chances to retain the British tile. He still remains the benchmark in Irish Rallycross and with Europe's finest coming in July he will be out to beat them on home soil.

Michael Leonard, Honda Civic, during the supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

In the Modified Class another Dublin Peter McGarry was out to take the title in his VW Polo but he would have his work cut out to gain an over all win with the Bleasdale brother over from the UK in the very quick Vauxhall VX220's. He also had to keep an eye on his main rival in the championship Willie Coyne in his older but quick Opel Corsa. With the new layout it was hard to pass in a 4WD 600hp Surpercar so in a 300HP 2WD it was harder again so any slip up in the tight hairpins the time loss would be crucial in trying to go for a win. Try as he might bar one heat win McGarry could not get the better of Jason Bleasdale and on both Saturday and Sunday he finished second to the UK driver. That said he hard the better of his championship rival Coyne who was not in his usual form missing out on the podium on Saturday but finishing third on Sunday but it wasn't enough and the title went to McGarry. It is well deserved after driving very well all season and also continent which has clearly brought his driving up a level again.

Stanley Bovill, Ford Escort MKII, leads the field into turn one during the IRX Modified race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Stanley Bovill, Ford Escort MKII, during the IRX Modified race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Willie Coyne, Opel Corsa leads Ricky Alonan, Vauxhall Nova, during the IRX Modified race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Jason Bleasdale, Vauxhall VX220, leads the field into turn 1 during the IRX Modified race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Peter McGarry, VW Polo, leads Jason Bleasdale, Vauxhall VX220, during the IRX Modified race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Peter McGarry, VW Polo, during the IRX Modified race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Speaking afterwards the delighted Tallaght native gave his reaction to the weekend. " It was a tough weekend i love the new layout, it's nice to come down to mondello and have different course to race on. It is hard to overtake on and Jason was on top form but I had to think of the championship too. I am delighted to have taken here today and in the new car too after all the hard work the team put into it, they deserve it as much as me. Thanks to all who helped during the year and to my family who put up with all this rallycross!"

In the IRX Junior class current champion Logan Hoey had one hand on the trophy already and a steady weekend would give him title number three in a row. Academy driver Kori Bagnall was the star of the day on Saturday as he was pushing Hoey all the way. In the final he only finished less than half a second at the line and will be one to watch next season. Hoey had easier on the Sunday and once again showed why he had made it three in a row despite a couple of slides during the day that could have ended his run. He has been fast and consistent all year and even halfway through the season bar mechanical failure it was looking like it was his title to loose. Still he had to go out and do the business which he did by winning every heat and both finals to claim title number three in style. 

Logan Hoey, Mini,leads the field into turn 1 during the IRX Junior race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Logan Hoey, Mini, during the IRX Junior race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Hugo Loonam, Mini, during the IRX Junior race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Ailish Sexton, Mini, during the IRX Junior race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Speaking afterwards the laid back Louth man gave his review of the weekend." I am really happy to make it three in a row, it was really tight Saturday and survived some big slides to take the win. Sunday was a bit easier but still had to fight for it. Thank to all my sponsors and dad for all his hard work during the year."

The next Rallycross meeting is the big one with the FIA European Championship coming to town on July 18th and 19th where the locals will take on their European counterparts for the first time in 30 years.

Sam Bovill, Ford Escort Fiesta, during the IRX Modified race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, during the Supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Gary Donohue, Honda Civic, leads the field off the line during the supercar race. IRX Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

McCluskey Does the Double - PartsForCars IRX Irish Rallycross Championship

After the long winter break the change of season to spring saw the return of the PartsForCars IRX Irish Rallycross Championship to Mondello Park for rounds 5 and 6 of the series. Rallycross continues to grow especially in the junior classes with a brilliant grid of sixteen cars lining up on the grid at the weekend and with at least two more to join them in the near future it bodes well for the future of the sport. 

