Motorsport: Emphatic win for Dublin's Derek Tohill at Mondello

Dubliner Derek Tohill (Fiesta), title sponsor of the Parts for Cars Irish Rallycross Championship, continued his dominance of the series with an emphatic display in the second round of the series at Mondello Park yesterday.

Winning all the heats in the SuperCar along with the final itself, Tohill was on pole for the Super final. Despite fluffing the start that allowed Nigel Greene (Mitsubishi Mirage) take a brief advantage, Tohill was in the lead in an instant and lap by lap steered well clear of the opposition. By the finish Tohill, who won the opening round a few weeks ago, had over 18 seconds to spare as he took the chequered flag with ease and was followed by Greene and the Corsa of Willie Coyne. There were wins for Owen Murray (Peugeot 106) in the Production Class, the Modified section was won by Ian O’Connell (Lotus Exige) and Patrick O’Donoghue (Peugeot 205) won the Rallycar class.

Elsewhere, in the Clare Autocross at Castlearmstrong in Offaly, round two of the Munster series, Tipperary’s James Lahart (Semog Buggy) punched in the best time on the third and final run to take victory by two seconds. On the opening run, Limerick’s Christopher O’Callaghan (Semog Buggy) was a second faster than the similar machine of Clonakilty’s Paul O’Driscoll. O’Callaghan improved his time on the second run where Brian Hassett (Semog Buggy) slotted into second. However, on the last run they were out trumped by Lahart, who took victory as O’Callaghan and O’Driscoll completed the top three.