Tohill in super ‘Fiesta’ mood topping National RallyX series!
Last weekend defending National Rallycross Champion Derek Tohill scored another comfortable win at Mondello Park to keep his unbeaten record in the Parts for Cars series, with his Ford Fiesta romping away with both the Supercar and Super Finals, the two main races of the day.
Derek was a clear 18 seconds ahead of nearest rival Noel Greene in the feature race, as he tried out various different settings in his preparation for the opening round of this year’s European Championship in Spain next month. Surprisingly, Greene’s Mitsubishi came under huge pressure from the two wheel drive Opel Corsa of former title holder Willie Coyne, which was just over a second behind at the chequered flag.
Meanwhile, Cork’s Gary Edwards made a successful return to Kart Racing at Watergrasshill, winning the Iame Seniors and Masters Final on his first outing for several years.
At the grassroots level of the sport, James Lahart won the Clare MC Autocross in Co Offaly, while Ian White was in a class of his own to take top place in the Limerick Autocross at Newcastle West, County Limerick.
MONDELLO PARK SPORTS CLUB RALLYCROSS AT MONDELLO PARK, CO KILDARE (ROUND 2 OF PARTS FOR CARS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP): SUPER FINAL: 1 Derek Tohill (Ford Fiesta Mk 7) 4m 07.41s, 2 Noel Greene (Mitsubishi Mirage) 4m 25.78s, 3 Willie Coyne (Opel Corsa) 4m 27.11s, 4 Pearse Browne (BMW Compact), 5 Lloyd Spendlove (Lotus Exige), 6 Brian Grealish (Honda Civic). SUPERCAR FINAL: 1 Derek Tohill (Ford Fiesta Mk 7) 4m 13.62s, 2 Noel Greene (Mitsubishi Mirage) 4m 28.21s. MODIFIED FINAL: 1 Ian O'Connell (Lotus Exige) 4m 26.61s, 2 Willie Coyne (Opel Corsa) 4m 29.92s, 3 Lloyd Spendlove (Lotus Exige) 4m 37.90s, 4 Padraig Leeson (Opel Corsa), 5 Pearse Browne (BMW Compact), 6 Brian Grealish (Honda Civic). PRODUCTION FINAL: 1 Eoin Murray (Peugeot 106) 4m 40.59s, 2 Ciaran Murphy (Peugeot 106) 4m 49.89s, 3 Damian Farrell (Peugeot 205) 4m 54.63s, 4 Keith Kerrshaawe (Peugeot 106), 5 Adrian Farrell (Peugeot 205), 6 John Dowling (Peugeot 106). RALLY CARS FINAL: 1 Patrick Donoghue (Peugeot 205) 4m 37.49s, 2 Thomas O'Rafferty (Vauxhall Nova) 4m 43.05s, 3 Jason Keogh (Peugeot 205) 4m 47.05s, 4 Mark Hayden (Ford Escort), 5 Patricia Denning (Peugeot 106), 6 Michael Nolan (Peugeot 205). FORD FIESTA ZETEC FINAL: 1 Alastair Kellett 5m 00.31s, 2 Niall Murray 5m 02.61s, 3 Denis McCrudden 5m 08.25s, 4 Daniel Brereton, 5 Sean Hession, 6 Michael O'Dwyer. JUNIOR FINAL: 1 Jyles Harding (Nissan Micra) 5m 21.63s, 2 Ben Mullins (Nissan Micra) 5m 22.47s, 3 Aaron Whelan (Nissan Micra) 5m 30.09s, 4 Shane Loftus (Nissan Micra), 5 Shane Brawders (Peugeot 106). BUGGY FINAL: 1 Terry McKay 4m 20.83s, 2 Martin McAteer 4m 21.58s, 3 Padraic McHale 4m 25.78s, 4 Johno Doogan, 5 John Ward, 6 Peter McGarry. MUNSTER KART CLUB RACE MEETING AT KARTWORLD, WATERGRASSHILL, CO CORK (ROUND 1 OF MOTORSPORT IRELAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP): Cadets Final: 1 J P Sleator, 2 Jake Cudden, 3 Sean McGovern. Cadet Novice Final: 1 Andrei Dabija, 2 Calem McSweeney, 3 Jack Naughton-Heavey. Iame X30 Junior Final: 1 Se Martin Jnr, 2 Sean McCormack, 3 Lucca Allen. Iame X30 Mini Final: 1 T J McDonnell, 2 Laura Carey, 3 Oran England. Formula 125 Open Final: 1 Brian McCarthy, 2 Gabriel Lodge, 3 Jack Moran. Formula 125 KZ2 Final: 1 Ian Walsh. Iame X30 Senior and Masters Final: 1 Gary Edwards, 2 Gary Turkington, 3 Odhran Henry. CLARE M C LOOSE SURFACE AUTOCROSS AT CASTLEARMSTRONG, BALLYCUMBER, CO OFFALY (ROUND 2 OF O'SHEA BUS HIRE MUNSTER CHAMPIONSHIP): Best time of day (Special): James Lahart (Semog Buggy) 3m 05.78s, Best time of day (Saloon): Johnny Kenneally (Impreza) 3m 32.21s. Class winners: William Meade (Nova), Jamie O'Flaherty (Peugeot 205), Damien Driver (Corsa), Gerard O'Connell (Celica), Johnny Hickey (Impreza), Christopher O'Callaghan (Semog Buggy), Whitby Moynan (Toyota Special), Paul O'Driscoll (Semog Buggy), Elaine Shinnors (Impreza). LIMERICK M C AUTOTEST AT BARNA TRANSPORT, NEWCASTLE WEST (ROUND 1 OF PREMIER AUTO PARTS MUNSTER CHAMPIONSHIP): 1 Ian White (Mini Special) 401.5s, 2 Don Giles (Westfield) 437.5s, 3 Liam Cashman (Starlet) 438.5s, 4 Martin Walsh (Starlet Special) 450.8s, 5 Connie Lynch (Starlet Special) 459.0s, 6 Alan Clarke (Mini Special) 481.5s. Class winners: Alan Clarke, Martin Walsh, Don Giles, Liam Cashman, Michael Cashman (Corsa), Cian Power (Mini Special), Marc O'Rourke GARDA SIOCHANA M C THREE ROCK TROPHY SPORTING TRIAL AT AUGHFARRELL, BRITTAS, CO DUBLIN: 1 Jonathan Ralph (Kilkenny-Honda) 23 marks, 2 Siobhan McCann (JMcVW) 26m, 3 Paul Staunton (VW) 27m, 4 Niki Potterton (Erskine-Yamaha) 28m, 5 John Bolton (Grasshopper VW) 29m, 6 Robin Taylor (VW) 30m, 7 Enda Byrne (VW) 32m, 8 David Meeke (BD-Opel) 34m, 9 Jack Byrne (VW) 34m, 10 Paul Needham (Erskine-Honda) 36m, 11 Roy Stewart (Erskine-Harley Davidson) 38m, 12 Percy Pennefather (Erskine-Suzuki) 40m. Grade winners: Siobhan McCann, Niki Potterton, Aidan Kehoe (Sheane VW) 43m, Paul Staunton.