Tohill delivers strong performance with PFCRX at Loheac
Irishman Derek Tohill delivered a strong performance at the world’s biggest Rallycross event in Loheac, France, to challenge in the largest Supercar field of the year and score another British Rallycross Championship podium [August 31].
Historically, one of the go-to events of the annual rallycross calendar, the 2025 edition of the Loheac weekend produced everything the famed venue is known for, from the fan-packed parade on Friday afternoon through the village to ultra-competitive racing in front of a massive crowd throughout, with over 50,000 spectators on Sunday alone.
For PFCRX and Derek Tohill, the event on track didn’t get off to the best start, with pace to find from both driver and setup of the 600BHP Peugeot 208 WRX in the early practice sessions. But, thanks to changes made with the support of the DA Racing team, nine-time Irish Rallycross Champion Tohill was 18th in Q1, then sixth in Q2 on Saturday afternoon, in mixed wet-dry conditions, to sit 10th overall overnight.
Eighth in Q3 on Sunday morning, double European Rallycross Champion Tohill lost out in slow, wet track conditions for the final qualifier, but had already done enough to make it through to the semi-finals, with real potential in the right conditions to challenge for a place in arguably the most important final of the season.
However, hopes of progressing to the last race of the weekend were ended following contact from another car in turn two of the semi-final, the 208 WRX picking up damage that would ultimately cause the front-right wheel to part company with the car.
Regardless, by virtue of the strong performance through the weekend, Tohill had done enough to secure second in the British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy competitors contesting the event to remain second in the standings, while DA Racing team mate Andréa Dubourg won the event outright for the French team on his return to Supercar action.
Derek Tohill | Supercar | Peugeot 208 WRX | #777
“It’s always an honour to race at Loheac – the Temple of Rallycross – and this year’s event delivered everything we’ve come to expect: an amazing atmosphere, huge crowds, professional organisation and absolute world-class competition. We struggled a little in the first practice sessions but found great pace, particularly in the wet, which really allowed us to push on and challenge for heats wins & strong times against lots of very strong local & international competition. The conditions for the semis were again tricky & wet, but we we're excited with this scenario, then when the wheel came off after contact in turn two, that was it, game over… I’m hugely grateful to the DA Racing team – their knowledge, professionalism, and camaraderie makes it a very pleasurable situation to work in, and this weekend has been extra special. I am extra delighted for Andréa and the whole team that he won the event! We scored another podium in the British Championship too; it’s been a challenging but rewarding weekend, and we leave Loheac with a lot of positives to build on for the future, merci beaucoup to everyone who worked so hard to make it all happen.”