The announcement of Mondello Park hosting a round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship on the 19th of July has also boosted the grid in Supercars with Gary Donoghue and John McCluskey arriving to the event with a pair of Honda Civic's. Michael Leonard was back out for some time in a VW Polo. The IRX Modified class was boosted by English visitor Jason Bleasdale in his Vauxhall VX220 as well as the strong Northen Irish contingent. 

In the IRX Juniors Eoin Dooley from Tallaght debued his new mini having outpaced his old ford fiesta in the last few rounds it was time for a change and improve his results. This he did immediately with topping the results in three of his heats over the weekend. He scored a third place in the final on Saturday but his first final win came on Sunday with a brilliant drive. All weekend he pushed champion Logan Hoey and series leader to his limits for the first time this year the talented county Louth man didn't have it all his own way. He took the win in the final on Saturday from Hugo Loonam with Dooley in third. Dooley now more familiar with his new car set about taking his first win of the series. 

Once again it was between him Hoey and Hugo Loonam. Throughout the heats they all battled hard but fair and all lined up on the front row of the grid for the final. Loonam got the best start and lead the field and held Hoey off but a mistake at the final corner meant Hoey got a better run down the straight and took the lead. Dooley took the joker lap early and made up time on those ahead while they battled. Then the red flags came out and it was a re run where once again Dooley took an early joker lap which he again used to his advantage. He held the lead over Hoey on the final lap to take his maiden win. 

" It's been a fantastic weekend. We finally got the mini finished but didn't know where we would be in terms of pace. I got to grips with the car very quick and swapped lap records with Logan Hoey all weekend. I used the early joker in the first run of the final and it worked so I did it again in the re-run and it proved the right thing to do as it gave me the advantage to hold the lead to the line and take my first win."

Hoey was happy with his weekend too, " The weekend went well taking the win on Saturday and a second on Sunday. I had trouble on the grid ahead of the re-ran final as the car cut out and wouldn't start for a few minutes. It did eventually but I didn't make a good start and dropped to second and then third but got back to second in the end. It's more points for the final championship rounds in May."

In the IRX Modified Jason Bleasdale made the trio over the Irish Sea worthwhile as he took the win on Saturday comfortably from Peter McGarry. That said McGarry was battling hard with championship rivals Sam Bovill and Willie Coyne. Bleasdale using this event for the next round of the British series that visits Mondello in May broke clear early and wasn't headed by the time the chequered flag came out. 

In Sunday's final however it was mayhem at the first corner where McGarry and Bleasdale collided causing a lot of damage. Bleasdale kept the shoe in and managed to keep going but McGarry's car was too badly damaged. Afterwards the stewards excluded Bleasdale from the result for dangerous driving. Despite this Sam Bovill drove superbly to stay clear of the Coyne brothers. 

Willie nursing his Opel Corsa all day had said he was "doing enough to make the final and get as many points for the championship as he can" Michael was clearly getting to grips with his Citroen DS3 now which he got for this year. The hard work in between events was paying off and the car looked visibly much more competitive this time out. 

In the IRX Supercar class it was a case of last man standing by the end of Sunday. Everyone seemed to have trouble of some sort over the weekend. Poor Gary Donoghue didn't make the start as his new Honda Civic had mechanical problems in testing that were unable to be fixed for the races over the weekend. 

Current series leader Derek Tohill looked to be continuing from where he left off in November until an engine change caused him to miss the second heat but was back for the final. Michael Leonard was getting used to his rented VW Polo and put in some quick times ahead of Tommy Graham and Barry Morris. However it was McCluskey in his new Japanese Supercar ran by the Murray Motorsport team that was happiest of all. Taking to his new car like a duck to water he drove brilliantly to edge out Tohill for the win in Saturday's final.

