Irish Rallycross Championship

Irish Rallycross ChampionshipCategory| Rallycross

|

Country|  Ireland
Inaugural season| 1982
Classes| Supercars, Modified, Production, Rallycars, Buggy, Fiesta, Junior
Drivers' champion| Derek Tohill (2019)
Official website| Website
Facebook Page

Irish Rallycross Championship, IRX, PartsforCars Irish Rallycross Championship is a Rallycross championship in the Republic of Ireland.

The championship is regulated by Motorsport Ireland who are the governing body of Motorsports in the Republic of Ireland.

## History

[edit]

The Irish Rallycross Championship was formed in 1982, all rounds running in Mondello Park. The event attracted a round of European Rallycross Championship to Ireland in the early 1990s.[1]

## 2022 season

[edit]

With COVID-19 restrictions effectively coming to an end, a full season went ahead in 2022. Championship consisted of 7 rounds, all of them in Mondello Park rallycross circuit.[2][3]

### Calendar

[edit]

Round  | Track / Event  | Date

|
|

1  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 13 February
2  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 6 March
3-4  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 4–5 June
5  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 30 October
6  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 13 November
7  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 11 December

### Results

[edit]

Class  | Round 1  | Round 2  | Round 3  | Round 4  | Round 5  | Round 6  | Round 7  | 2022 Championship

|
|
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|
|
|
|

Superfinal | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill |  |  |  |  |  |
Supercar | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill |  |  |  |  |  |
Modified | Philip Kelly  | Peter McGarry  |  |  |  |  |  |
Open Clubman & Fiesta Zetec | Keith Kershawe  | Jason McConnon  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rallycars | Patricia Denning  | Shane Mulligan  |  |  |  |  |  |
Buggy | Padraig Leeson  | Conor Shaw  |  |  |  |  |  |
Autocross | \-  | \-  |  |  |  |  |  |
Junior | Joshua Power  | Joshua Power  |  |  |  |  |  |

## 2021 season

[edit]

The season started late due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Championship consisted of 5 rounds, all of them in Mondello Park clockwise rallycross circuit.[4]

### Calendar

[edit]

Round  | Track / Event  | Date

|
|

1  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 11 July
2  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 8 August
3  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 31 October
4  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 14 November
5  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 12 December

### Results

[edit]

Class  | Round 1  | Round 2  | Round 3  | Round 4  | Round 5  | 2021 Championship

|
|
|
|
|
|

Superfinal | Derek Tohill | Tommy Graham  | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill
Supercar | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill
Modified | Alan Crockett  | Peter McGarry  | Peter McGarry  | Philip Kelly  | Philip Kelly  | ?
Production / Open Clubman | Keith Kershawe  | \-  | \-  | \-  | Ken Power  | \-
Rallycars | \-  | \-  | \-  | Thomas O'Rafferty  | Keith Power  | \-
Buggy | Jake O'Sullivan  | Jake O'Sullivan  | Jake O'Sullivan  | Padraig Leeson  | Padraic McHale  | ?
Fiesta Zetec | Michael Ryan  | Christopher Grimes Jnr  | Michael Ryan  | Ben Mullins  | Michael Ryan  | ?
Junior | Loughlin Farrell  | Damien Farrell  | Loughlin Farrell  | Loughlin Farrell  | \-  | Loughlin Farrell
Retro RX | Davy Aiken  | \-  | \-  | \-  | \-  | \-

## 2020 season

[edit]

On 12 March all motorsports events were postponed in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.[5] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020,[6] and later the remainder of the season was cancelled.

### Calendar

[edit]

Round  | Track / Event  | Date

|
|

1  | Mondello Park Rallycross - Clockwise  | 8 March
2  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 19 April  | Cancelled - COVID-19
3-4  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 18–19 July  | Cancelled - COVID-19
5  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 4 October  | Cancelled - COVID-19
6  | Mondello Park Rallycross  | 8 November  | Cancelled - COVID-19

### Results

[edit]

The Rallycars class was absent this season. There were total of 48 cars on the grid for the round 1, with Modified being the largest class - 12 cars. Last year's overall champion Derek Tohill did not start in his Supercar Fiesta, but rather in a 2-wheel drive Fiesta in Modified class, and finished third. Round 1 winner was Tommy Graham.[7] All other rounds were called off and the championship was cancelled.

## 2019 season

[edit]

The official 2019 championship media launch took place on 17 February 2019 in Mondello Park. Leo Nulty started the proceedings, stating that the championship is in its best position in many years.[8] PartsforCars was announced as the main championship sponsor, along with sponsorship from Diamondbrite, IPRS, Rigs 4 Gigs and MRCM Roofing.

