Tohill Scores yet another Podium finish at Finland’s ERC

Tohill Scores yet another Podium finish at Finland’s round of the ERC

Round 6, Finland, Kouvola, July 9th – July 11th 2010

For the first time a European Rallycross event took place at the Tykkimäen Moottorirata near Kouvola in the south-east of Finland on July 9th – 11th 2010. This was round six of the 2010 FIA European Rallycross Championship and the opening round of the second half of the championship. Among the Division 1 drivers for the weekend was also five times FIA European Rallycross Champion Matti Alamäki who would compete in the Honda Civic Type-R Mk2 from Pakkala Motorsport. This Finish legend left magical memory’s in Irish fans hearts after he competed and won many European events held at Mondello Park in the 90’s driving his awesome Peugeot 205 T16 and Lancia Delta S4.

Heats began on Saturday morning with some extremely high temperatures. 35 degrees Celsius was the norm for whole weekend in Finland. This would be a severe test for drivers, teams and equipment. The weekend had a difficult start in store for Derek Tohill (Dublin) and the Rallycross Rebels team as they missed some valuable practice laps. This was due to problems with new engine electrics. But, this did not seem to bother the Irishman too much when it came to setting times, after the first qualification heat the Irishman lay second fastest behind current European Champion Knut Ove Borseth (Norway). This was the Irishman’s strongest start to an ERC event and the team looked forward to Sunday.

Heat 2 on Sunday morning soon took the momentum out of the Irish driver and his team as fuel injection problems inflicted the Ford Fiesta MK. 7 as it was on its way to the grid. It was probably a blessing is disguise that Tohill missed the heat as a large fire would possibly have been inevitable due to the fuel problems and high temperatures being experienced. The team set to work on repairing the fuel injection system. The team is getting through many gremlins this season and is hoping for a change of fortune due to extensive re-engineering throughout the car. The high engines revs of 9700rpm seem to be causing many small problems that should not be experienced again.

The pressure was on for Tohill and the Rallycross Rebels in Heat 3. The Irish Rallycross driver had to set a time otherwise it was time to pack up and go home with zero points. The Irishman did not disappoint his team and he set fastest time overall which guaranteed Tohill a front row start in the all important A Final! The Irishman would join Knut Ove Borseth on the front row followed by row two starters Ole Kristian Nottveit (Norway) and local favourite Tero Parkkinen (Finland).

Tohill immediately catapulted himself into the lead of the A Final followed by reigning champion Borseth. The Irishman took his Joker lap on the second last lap and came out still in the lead. The Rallycross Rebels team thought they were set for victory number 2 of the season. That was until the last lap when Tohill and Borseth simultaneously spun off the circuit gifting the win to Ole Kristian Nottveit. Tohill was collected by Parkkinen as he rejoined the circuit but the Irishman re-passed the Finish driver to finish in third place. This was another strong result for the Irishman but so nearly a maximum score.

Tohill commented afterwards “This was probably the toughest result for me personally to accept in all my time competing in Rallycross at all levels. I just pushed too hard in the last lap when I should have controlled the pace but hindsight is wonderful. It just wasn’t meant to be in Finland, we had many problems throughout the weekend that was tough on all of the team. To feel this low after a podium shows how high our expectations have climbed. This is a good sign and bodes well for the remainder of the season, to really enjoy the highs sometimes you need to experience severe lows. We are now ready to enjoy the highs!” The European Rallycross Championship resumes in Belgium from August 6th – 8th.

A Final Results

1. Ole Kristian Nøttveit (N) – Citroen Xsara RWD
2. Knut Ove Borseth (N) – Ford Fiesta MK. 7 RWD
3. Derek Tohill (IRL) – Ford Fiesta MK. 7 RWD
4. Patrick Mertens (B) – VW Polo RWD
5. Tero Parkkinen (F) – Ford Fiesta ST RWD

Great to see Derek doing so well on an international level, especially considering how Rallycross is a completely different and apparently much tougher world over on the continent compared to here.

A great result, well done Derek!

Congrats to Derek who scored another win in the European Rallycross in Belgium today.

The D2 final proved that you should never give up. Derek Tohill had struggled for grip yesterday but he and his team plugged away to produce a fantastic performance in the final. He took the lead off the line and jokered on lap four, without loosing his advantage. His closest competitor, Guino Kenis jokered on the first lap and was fast, but broken steering at the end of the third lap put paid to his attack. Lars Oivind Enerberg drove a strong race to keep Tohill honest to the end. Further back Jos Sterkens had a good final, and a good fight with Knut Ove Borseth, the latter later suffering technical problems causing him to slow. Tohill couldn’t contain himself afterwards “Come on!” He shouted “THAT is what you call a race! I am on top of the world!”

Success all round yesterday for the Tohills as Neil & Gerard won their class on the Stonethrowers Rally in Clonmel

Congratulations to all involved at both events

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Peespeed Photography

Derek Tohill wins yet another ERC round, this time in Germany.
It was all going so well…
As the Division Two A finalist sat on the grid the odd spots of rain that we hoped were just a prelude to the downpour promised at 1800, delivered on their threat and turned the dry track into a skating rink.
The D2 boys had no choice but to make the best of what looked like being a bad job and, in 'Mondello weather' Derek Tohill delivered an exemplary drive to take his second event win in seven days. Tohill led the race all the way, making a better start than pole starter Knut Ove Børseth and holding steady in the race even when Børseth appeared to be gaining after taking the Joker Lap early. Tohill took the Joker in the last lap and sealed his third win of the year. Ole Kristian Nøttveit completed the podium.

Derek was second in Poland today and he is now leading the division 2 championship by 2 points so its all down to the wire in Czech Rep next weekend. Best of luck to Derek and all his team.... Game on:)

Last edited by Patricia on Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:48 pm; edited 1 time in total

Just to compliment Trisha's report, here's a bit from ERC 24. com

Division Two, meanwhile, is still open going to the final round after Derek Tohill snatched the points lead away from title holder Knut Ove Børseth by finishing second to Lars Øivind Enerberg in the A final.
Børseth tangled with Ole Kristian Nøttveit in the second corner of the first lap, the latter out of the race on the spot, Børseth rejoining but unable to regain any of the lost ground and placing fifth.
The result puts Tohill two points ahead of Børseth. The Irishman's current lowest score is 15, so he must be first or second to add anything to his total next weekend; Børseth's low score is 12, so he needs a top four finish to add points…