Sunday looked like more of the same until the mechanical gremlins came out in force. William Carey's Ford Fiesta devoloped differential problems forcing his retirement and a broken timing belt in Derek Tohill's newly fitted engine in heat 3 saw him sidelined for the day also. Still the final still had plenty to choose from to pick a winner. Leonard was looking more competitive each time out but a front left puncture forced his retirement on lap one. 

McCluskey already in the lead just put in the times and pulled clear of Graham and Morris who were having a good battle themselves. McCluskey having to adapt from driving his Ford Fiesta for so long was putting in some very near record lap pace during the day and the switch to the new machine paid off with a brilliant drive to the chequered flag for the second time of the weekend.

Speaking afterwards the man from Stepaside in Dublin was glad to have made the change " I'm absolutely delighted at winning the two finals this weekend. The car is amazing and we were using it as a shakedown really and we were making little tweaks as we went along but to win to competitive finals like that is brilliant. It suits Mondello as it's a fast track and it seems to suit fast tracks and I'm looking for to going to Lydden Hill in the UK with it shortly. Its much more stable and has more power than the fiesta I had before. We could have turned the power up on it but we didn't to make sure we got through the weekend but the traction is the big thing with this car. Once you keep the wheel straight and not drive it sideways which I like to do, you gain much more time out of it. I am looking forward to having it for the British round in May and the European round in July and hopefully we can get a result then too."

Derek Tohill did have to celebrate something over the weekend by winning the Superfinal on Saturday and put one hand of retaining his IRX Championship crown again. Tommy Graham also had a cause to celebrate after winning the Superfinal on Sunday.

Thomas McManus also did the double by winning the IRX Clubman Modified class over series leader Abbie McGuinnes this weekend. The Rallycar class was won by Stephen Lispsett in his Citroen C2 with Pat Masterson taking the honors in the BMW120d class. Matthew McGaffin and Liam McMullan shared the spoils in the IRX Buggy class.

The last two rounds of the IRX Irish Rallycross Champship will be on May 23rd and 24th. This is also a round of the British Rallycross championship and a different layout will be used for this event which will make things interesting and provide another action packed weekend of rallycross.

Tohill Makes It Four From Four - IRX Rallycross Championship Rounds 3 & 4

Derek Tohill in action during a heat at the IRX Rallycross Championship at Mondello Park.

The third and fourth rounds of the PartsforCars.ie Irish Rallycross Championship took place at Mondello Park last weekend to mark the halfway stage of the series. Current champion Derek Tohill was back out fresh from claiming his second Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill earlier this month. 

The Supercar class is the top tier class in rallycross and Tohill would be joined on the grid by local man Tommy Graham who would taking his first run out in the ex John McCluskey Ford Fiesta. William Carey, Declan Kelly, Darragh Morris and the return of Shane Murphy in his VW Polo. 

The Modified class saw a great entry once again  with round two winner Peter McGarry back out in his Fully rebuilt VW Polo and would be looking to take victory in the modified class once again. He would be up against an in form Sam Bovill in his Ford Fiesta and Willie Coyne in his trusty Opel Corsa. The ever popular IRX Junior class saw a health entry of youngsters take to the grids in the usual mixture of Mini's and fiestas. Add the IRX Clubman, Rallycar, Autocross, Super Buggies, classes it would be another busy and action packed weekend. 

The weather was miserable on Saturday morning with heavy overnight rain leaving large Puddles of water around the county Kildare circuit. Visibility would be bad for the morning but by the afternoon it was to clear up.

Bradley Turner in action during the Buggie race at Mondello Park

In the supercars the Tohill Dominated the heats with three wins on the bounce to lead overall on times.That said WIlliam Carey kept him honest in heat two and three and Murphy was looing the rustiness and was getting quicker as the day wore on. The conditions for the early heats were wet but it was drying as the day went on but it still left 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 it also got colder too still leaving grip levels low.  

