“Good start to the season” says Dundalk driver Hoey

The opening two rounds of the PartsforCars.ie Irish Rallycross Championship took place at Mondello Park.

It was also a counting round for the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship, which saw a welcome return of the top UK drivers who love coming across and battling it out with their Irish counterparts.

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In the Juniors, Dundalk driver Logan Hoey picked up where he left off last season, winning two of the three heats and his semi-final. Cody Mahon, however, kept him honest, winning heat two and his semi-final.

So it was really going to be between these two for the final. As the lights went out, both got a similar start, but Hoey had the inside line and squeezed Mahon out wide onto the loose, which dropped him to third, allowing David McAdams into second.

These junior cars are very evenly matched, which leads to close racing, and this race delivered this. Hoey's circuit racing experience came into effect at turn three, making better exits each time, allowing him to open a gap to McAdams and Loonam.

Ailish Sexton was also going well, and her increase in speed since last season was noticeable, holding third by the halfway mark.

She still had the joker to do, but a strong fifth was on the cards, but a mistake exiting the joker cost her time and dropped her to sixth.

Up front, Hoey was well clear and in command. He took his joker with ease and took the win, carrying on his form from last year. Speaking after the race, Hoey was happy at how his day went.

He said: “It was a good day, I wanted to get a good start to the season and give myself some breathing room come the end of the year. I hope to do the same tomorrow and win again, but anything can happen.”

For Sunday, the weather was much better, although cloudy, no rain fell, and the tyre choice was made easier. In the Juniors, true to his word, Logan Hoey was again the man to catch as he won all the heats and his semi-final with ease.

Cody Mahon was the only one to stay within some distance of Hoey all weekend, but it's early days yet in the championship, and anything could happen. For the final, it was Hoey on pole from Mahon and Ailish Sexton.

Once again, it was Hoey and Mahon who got fairly similar starts, but Hoey had the inside line and led into turn one, but drove Mahon wide and onto the loose.

This let Hugo Loonam up the inside into second. Sexton dropped back at turn two but made up places as the race went on and came home a solid fifth place in the end.

Try as he might, Loonam could not catch Hoey, who once again put in the times and pulled a gap which was enough to hold to the end.

Mahon got back up to third but could not catch Loonam. It was the perfect weekend for Hoey, who did the double and started off his title defence in style.

So after a long wait, the first round of the 2025/2026 IRX Rallycross Championship was over. Some great racing throughout all classes all weekend in various weather conditions was put on by our home talent and overseas visitors.

Thanks to all the marshals and volunteers who helped run the meeting and to our visitors from across the water for coming. The next round of the championship takes place on November the 29th and 30th of November.