Rallycross novice already showing speed at the wheel

Michael Connell is new on the grid in the competitive world of rallycross, but he already has the ambition of following in the wheeltracks of Derek Tohill, a multiple European and Irish champion, and the current British title-holder.

The Kilbeggan man and the experienced Dubliner (showing his skill in his supercar class Ford Fiesta) were racing at Mondello Park on the same weekend in early June, at a two-day event that counted as rounds of the Irish and British championships, and therefore had a large, high quality entry.

Like all racing drivers, Micheal is starting at the other end of the grid to where the likes of Tohill reign, in a Mini Cooper S in the Open Clubman class, but he is showing the early promise that makes his long-term goal a possibility.

Michael wrapped up the recent weekend of competitive racing with a strong third in his category final, but his first experience at Mondello was the reverse of that, and while he actually won his first race – there were only two drivers in it.

The 28-year-old accepts, with a laugh, our point when we suggest that early result was not representative, but it’s clear that the bug bit deep that day, and it set him and his Mini on a path that complements his lifelong interest in motorsports.

“I always loved Formula One, and I had done go-karting, and was looking at ways to get into doing a bit of racing,” Michael told the Examiner.

“Then a friend said he had a car for sale, a Mini Cooper S. The minute I sat in it, I said to myself, ‘I’m buying it’, and I turned to him and said ‘how much do you want?’.”

He had told his partner, Emily Grennan, he was just going to look at the car, but he then had to tell her he was on the way to the bank to get a deposit for it – “and she said ‘I knew you would buy it!’”. Emily and their daughter April Connell are now committed supporters of Micheal’s racing.

Unlike many drivers, Michael has few family connections in motorsport, but an important one is the number 89, which he uses as a tribute to his late cousin, Liam Connell, who died in an accident in England. Michael’s uncle gave his blessing and said he was delighted that 89 would remain active.

Asked for the highlight of his 18 months of racing so far, Michael said it was “owning a race car”, but having passed that hurdle, he is now aiming higher.

“My first time on the grid I was bricking it! I didn’t know what to do, where to go, what gear to be in, but I was lucky that on my first day there was only one other car on the grid. It was a very bad turnout, but it was perfect for me, so I took home a first place trophy! I was a novice, so really that trophy was for taking part!”

Anyone interested in motorsport knows it’s an expensive hobby, but Michael says he gets good value: “Last year it was about getting experience, getting a car, getting the gear. It’s expensive to get started, but you get a lot for your money.

"You have great days out, you have a lot of fun, so it’s worth it in the end. Getting organised and getting down here is a headache, but the minute you get through scrutiny, once you get your two practice laps over, you can’t wait for the first race.”

Rallycross takes a break for the summer months, and the next IRX round is in October, which gives Michael time to refine his approach.

He does that with the help of a loyal team of supporters and helpers. They include his twin brother Jamie, who watches him from various parts of the track and gives feedback on how he could improve and go faster.

The rest of the team are sponsors and mechanics: Hire Depot Tullamore; Irish Power energy drink, Portlaoise; and Lambe sand and shot blasting and spray painting, Tullamore – Shane Lambe also helps with mechanical work on the Mini. “He repairs the car after I damage it, which is nearly every time I go out!” said Michael.

He has also had support from the man who originally built the car, Liam Gorman, Tullamore; and Andrew Twomey, who was helping work on the car at Mondello the day we were there.

And a final word on his fledgling motorsport career? “Win the Clubman championship, then move up into a quicker class, and ultimately the goal would be to compete against the likes of Derek Tohill – and I’d like to be known as a great driver, a great character around the pits!”.

The 28-year-old has already achieved that last part, and it is an indication of his engaging character (and of the world of 2022) that he already has more than 27000 people following his progress on TikTok.

He has been competing for just 18 months, but those early followers could well be on to a winner as Michael would appear to have the driving ability to match his enthusiasm for motorsport.