Superb French Rallycross Championship victory at Lessay for Ireland’s Tohill

Current British and Irish Rallycross Championship leader Derek Tohill claimed an emotional and historic victory in the opening round of the French Rallycross Championship at Lessay [May 3].

After a year of learning events in the French RX series in 2025, running with the DA Racing team, PFCRX driver Tohill embarked on the season-opener at Lessay fresh off the back of double victory in the opening rounds of the British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill last month.

An impressive fourth fastest in the opening Free Practice session of the weekend with the Peugeot 208 WRX, one of five cars being run by DA Racing in the event, set the tone and was a significant step up in pace from 2025.

Double European Rallycross Champion Tohill then went fifth fastest in the Pole Position race, to secure an outside spot in the last race of Q1, but hopes of a strong result were ended by contact in the first corner that broke the Peugeot’s suspension.

Climbing back up the order from last, Tohill was fourth fastest in Q2, then fifth in wet conditions on Sunday morning. A difficult Q4 session meant Tohill wound up seventh in the Intermediate Classification, but a strong drive in the semi-finals was rewarded by a second-row start for the all-important final.

In the main event, now in heavy rain conditions similar to those so often seen back home at Mondello Park, Tohill made a brilliant launch from row two on the grid and avoided multi-car contact to run second out of the first corner.

The Dubliner then moved into the lead halfway round the first lap, but gave up track position with an early joker lap strategy. On the final lap, when three-time French Champion and two-time World RX event-winner Davy Jeanney took his joker, Tohill held his own at the joker merge and moved back into the lead into the final corners, to secure an emotional win in what is widely regarded as the most competitive domestic rallycross championship in the world.

Derek Tohill | Supercar | Peugeot 208 WRX | #77

“It is difficult to put into words what it means to win the first round of the 2026 French Rallycross Championship. The team has been incredibly professional and worked tirelessly to earn this result. It’s a dream to drive and compete in a rallycross Supercar and an even bigger dream to win races. To win a French Supercar event is a lifelong dream. I love rallycross in France, the passion, level, and ambience are second to none. The French know their rallycross, and it’s fantastic just to be part of the events. I love just watching the other French classes as the crowds are so involved in the event.

We had a strong weekend, with a few ups and downs, but then the heavens opened, and it rained for the final. I love the wet, and after a strong semi-final, I knew I could win it. Peter [McGarry], my spotter, called a great joker lap strategy, and we just managed to hold off a hero of mine, the multiple French Champion Davy Jeanney. A huge thanks to DA Racing and EVERYONE else who supported us, Merci.”