Round 1 event on 3 March was cancelled in the afternoon after the first semi-finals race due to adverse weather conditions (snow).[9] However, the results were to stand.[10]

On October 15 Mondello Park have announced that the penultimate two rounds scheduled for 19-20 of October will not take place because participant entry numbers are too low for the championship event to go ahead. The entrant numbers have been dropping throughout the season despite organizers' efforts to revive the championship. The Motorsport Ireland Rallycross Commission met the following week in order to make a decision in relation to the final event of the season on 24 November.[11][12] On 7 November Motorsport Ireland announced that the last round of the season will go ahead, incentivized by lowered entry fees, and the first time ever “race into the night” as the finals would run under floodlights.[13]

### Calendar

[edit]

Round  | Track / Event  | Date

|
|

1  | Mondello Park Short Circuit Rallycross  | 3 March 2019  | Event cancelled mid-way, but results stand
2  | Pallas Karting Track - Rallycross @ Tynagh[14] | 7 April 2019
3  | Mondello Park Reverse Short Circuit Rallycross  | 19 May 2019
4  | Mondello Park Modified Reverse Short Circuit Rallycross - "Retro Mania"  | 20–21 July 2019
5-6  | Mondello Park Short Circuit Rallycross  | 19–20 October 2019  | Event did not go ahead, numbers too low
7  | Mondello Park Short Circuit Rallycross  | 24 November 2019

### Results

[edit]

Source:[15]

The Production Class featured three cars in Round 1, one car in Round 2 and none from Rounds 3 onwards.

Class  | Round 1  | Round 2  | Round 3  | Round 4  | Round 5-6  | Round 7  | 2019 Championship

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Superfinal | Derek Tohill | Noel Greene | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Cancelled  | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill
Supercar | Derek Tohill | Noel Greene | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill | Cancelled  | Derek Tohill | Derek Tohill
Modified | Michael Coyne | Willie Coyne | Peter McGarry | Padraig Leeson | Cancelled  | Willie Coyne | Willie Coyne
Production | \-  | David Gibb | \-  | \-  | Cancelled  | \-  | \-
Rallycars | Thomas O'Rafferty | David James | Thomas O'Rafferty | Patricia Denning | Cancelled  | Shane Stanley  | Thomas O'Rafferty
Buggy | Padraic McHale | Padraic McHale | Russel Woods | Russel Woods | Cancelled  | Pat Bellew | Padraic McHale
Fiesta | Denis McCrudden | David Maher  | David Maher  | David Maher  | Cancelled  | Mark Meenehan | Denis McCrudden
Junior | Jack Byrne | Brendan McCaughan | Jack Byrne | Brendan McCaughan | Cancelled  | Michael Ryan  | Jack Byrne
Retro RX | \-  | \-  | \-  | Barry McCardle | Cancelled  | David Crockett  | Barry McCardle / David Crockett

## 2018 season

[edit]

The season consisted of 6 rounds, 3 different track layouts and 9 main championship classes.[16]

Class  | Class Description[17] | Winner  | 2nd place  | 3rd place

|
|
|
|

Superfinal  |  | Derek Tohill | Pearse Browne | Michael Coyne
Supercar  | Modified 4WD cars with unlimited capacity  | Derek Tohill | Michael Coyne | Declan Kelly
Super Modified  |  | Peter McGarry | Michael Coyne | Lloyd Spendlove
3A Modified  | Modified 2WD cars with forced induction and Modified 2WD, normally aspirated cars with engine capacity exceeding 2150cc  | Peter McGarry | Michael Coyne | Lloyd Spendlove
3B Modified  | Modified 2WD, normally aspirated cars with engine capacity up to 2150cc  | Chris Grimes | Willie Coyne | David Aitken
Super 1600  | Modified 2WD, normally aspirated cars with engine capacity up to 1650cc  | Kieran Curran
Andrew Twomey |  |
16V Production  | Standard 2WD normally aspirated cars up to 1650cc and standard 2wd normally aspirated production cars from 1650cc up to 2050cc  | Ciaran Murphy  | Derek Lenehan | Damien Farrell
Rallycar Class 9  | Rallycars up to 1650cc  | Patrica Denning |  |
Rallycar 9A  | Rallycars over 1650cc up to 2050cc  | Jack Deegan | David Griffin | Jason Keogh
Rallycar 9B  | Rallycars over 2050cc, 4WD Cars and Turbo Charged Cars  | Joe Downey | Peter O'Brien | PJ Doyle
Buggy  |  | Russell Woods | Owen Skelly | Robbie Allen
Zetec  | as per Motorsport Ireland yearbook appendix 48  | David Maher  | Denis McCrudden | Brian Matthews
Junior  | 14-16 year olds driving standard 1 litre cars  | Jack Byrne  | Conor Kehoe | Michael Ryan

