Revision at Essay

Tohill for test drive to the Circuit des Ducs.

Driving through the night straight after his appearance in the first round of the British Rallycross Championship in March, Derek Tohill and his team went straight to Essay in France to test for round three of the ERC.

“We went straight into testing with little sleep,” said the Irishman. “I have never been testing in my life so it was a new experience for me, I have always been from that school of thought that felt that racing is the ultimate form of testing so that is generally what we have gone and done.”

Despite being a European Champion, it is easy to forget that Tohill has yet to visit many tracks as he embarks on only his third European season.

“I had never even been to Essay before, so it was really good to go and see the track prior to turning up for the race weekend. It means we are not totally on the back foot from the word go. I am very pleased we went, we didn’t learnt loads and loads but we did learn one very crucial thing! Hopefully we can surprise people right from practice.”

The layout at Essay will be a new experience for all the European circus next weekend, with the introduction of a Joker Lap section near the end of the lap. Although the organisers would not allow the Irish driver to use the extended part of the circuit, he is one of few who have had the opportunity to have a good look the new joker part. “The joker section is at an important place in the lap, so I think it will be interesting how they lay it out and make it work.”

Tohill had a difficult start of the season at Lydden Hill three weeks ago, as practice starts here in Montalegre the Irish European Champion is hoping his defence of his title is about to find its feet.

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