Donagh Kelly & Conor Foley took overall victory on Round 1 of the 2020 Triton National Rally Championship, the Mayo Stages Rally. The event returned to Castlebar for the first time since 2009 and featured some challenging stages near Westport. Driving rain left some treacherous road condition where many fell afoul. Kelly & Foley profited from the late retirement of defending champion Josh Moffett to take the event win.
Reigning National Champions, Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes set the pace early on in their Hyundai I20 R5. He remarked that he was pushing but still keeping a safe pace. Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley held 2nd in their VW Polo R5 and were also content with their pace. Peader Hurson/Damien Connolly held 3rd in their Fiesta WRC despite losing time at junctions.
The rain intensified on the second loop making stages 4 and 6 particularly difficult. Moffett extended his lead as Kelly lost 15 seconds behind Roy White who had sustained a puncture. By stage 6, he was 21.6 seconds clear of Kelly with Hurson another 9 seconds behind. The final loop proved dramatic as Hurson rolled out on Stage 8 and Moffett retired at the end of the stage with an ECU problem. This left Kelly/Foley clear to take the overall honours. Roy White/James O’Brien finished 2nd with Gary Kiernan/Ryan Moore 3rd overall and top two wheel drive crew.
Raymond Conlon/Damien Fleming finished 7th overall and 2nd in class in their Toyota Corolla. Conor Mohan guided Eamon Kelly to 15th overall in their Fiesta R2 taking class 2 honours. Arthur Kierans/Conor Maguire brought their Subaru Impreza to 23rd overall and 2nd in class 15. Aisling McArdle guided Des Lyons to 34th overall and 2nd in class 11F. Ryan Brennan finished 5th in the Junior class with navigator Ronan Comerford.
Niall Maguire/Anthony Nestor retired after sliding off the road on the first stage. Michael Conlon/Martin Byrne retired on Stage 8. Derek Mackarel/Grace O’Brien retired after an off on stage 1 while Jack McKenna/Paddy McCrudden retired on Stage 6.
The National Rally Championship continues with the Circuit of Kerry Rally on April 5th.
County Monaghan Motor Club 