### Sponsors

[edit]

PartsforCars has renewed the main sponsorship for another year. PartsforCars were joined by new sponsors Diamondbrite, IPRS ltd, Morris Roofing & Cladding Maintenance and Rigs 4 Gigs.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About".
2. ^ "Events".
3. ^ "Rallycross – Timing.ie".
4. ^ "Rallycross – Timing.ie".
5. ^ "Motorsport Ireland Statement on Covid-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-12. Archived from the original on 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
6. ^ "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-20. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
7. ^ "IRX Round 1 – Mondello Park – Timing.ie".
8. ^ "rally.ie - Stories - 2019 Irish Rallycross Championship". www.rally.ie.
9. ^ "rally.ie - Stories - Carlow Rallycross - 3 Mar 19". www.rally.ie.
10. ^ http://irx.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IRX-Championship-Points-2019.xlsx [dead link]
11. ^ "Mondello Park Rallycross Championship events cancelled". mondellopark.ie. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
12. ^ "Mondello Park Rallycross Championship events cancelled". www.facebook.ie. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
13. ^ "Irish Rallycross to "Race Into The Night" at Mondello Finale!". Motorsport Ireland. 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2019-11-12.[permanent dead link]
14. ^ "Events at Pallas Karting, Co Galway". www.pallaskarting.com.
15. ^ "Rallycross – Timing.ie".
16. ^ "2018 STANDINGS – Irish Rallycross Championship".
17. ^ "CLASSES – Irish Rallycross Championship".

* v
* t
* e

Motorsport championships in the Republic of Ireland

Open Wheel|

* Formula Vee
* Formula Sheane
* BOSS Ireland
* Irish Strykers

Saloon/Sports Car|

* Irish Supercars
* ITCC
* Future Classics Racing
* SEAT Supercup Ireland
* Fiesta Zetec Championship
* Fiesta ST Championship
* Ginetta Junior Ireland
* Irish Legends
* Junior Mini Challenge
* Global Lights

Historic|

* HRCA Historics
* HRCA Pre '55

Rally|

* National Rally Championship
* Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
* Irish Forest Rally Championship
* South East Stages Rally Championship
* Midlands East Rally Championship
* West Coast Rally Championship
* Border Rally Championship
* Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series

Hill Climb and Sprint|

* National Hillclimb & Sprint Championship

Endurance|

* Irish Endurance Championship
* Fiesta Endurance Race
* Open Endurance Series

Rallycross|

* IRX-Irish Rallycross Championship
* Supercars
* Modified
* Production
* Fiestas
* Juniors
* Buggies
* Rallycars
* Retro RX

Stock Car|

* Legends
* Hotrods
* National Hotrods
* 2ltr Hotrods
* Premier Rods
* Classic Hot Rods
* Stock Rods
* Lightning Rods
* Junior Rods
* Production
* Open FWD
* Open RWD
* Nudge and Spin

Navigation and Trials|

* National Night Navigation Championship
* Munster Night Navigation Championship
* Border Navigation Championship
* Navigation Trials
* 4x4 Trials
* Sporting Trials
* Midget Cars

Drifting|

* Drift Games Nationals

Autocross|

* National Loose Surface Autocross Championship
* National Grass Autocross Championship
* Munster Autocross Championship

Autotest|

* Hewison Autotest Championship
* Munster Autotest Championship

Trophies and Awards|

* Hawthorn Trophy
* Leinster Trophy
* Billy Coleman Award (the Young Rally Driver of the Year)
* Sexton Trophy (the Young Racing Driver of the Year)
* Manley Memorial Trophy (the International Driver of the Year)
* Neil Shanahan Memorial Trophy
* FIA Celtic Trophy
* Ivan Webb Memorial Award
* JC Millard Memorial Award
* Martin Birrane Trophy

Defunct championships|

* Formula Ford
* Fiat Uno
* Fiat Punto
* Punto Abarth
* Porsche
* RT2000
* Saloon Libre
* Closed Wheel Libre
* Open Wheel Libre

updated: April 2023
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