Sam Moffett continued his superb start to the 2017 Triton National Rally Championship with another start to finish victory on the Midland Stages Rally on Sunday last 26th March. The Longford-based event consisted of nine stages in the West Longford area. Karl Atkinson joined Sam for this event and the pair put in another stunning performance, setting fastest times on every stage to finish over a minute clear of their nearest rivals.
The writing was on the wall from the opening stage when Moffett/Atkinson were seven seconds quicker than their nearest rivals. After three stages they were already 33 seconds clear. On Stage 4, Declan Boyle was just 0.1 second slower but that was as close as anyone got to them all day. Moffett/Atkinson had a steady run through to the finish whilst their rivals hit problems. Championship rival, Declan Boyle crashed out of 2nd place on Stage 7 while Manus Kelly/Gareth Doherty dropped from 2nd to 3rd after a spin. In the end, reigning National Champions Roy White/James O’Brien claimed 2nd overall. They finished 1 minute 9 seconds behind the charging Moffett. Kelly/Doherty completed the podium.
Triple National Champion, Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry finished a steady 4th. Their only issues during the day were having the wrong compound tyre fitted for the opening loop. Andrew Grennan guided Adrian Hetherington to a fine 5th overall and victory in the Modified Section. This was some consolation after a disappointing retirement in Cork on the previous weekend. Shane Maguire/Darragh Kelly brought their Lancer home to 11th overall and 3rd in the Group N category. Emmet Sherry teamed up with Tommy O’Connell in their Escort. They came home 16th overall and 3rd in class 13.
Jonathan Treanor/Adrian Foley took a dominant win in the Junior Category. They again set scintillating stage times which would have had them on the fringes of the top 10 overall once again. Jack McKenna guided Jason Black to 3rd Junior in their Starlet. Martin Doherty/Paul Sheridan, Barry Treanor/Colm Connolly and Brendan Keenan/Sean Lynch all failed to finish.
The next round of the Championship is the Monaghan Stages Rally on April 23rd where Sam Moffett will be determined to make it three wins from three on his home patch.
Midland Stages Rally Top 10
1 Sam Moffett/Karl Atkinson (Fiesta WRC) 58m 05s,
2 Roy White/James O’Brien (Fiesta WRC) 59m 15s,
3 Manus Kelly/Gareth Doherty (Impreza WRC) 59m 36s,
4 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 60m 20s,
5 Adrian Hetherington/Andrew Grennan (Escort) 62m 00s,
6 Brian Brogan/Damien McGettigan (Escort) 62m 56s,
7 Gary McNamee/Dean O’Sullivan (Civic) 63m 41s,
8 David Guest/Paddy Robinson (Lancer Evo 9) 64m 08s,
9 Neil Tohill/Gerard Tohill (Lancer Evo 9) 64m 12s,
10 Barry Morris/Declan Campbell (Escort) 64m 48s.
Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally Launch
Sunday 23rd April is the date for the 2017 Monaghan Stages Rally. The rally moves to new headquarters this year in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan town, which hosts the rally for the first time since 1994. The Hotel has hosted the Endurance Trial for the last number of years.
The official launch will take place on this Friday 31st March in the Four Seasons Hotel at 8pm.
Clerk of the Course Thomas Treanor is planning to host a Rally Forum with plenty of DVD’s and rally cars on display. There will also be a raffle for a free entry among those present on the night.
The event is a counting round of the Triton National Rally Championship and Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship and is sure to attract a strong entry. Regulations and Entry forms are available from the club website. More information will be available in the coming weeks.
County Monaghan Motor Club 