Irish rallycross driver Derek Tohill hand a successful finish to his European season last weekend with a top 10 finish in the final round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at Riga in Latvia in front of a sell-out crowd at the new international rallycross venue.

Having previously tested at the circuit in the summer, for the first time this year the PFCRX team entered an event with prior experience of running the OlsbergsMSE built Ford Fiesta Supercar at Euro RX venue, and were rewarded with ninth quickest time in Q1. Derek ended the first day 11th overall after engine cut out in Q2.

Torrential rain greeted the FIA World Rallycross Championship event on Sunday morning, but Derek used his experience to be ninth and then eighth fastest to secure a semi-final start, before being classified sixth in semi-final one.

Of the five Euro RX rounds in Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Latvia, the Parts For Cars backed team only missed out on the semi-finals in Norway and Spain, the latter after being pushed off in Q4 when set to make it into the top 12.

The team now returns to home soil for the final two rounds of the Irish Rallycross Championship, before switching its focus to 2017.

Derek commented, “The pace against some really strong opposition has been good and we will work hard over the winter to find a bit more speed. The event here has been amazing. The organisation and promotion is fantastic, and the track is like driving the streets of Monaco with armco barriers wall-to-wall. When Petter Solberg ends up in the wall you know they are tough conditions.” He added, “There was a lot of support from the fans and we had a lot of our customers, partners and sponsors with us this weekend who had a great time at a great venue. Now we’re looking forward to supporting the IRX at home.”