Sam Moffett was the top finishing Monaghan Motor Club member on last weekend’s West Cork Rally which was round 2 of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The event attracted a stunning entry of over 140 crews for the two day event which for the first time was a round of the British Rally Championship. World Rally star, Craig Breen, won the event with Alaister Fisher once again his nearest rival in 2nd. Sam Moffett wound up third best of the ITC competitors securing 5th overall.
On a very wet opening stage through Ring village, Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty had a flier to take a slender 1 second lead from Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly who were out for the first time since Donegal. Josh’s lead was short lived as Craig Breen stormed through stage two to take the lead which he would not lose. After four stages, Josh remained in 2nd place 11 seconds back from Breen. Sam Moffett/James Fulton were 4th with Robert Barrable/Damien Connolly in 5th.
Stage six was to prove pivotal as Josh dropped well over a minute demoting him to 8th place such was the competition. At the end of the opening day, the top five was Breen, Fisher, BRC front runners Matt Edwards and Tom Cave with Sam Moffett in 5th. Barrable/Connolly held 7th with Josh Moffett in 8th. Stephen Wright with new navigator Dai Roberts were in 11th.
The leaderboard would remain largely static over day two’s six stages. Breen held off Fisher by 22 seconds to make it two wins from two in this year’s ITC. Tom Cave got the better of Matt Edwards to claim 3rd overall and top BRC points. Sam Moffett/James Fulton secured 5th place after a steady drive, making up from their disappointing early retirement in Galway. Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty took 7th overall with Damien Connolly guiding Robert Barrable to 8th overall.
Stephen Wright/Dai Roberts finished in 11th place. Arthur Kierans guided Billy Coleman Award winner, James Wilson, to 4th in class and 18th overall. Conor Mohan guided Eamon Kelly to 33rd overall and 12th in class. Five time West Cork Winners, Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley, were debuting their new Skoda Fabia R5 but their run was cut short on stage five. Brendan Cumisky/Ronan O’Kane finished 2nd amongst the RHD R5 cars, the equal of 15th overall in the mainfield.
The National Rally was won by former WRC star Mikko Hirvonan in a Ford Escort Mk2. Paul Kelly guided David Condell to 5th overall in this section. Gerard McQuaid/Gary Quinlan finished in 14th place and 3rd in class. Vivian Hamill/Mac Kierans were sidelined after an off on stage 3. Brendan McAree/John Henderson had no luck in the Historic Section retiring in service on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Irish Tarmac Championship continues with the Easter Stages Rally in April which is based out of Lisburn.
McKenna wins in America!
American based Monaghan man, Barry McKenna, continued his assault on the American Rally Championship on last weekend’s 100 Acre Wood Rally based in Missouri. The gravel surfaced event was contested over two days. McKenna was joined by Donegal navigator Leon Jordan. The pair held off the challenge of Norway’s Oliver Solberg to take a 7 second victory in their Ford Fiesta.
County Monaghan Motor Club 