Stephen Wright scored an excellent 3rd overall finish on last Saturday’s mixed surface Sezoens Rally in Belgium. Local co-driver Eddy Smeets stepped in with local sponsorship enabling Stephen to return to Belgium after a successful season in the Peugeot 208 Super Cup the previous year. Despite competing against a host of Belgian rally aces, the Irish/Belgium pair held their own all day taking a fine 3rd overall. Multiple Belgian champion Freddy Loix won the event from Vincent Verschueren.
Moffetts Star on Plains Rally
Clontibret brothers, Josh & Sam Moffett made the trip to Wales to compete on the all-gravel Plains rally. This was the first occasion that both drivers had taken their Fiesta RRCs onto the loose. Josh who has been a front runner on the Irish Forestry Championship in recent years, set two fastest stage times en route to 2nd overall, six seconds behind winner Dave Weston. Sam Moffett survived a puncture on stage four to claim 6th overall on his first gravel rally in six months. Both Moffett brothers are intending to compete on the Acores Rally, which is a round of the European Rally Championship, in a fortnight.
McKenna & Grennan Set Sights on Portugal
Scotshouse men Daniel McKenna & Andrew Grennan are set to compete on this weekend’s Rally de Portugal. After a promising start at the opening round of the Junior World Rally Championship in Monte-Carlo, where they led early on, the pair will be hoping to secure some useful points on this event. Daniel & Andrew have been busy in the months since Monte-Carlo with the launch of the ‘Team Daniel’ campaign as well as undergoing extensive fitness training in preparation for this event.
The event is a full gravel rally based north of Porto after an absence of 14 years. Proceedings commence on Thursday with Daniel invited to speak at the FIA press conference. After a shakedown on Thursday afternoon, the action gets underway with a Superspecial stage. Friday consists of six stages with a further six stages on Saturday. The event concludes with a further three stages on Sunday. The lad’s progress over the weekend can be followed on twitter @dmkmotorsport.
Cavan Stages Rally
Round 3 of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship takes place this weekend with the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally. COC Stephen Kellett has laid out three new stages in West Cavan. Service will be based in Ballyconnell. Last year’s winner, Niall Maguire heads the entry list. Damien Connolly is set to team up with Peader Hurson again and slots in at No.3. David Moffett/Fintan Sherry should be in the fight for two wheel drive honours and start at No.8. James McCarville is sitting with Limerick’s Ed O’Callaghan at No.11. Shane Maguire is at 17, Michael Carbin/Emmet McCooey are at 29, Brian Armstrong/Mark Tierney are at 32, Jack Maguire/Andy Hayes 33 and Barry Treanor/Gregory McQuillan at 36.
Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden, Vincent McAree/Martin Connolly, Amy Cox/Emmet Sherry, Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes, Brendan McAree, Sean McCaul/Frank Clerkin, Paddy O’Reilly, Cathal Sheridan, Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan, Declan Connolly/Alison Hughes, Martin McGuigan/Mark Slowey, Francie McKenna/Sean Craig, Padraig Connolly/Padraig Corrigan and Stefan McCann will also be flying the Monaghan flag this weekend.
Upcoming events:
May 31st Circuit of Munster Stages Rally
June 6th National Night Navigation Championship Prizegiving
June 7th Portlaoise Mini Stages Rally
June 19th-21st Donegal International Rally
County Monaghan Motor Club 