For the final it was Tohill on pole from Carey and Graham, with Murphy and Morris at the back with all the work to do. It would not be easy but if he wanted a chance of a win Murphy would have to get past Carey and Graham early on. As the lights went out it was Tohill who got the best start and lead into turn one followed by Carey, Graham, Murphy and Morris. Murphy wasted no time in getting past Graham and Carey and was on the same pace as Tohill. Tohill however was that fraction quicker each lap but by no means was he pulling away. As the others completed their joker laps ( an added section of track to be completed once during a race) the front two still raced away waiting to see who would joker first.  Murphy did and hoped to gain enough for  final lap and try and take the lead. He was close but the few tenths Tohill had on him proved enough to stay in the lead on the final lap to take the win. Tohill spoke afterwards " I'm delighted to get the win it was close between me and Shane but its also good for the championship and to get the hard work done now and use the other rounds to test the Hoosier tyres for the European rounds next year. It means we have room if they don't work as well and we drop points in those rounds."

William Carey, Ford Fiesta, leads Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, and Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar race at Mondello Park. 

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, leads Shane Murphy, VW Polo, Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, and William Carey, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar Final at Mondello Park.

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, on his way to winning the Supercar Final at Mondello Park.

In the modified class for two wheel drive cars,  it was battles between Peter McGarry, Sam Bovill and Willie Coyne to decide victory that entertained the crowd all day long. Wet weather conditions made it twice as hard as they have only two wheel drive unlike the 4wd Supercars. The heats saw wins for all three men but it was Peter McGarry who headed the field overall after the three heats . The early heats saw the slippiest conditions after the rainfall leaving the drivers fighting to keep their pocket rockets on track as they tried to find grip. The weather improved and the track dried but the temperatures dropped. As semi final one got under way in was McGarry on pole from Bovill with the hard charging Niall Carey in third. As the lights went out it was McGarry who got the better start and lead the field into turn one and lead the whole race long to take the win. It was Carey in second leaving Bovill in third. 

In the second semi final Coyne was on pole from very quick Pete Dornan in his Peugeot 206 and Kieran Curran in third in another Corsa. It was Curran who got the better start and lead into turn one from Coyne with English visitor Liam Doran in third. Curran another man not out for a while had pace early on but dropped off as the race wore on to let Coyne in to the lead which he held to the chequered flag. Dornan came home second after another almighty flat out drive which is great to watch as he flings the little French car around in efforts to stay with the quick men ahead.

For the final it was McGarry on pole from Coyne and Dornan. It would not be easy to pick a winner as all had similar pace. It was Coyne however who got . As the lights went out it was McGarry who got the best start and lead into turn one followed by Coyne and Bovill.  From the off it was a close affair between the top four all nose to tail providing great viewing for the hardy souls braving the cold and now near dark evening. It already a race where it was going to be who jokered first. Coyne went for it on lap two leaving McGarry off to put in a quick lap in hope to have an advantage over Coyne come his turn to joker. He made his move a lap later but was slower and Coyne got back into the lead and has to be said really driving the little Opel Corsa on the absolute limit in efforts to keep the modern Polo behind. No matter how hard McGarry tried he just couldn't get past and Coyne took the win. Coyne spoke afterwards " I'm thrilled to get that win, I drove as hard as I could to stay ahead of Peter, the car was on two wheels in a few place. It was great fun and I enjoyed it."

Sam Bovill, Ford Fiesta, in action during the Modified race at Mondello Park.

Willie Coyne, Opel Corsa, in action during the Modified race at Mondello Park.

Peter McGarry, VW Polo, leads Sam Bovill, Ford Fiesta, and Michael Coyne, Citroen DS3, during the Modified race at Mondello Park.

In the Junior Rallycross class for the stars of the future the current champion Logan Hoey like Tohill in the Supercars dominated the heats winning all three of his to finish first overall on times. As semi final one got under way in was Logan Hoey on pole from Hugo Loonan with Eoin Dooley in third. As the lights went out it was Hoey who got the better start and once again lead the way. As always he put in strong laps and wasn't challenged. They finished the same a the starting order although Ailish Sexton wasn't far off third.

