A staple of the British rallycross calendar, the Easter Bank Holiday showdown—backed by Practical Car & Van Rental—has long been a stage for drama, rivalry, and defining moments. And in 2026, it delivered all three in emphatic fashion.
Defending champion Derek Tohill arrived at Lydden Hill with a target on his back—and left having tightened his grip on the crown. The Dublin ace, at the wheel of his Peugeot 208 WRX, was untouchable across the opening round of the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy, executing a flawless clean sweep across the Easter weekend.
But the opposition was anything but tame.
Fellow Dubliner John McCluskey signalled his intent with a switch to a Honda Civic Coupe Supercar and arrived in Kent fresh from a dominant showing at Mondello Park. Meanwhile, six-time British champion Julian Godfrey—a perennial threat—was once again poised to strike in his Citroën DS3.
Local favourite Tristan Ovenden added further intrigue, debuting a new Volkswagen Polo in pursuit of a stronger title charge, while his Ovenden Motorsport DS3 was handed to rising talent Matt Cake, stepping up to Supercar ranks. Add returning contender Steve Hill in his distinctive Mitsubishi Evo X, plus a hungry supporting cast, and the scene was set.
Easter Sunday – Tohill lays down the marker
From the outset, Tohill was in a league of his own. He topped every qualifying session before converting pole into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the final.
Behind him, Godfrey pushed hard, securing second on the grid and holding firm under pressure from McCluskey, who impressed on his UK debut to claim third. Hill marked his return with a solid fourth, while Cake delivered a composed Supercar debut in fifth. Ovenden, however, saw his charge compromised by a misfire in the final, dropping him down the order.
Easter Monday – More of the same, with added chaos
Day two followed a familiar script at the front—Tohill again flawless, again unbeatable.
McCluskey reinforced his credentials with another strong run to second, but the real story came just behind. Ovenden, reverting to his proven Citroën DS3 after issues with the Polo, delighted the home crowd by storming to a well-earned podium.
Drama struck early when Godfrey and Hill tangled in the joker section on lap two. The contact sent Godfrey spinning into the gravel, though he recovered to finish fourth, while Hill’s race was effectively ended by heavy suspension damage—limping home in sixth. Lithuanian driver Tomas Ramanauskas capitalised to take fifth.
Statement of intent
Two days, two wins, and maximum points—Tohill’s title defence couldn’t have started more convincingly. But with McCluskey finding form, Godfrey still lurking, and Ovenden regrouping, the fight is far from over.
If Lydden Hill was any indication, the 2026 season is shaping up to be anything but predictable.
Images by Matt Bristow www.mattbristow.net
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