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Mondello Euro RX return is ‘monumental’, says British champion Tohill
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Ireland’s Derek Tohill has accomplished a great deal over the course of his decorated rallycross career, being crowned on multiple occasions in the domestic series as well as two times apiece in the British and European Championships. Something he has never been able to experience, however, is competing in front of his home fans at international level. Until now.
Tohill’s achievements speak for themselves. The Dubliner made his FIA European Rallycross Championship bow back in 2008, contesting Division 2 behind the wheel of a Honda Civic Type R. Having switched to a Ford Fiesta, he won his first title two years later, before seeing off no less a driver than Robin Larsson to triumph in the TouringCar category in 2013.
That prompted a step-up to the newly-formed World Championship the following season, when he piloted an LD Motorsports Citroën DS3 to five points finishes, recording a best result of eighth in Finland.
From 2016 to 2018, Tohill raced in Euro RX’s headlining Supercar class (now Euro RX1), twice advancing to the final and placing seventh overall in 2017. He subsequently lifted the laurels in the British Championship in 2021 – repeating the feat this year – and has collected no fewer than nine Irish Rallycross Championship trophies. He continues to lead the charge in the current campaign as he seeks to secure the spoils for an astonishing tenth time.
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A stalwart of the national rallycross scene, the 50-year-old has warmly welcomed Mondello Park’s return to the European Championship schedule in 2026 following an absence of three decades – the dawn of an exciting new chapter in Ireland’s proud rallycross history. It is, Tohill acknowledges, both a tremendous opportunity and a colossal responsibility.
“This is monumental for rallycross in our country,” the DA Racing Peugeot 208 driver told motorsport.ie. “It was Euro RX events that led me to compete in Europe in the first place, but I have never experienced a ‘home’ round in all my years racing at European and World Championship level. To now have one is fantastic for the sport, both in the short and longer-term.
“I’m under no illusions that the success of such a high-profile event will require massive effort from the wider motorsport and rallycross communities, and from our ASN, Motorsport Ireland. The French round at Lohéac relies upon over 700 volunteers to make it happen – that’s a small indication of what is involved.
“Our challenge is even greater, considering Ireland has not organised something on this scale for 30 years, so I hope everyone can pull together to create a must-have event for the championship – not just in 2026 but for many years to come!”
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