10-time Irish Rallycross Champion Derek Tohill and the PFCRX team embark on a trio of massive rallycross events this month, with two rounds of the French Rallycross Championship bookending European Rallycross’ return to Ireland.
With the third round of the Rallycross France series at Chateauroux two weeks ago cancelled by local authorities due to an extreme heatwave in the region, French Championship contenders now head for the Pont De Ruan circuit, one of shortest tracks on the calendar, before a fortnight later making the trip to Kerlabo for round five, where Tohill last competed 16 years ago.
Back then, the Dubliner was campaigning early events with the PFCRX Ford Fiesta TouringCar, a fifth-place finish in the European Championship event that year contributing to a points’ tally that meant come the final round, Tohill claimed an emphatic first European Rallycross titles, which was followed up with another crown in 2013.
And, it’s the week in between the two French rounds where not only will Tohill return to the European Rallycross Championship for the first time since 2019, but Ireland returns to the top-flight to host a Euro RX event for the first time in 30 years.
A super-strong strong field including some of the best rallycross teams and drivers in the World will join an Irish contingent in the event to put on a show for a packed Irish crowd. Not only will Tohill race the DA Racing-supported Peugeot 208 WRX in the headline Euro RX1 category, but five-time Formula Drift Champion James Deane will drive the team’s Ford Fiesta RWD (with which Tohill won his Euro RX crowns) in the two-wheel-drive support category, joined by fellow PFCRX team mate Peter McGarry in his Volkswagen Polo.
The French Rallycross Championship can be watched live and free (French Language) on the Rallycross France YouTube Channel.
Meanwhile, the European Rallycross Championship is broadcast live and free (English Language) on the FIA Rallycross YouTube Channel and Facebook page.
Derek Tohill | Supercar | Peugeot 208 WRX | #GB1, #IRL1 & #77
“July is here and it’s going to be a crazy motor sport month for us.
I have been looking forward to and also dreading this month all year as we tackle three big events in a three-week period.
First up is round four of Rallycross France in Pont De Ruan. Following the cancellation of round three, I am really looking forward to getting back to the French Championship. Good tracks, good competition and good weather – it doesn’t get much better.
We head straight from France back home to Mondello Park and an event I never thought we would see back in Ireland, the European Rallycross Championship. This event, back in its heyday, got me into the sport, so to line up in a top car in this event is really a dream come true, especially with PartsforCars sponsoring the event.
We quickly pack up the circus again in Mondello and head for the ferry back to France for round five of Rallycross France in Kerlabo. I last drove there in 2010, my memory is not that good, so I will have a lot to learn here.
Thanks to everyone who is making this possible, I will be going into hibernation for a few weeks after!”