In the second semi final it was Cody Mahon on pole from David McAdams and Sean Savage. It was Mahon lead into turn one and like Hoey put in the laps and pulled away easily. The battle behind though was close with Savage moving into second which he held by just two tenths of a second at the end.

For the final it was which had to be run on Sunday morning as daylight was too poor on Saturday evening, Hoey on pole from Mahon and Loonam. As the lights went out Hoey got to much wheel spin and dropped to third behind Mahon who got the best start and lead into turn one. Hoey's circuit racing experience showing through at turn two as he was up to second and then began to put in the times following Mahon and before taking the lead. He reeled off the laps to take another win and increase his championship lead. The rest will have to find something before he builds up a too big a lead to catch. Loonam got the better of Mahon to take second  with McAdams and Sexton rounding out the top five. In the Super Buggies Chris Kelly took the win from Ben Walsh and Paul Brogan. In the FIA Cross Car class Jack Newman took the win from Liam McMullan and Teddie MacPherson who battled all day. In the IRX Rallycar class the two citroen men Stephen Lipsett and Ken McGrath battled all day with Lipsett taking the win. UK visitor Abbie McGuinness again showed a clean pair of heals to the men in the IRX Clubman class to take the win from Thomas McManus and John Shaw. It would be great to see her move up to the modified class next season as I am sure she would be very capable in a good car to take victory there also.

Hugo Loonam, Mini, leads Cody Mahon, Mini, durng the IRX Junior race at Mondello Park

Sean Savage, Mini, in action during the IRX Juniors race at Mondello Park

Logan Hoey, Mini, leads Cody Mahon, Mini, during the IRX Juniors race at Mondello Park

Eoin Dooley, Ford Fiesta, Hugo Loonam, Mini, and David McAdams, Mini, during the IRX Juniors

race at Mondello Park

For Sunday the weather was dry and overcast but no rain in sight although it was again very cold. In the supercars the heats saw wins for Tohill and Carey overall on times While on paper it looked as Tohill was again in dominant form. In reality he was being pushed all the way in the heats from both Carey and Murphy. Tommy Graham was also getting quicker as he was getting more used to his new car. It was great to see Declan Kelly back out after three years rebuilding his beautiful Ford Fiesta. Barry Morris was also out in his Hyundai. Murphy had a mechanical problem in heat two costing him time overall while Carey won heat 3 to give him a front row start for the final. 

For the final it was Tohill on pole from Carey and Graham. As the lights went out it was Tohill who got the best start and lead into turn one followed by Carey and Graham. There was nothing in it in the opening laps Carey hounding him and looked quicker on the loose sections. Tohill jokered first with a lap of 44.492 seconds, Carey did the same a lap later but had a lap of 444.667 seconds, it was enough to just hold the lead when rejoining the track. Carey tried hard in the remaining two laps but just couldn't find enough of a gap to try a move. It was a thrilling race and Tohill worked for the win and deserved it. Tohill spoke afterwards " That was a hard one, fair play to William he drove superb and pushed me all the way. We had another great weekend four wins on the bounce leaves us in a good place at the halfway point of the season."

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, leads William Carey, Ford Fiesta, Tommy Graham, Ford Fiesta, and Shane Murphy, VW Polo, during the Supercar Final at Mondello Park.

Derek Tohill, Peugeot 208, leads William Carey, Ford Fiesta, during the Supercar Final at Mondello Park.

