Sam Moffett & Karl Atkinson made a promising start to the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship with a fine 4th place overall on last weekend’s Galway International Rally. The pair were making their first appearance in a Ford Fiesta R5 having piloted a WRC version for the previous two years. The Irish Tarmac & British Rally Championships are both being decided by the R5 class this year.
Sam was expected to renew his rivalry with his brother Josh who was joined by Jason McKenna last weekend. Stephen Wright was making his debut in an Evo2 spec Ford Fiesta R5 and had a new navigator in James Fulton. Moffett/Atkinson were on the pace from the get go holding 6th overall and 4th in class by first service. Stages five & six were both cancelled by accidents with Moffett/Atkinson maintaining their class placing. By the end of the day they would be in 5th place just 30 seconds adrift of the class leader, Triple British Champion, Keith Cronin.
Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna & Stephen Wright/James Fulton were having a great battle in the lower reaches of the top 10. Moffett/McKenna moved ahead in the evening stages to hold 7th overall with Wright/Fulton in 9th place. Enda Sherry was navigating for Aaron McHale and held 13th overall in their Skoda. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden held a fine 9th overall in the National Rally and held an enormous 10 minute class lead. Brendan & JP McAree recovered from a long delay on stage two to recover to 5th in the Historic class by the day end.
A further six stages were held on Sunday. Moffett/Atkinson continued to set some impressive times posting fastest R5 time on Stage 11. The pair backed off in the closing stages as they had little to gain ahead and had a comfortable advantage to the crew behind them. They began their year in fine style with 4th overall and 3rd in class behind Keith Cronin & Alistair Fisher both of whom have been regularly competing on the world level.
Josh Moffett & Jason McKenna finished 6th overall and 4th in class after some encouraging times on the Sunday stages. Stephen Wright/James Fulton brought their Fiesta home 9th overall and 7th in class. Enda Sherry navigated Aaron McHale to 12th overall and 9th in class 5. In the National Rally, Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden retired on stage 11 after a great drive. Brendan & JP McAree brought their Porsche home 5th in the Historic class.
The next round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is the West Cork Rally in a month’s time.
Irish Forestry Rally Championship
Josh Moffett & Jason McKenna will begin their defence of the Irish Forestry Rally Championship on this weekend’s Carrick-on-Suir Forestry Rally. Other Monaghan names on the entry list include defending 2wd champions, Michael Conlon & Ciaran McPhillips, Damien McGauren/Michaela McGinn and the returning Robert Moffett in a Fiesta WRC.
Autotest
The annual Monaghan Motor Club Autotest takes place this weekend at Wright’s Quarry, Swans Cross. The event will have a class for club members as well as the Autotest regulars. COC Brendan Flynn requires a number of marshals for the day and anyone available to marshal should contact him.
County Monaghan Motor Club 