Modified champion Toner moves away from Tarmac Championship

Last year’s Irish Tarmac Modified Champion Damian Toner won’t defend his 2019 title as he instead aims for success in the National and Border Championships. Toner will get his 2020 season going on next weekend’s Mayo Stages Rally as he returns in his formidable Class 14 Ford Escort Mk2.

“We’re doing Mayo and Monaghan,” explained Toner. ”If I get good results there I’ll go ahead and continue with the Border and National Championships.

“I decided to change [championships] because it took a lot of commitment from the whole team last year. We were away from families and work, for me the one-day formats of the Border and National Championships are more cost-effective.”

Toner is hoping to continue to build on the incredible pace he displayed throughout 2019 by winning another championship this year. Four top scores in ITRC’s modified category guaranteed his title while a dominant display on Toner’s local event gave him his fifth successive Loughgall Park Rally win.

“Last year was my best year to date, winning the Modified Tarmac Championship, having some overall wins as well as some two-wheel-drive wins. We only lost out on the Mk2 Challenge in Carlow by 0.7 seconds too.

“It was an absolutely brilliant feeling winning the championship and to share it with Michael [Coady] who pushed me and kept me right on the notes all year was great. It was brilliant to be able to celebrate it with the whole team.”

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