FIA European Rallycross Championship Returns to Mondello Park for 2026 Round

The FIA European Rallycross Championship (Euro RX) returns to Ireland this weekend as Mondello Park hosts Round 4 of the 2026 season. This event marks the championship’s first appearance on Irish soil in over 30 years, featuring a new anti-clockwise circuit configuration designed to test the world’s top drivers. Eight-time world champion Johan Kristoffersson leads the standings entering the Kildare event following his victory at Höljes, Sweden.

Championship Leaders and Contenders

Johan Kristoffersson arrives in Ireland as the title favorite, maintaining a commanding lead in the Euro RX standings. His primary competition comes from Norway, led by former European champion Andreas Bakkerud and his compatriot Ole Christian Veiby, who currently sits third in the points table. According to official entry lists, the field also includes Finland’s Juha Rytkönen and Sweden’s Casper Jansson, both of whom are projected to contend for podium positions on a circuit characterized by its high-speed layout.

Irish Contingent and Local Talent

Local hopes rest on a deep field of Irish drivers, with nine competitors entered in the 25-car RX1 class. Leading the home charge is nine-time Irish rallycross champion and two-time European touring car champion Derek Tohill. Competing in a Volkswagen Polo RX1-spec machine under the PartsforCars banner, Tohill emphasizes that the event represents a “dream come true” after watching the sport as a spectator at the venue three decades ago.

The Irish entry also features the RX1 Supercar debut of Niall Murray. A multi-discipline champion in karting, Formula Ford, and GT racing, Murray is transitioning to a 600bhp-plus machine for this event, representing KMS by Meunier Competition. Other notable Irish drivers attempting to leverage home track knowledge include Patrick O’Donovan, Shane Murphy, Thomas J. Graham, Gary Donoghue, John McCluskey, and Michael Leonard.

Technical Challenges of the New Circuit

Organizers have implemented a purpose-built anti-clockwise configuration at Mondello Park to neutralize potential home-track advantages. The track integrates high-speed asphalt sections with technical gravel elements, a combination intended to force aggressive joker-lap strategies and frequent overtaking. While local drivers like Tohill have gained minimal experience on the new layout during British Championship rounds, the high caliber of the international field suggests that adaptation will be rapid.

Event Schedule and Format

The weekend follows the standard FIA Rallycross format, featuring short, high-intensity races with six to eight cars competing over four to six laps. The schedule is structured as follows:

• Saturday: Two qualification sessions for all competing classes.
• Sunday: Remaining two qualification rounds followed by the stepladder-style semi-finals and finals.

With the World Rallycross Championship no longer operating in its previous capacity, the Euro RX series now serves as the premier global stage for the discipline. The inclusion of Mondello Park brings the elite level of the sport back to an Irish audience, with organizers anticipating significant spectator turnout to support the local contingent.