Coyne Takes National Rallycross Title
Willie Coyne wrapped up the 2015 McLoughlin Industrial Flooring Irish Rallycross Championship at Mondello Park yesterday after an incident packed day of racing at the Kildare venue.
Coyne’s finish of sixth in the Super Final was enough to secure the crown but earlier in the day Coyne looked a doubt to make it to the final race of the day. After an impressive performance in his opening two heats, disaster hit Coyne on his third heat where he retired on the first corner. His mechanics dived on the car and once fears over damaged steering were allayed, Coyne produced a determined drive in the Modified A final taking third place qualifying him for the Super Final. From there on it was a formality as Coyne only had to finish to take the title his brother Michael had previously won in 2009. Coyne kept out of trouble in a very entertaining race to cross the line in sixth place securing the title.
Starting grid from the Super Final with Derek Tohill on pole and eventual champion Willlie Coyne behind him in the green
The Super Final was won by Noel Greene in his Mitsubishi who successfully fended off the challenge of a hard charging Derek Tohill who stalled at the start of the race. Tohill, who lost almost 10 seconds in the incident, was inspired in the 6 lap race, charging through the field to cross the line just .874 of a second behind Greene. Tohill could take some conciliation from the fact that he did win the Supercar Final in his stunning World Rallycross specification Ford Fiesta. Padraig Leeson took third in the Super Final in his 2.3 litre Opel Corsa after a tremendous day which also saw him win the Modified A Final.
Jake Dooley impressed in the Juniors to win the A Final and secured his second Junior Championship in his Toyota Starlet. Patrick Donoghue took the Rallycar Championship despite Rallycross debutant Shane Bell taking the honours on the day in his immensely powerful Subaru Impreza. The 16v Stockhatch Final saw John Ward take the chequered flag but he was given a time penalty as he forgot to take his mandatory “joker lap” demoting him to fifth and elevating Eoin Murray to first in his Peugeot 106 GTI. There was more Peugeot success in the 8v Stockhatch A Final where Ciarán Murphy was the victor and his win also netted him the 8v Stockhatch Championship. Finally, in the cheap and cheerful Fiesta A Final, Peter Cambell took the win, narrowly edging out Dan McDonnell and Michael Leonard.