In the modified class the saw heat wins for Peter McGarry, Sam Bovill and Willie Coyne. Both McGarry and Coyne both had wins in their semi-finals. If the day before was anything to go by it should be another brilliant battle. Coyne lined up on pole from McGarry with Sam Bovill in third. As the lights went out it was Bovill who got the better start but as he exited turn one the car spun round and he could not get going and he was out. A shame as he could have taken it to Coyne and McGarry.  on the restart it was McGarry who got the best start to lead into turn one.  Again not much between the two men who were quick to pull away from Niall Carey in third. As with the final the day before it was about who would joker first and could they do enough to hold or take the lead when the time came. Coyne went first on lap 4. He was 2 seconds quicker on that lap than McGarry was on his which helped him make the overtake and move into the lead. Try as he might McGarry couldn't close in and it was Coyne who took the win and make it two wins this weekend. Niall Carey came home in third.

Coyne speaking afterwards ." It's been a great weekend to take two wins. I am just concentrating on the modified class championship and this year and this weekend will help that". 

Willie Coyne, Opel Corsa, on his way to winning the Modified final at Mondello Park

Sam Bovill, Ford Fiesta, leads the field into turn one during the Modified final at Mondello Park

John Rock lifts Sam Bovill's Ford Fiesta, after it broke down during the Modified final at Mondello Park

Peter McGarry, VW Polo, leads Willie Coyne, Opel Corsa, into turn one during the Modified final at Mondello Park

In the Junior Rallycross class saw Logan Hoey once again come out on top after the heats when he won his three. Cody Mahon and David McAdams were not far behind though and out to stop Hoey's good run of form. The Junior grid had an extra car as Luke O'Connell was out for the first time in the academy car. As semi final one got under way in was Hoey on pole from McAdams with Keenan Murphy rounding out the front row. As the lights went out it was Hoey who got the better start but McAdams was right alongside as the exited turn one.  Once out in front after the opening lap Hoey began to put in quicker times and pulled away and took the win.

In the second semi final Cody Mahon was on pole from Hugo Loonam and Sean Savage. It was Mahon who lead into turn one from Loonam with Savage in. A slow first lap from Mahon kept Loonam in touch but Mahon was just a few tenths quicker on the rest to take the win. Savage ran his own race to finish third. 

For the final it was Hoey on pole from Mahon and McAdams.Loonam was in fourth on row two but had the pace to get on the poidium. Again it was Hoey who got the best start and lead into turn one followed by Mahon, McAdams and Lonam.  AS with the heat Hoey just got into his rhythm straight away and began to put in the times. Behind the chasing three battled it out for the poidum spots and with a quicker joker lap Loonam moved up to third but there was no catching Hoey who once again took the win making it four in a row. Hoey spoke afterwards " The weekend went well apart from a wheel bearing issue in one heat. The competition is fierce and I just had to put my head down and do my job. Winning eight races out of eight was amazing for me and the team. I'm excited for next year and hopefully 2026 brings the same results to finish the seaon. Thanks to Dad for making it happen along with Fire Protection Specialists, Dynamite Fireworks, Swan Rock Quarries, Napa Racing UK and Duprint."

Luke O'Connell, Mini, during the IRX Juniors race at Mondello Park

Logan Hoey, Mini, during the IRX Juniors race at Mondello Park

Dean Deasy, Mini, leads Luke O'Connell, Mini, during the IRX Juniors race at Mondello Park

Cody Mahon, Mini, leads Hugo Loonam, Mini, during the IRX Juniors race at Mondello Park

In the Super Buggies Paul Brogan won from Ben Walsh and Ciaran Greenan. The IRX Clubman class final was won of the best races of the weekend with a grid packed with mini's It was Abbie McGuinness who took the win by a whisker from Thomas McManus. McManus tried everything to get by and looked to have the lead got as McGuinness was taking her joker lap but as they both headed for rallycross three McGuinnes just nosed herself in front and held it to the line and won by .348 of a second. Stephen Lipsett took the win from Pat Masterson and Glenn Montgomery in the rallycar class.

Abbie McGuinness, Mini, leads Tom McManus, Mini, during the IRX CLubmans Race at Mondello Park

  The next round of the championship takes place on November the 7th and 8th of March 2026.