Josh Moffett continued his winning streak at last weekend’s Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally, making it three wins from three starts in 2022. The Clontibret driver with Wexford’s Andy Hayes back in the co-driver’s seat finished the fourteen stage, two day event with 23.3 seconds to spare over the Welsh crew of Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson with the Armagh/Tyrone pair Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble finishing 18.3s further back in 3rd.
Moffett did not have it all his own way though, as he had a tremendous battle with Derry’s Callum Devine throughout day one. Devine led from SS1 to SS5 before a hard charging Josh briefly took the lead on SS6 by 1.8s. Callum immediately hit back and regained the lead on the following stage and went faster than Josh again on SS8 to hold an overnight advantage of 4.4s. Moffett/Hayes lay in 2nd place with Evans/Jackson sitting in third, 21.8s down on Devine.
Cathan McCourt who was in 5th overall rolled on the opening stage on Sunday ending what had been a great rally for him up until then. Back with the leaders, Devine once again went faster than Moffett but commented that he had went out on too soft of compound tyres and that they may compromise him on the following two stages that were considerably longer than the days opener. Devine’s fears would come through on SS10 where Moffett would go faster by 6.3s to regain the rally lead he last held on SS6. Once again Moffett would go faster than Devine on SS11 by 7.1s to hold an overall lead of 7.3s going into last service.
Devine was eager to get to service to put on some new tyres for a big push over the last three stages to try and regain the lead that he’d held for the majority of the event. Unfortunately, Callum wouldn’t get a chance to fight back as the gearbox on his Rally2 Fiesta cried enough on the road section to SS12. With Devine out, Moffett got to relax a bit as he had a comfortable lead over Evans/Jackson who inherited 2nd place after Devine’s untimely exit. Over the last two stages, Moffett held onto his lead and even managed another fastest time on the final stage to finish the weekend in style.
Jonny Greer/Dai Roberts had been in third place going into the final stage, just 3s down on Evans/Jackson but unfortunately hit a bank and broke the exhaust which forced them into retirement. This error promoted Fisher/Noble into the podium places.
In the National section. James Stafford/Tom Scallon came out on top in their Darrian T90 GTR+, they finished with 46.2s to spare over 2nd placed Robert Duggan/John Falvey. Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan snatched 3rd place on the last stage after the diff in Gary Kiernan’s Ford Escort broke which ended his rally prematurely. Daniel was delighted getting to the end of the event after his crash on the last round in Galway and with the continued development of the car.
Sam Moffett took the Toyota Starlet for another spin after his debut in it at Mayo Stages. He finished 16th OA and 1st Class 13. Conor Mohan navigated Eamonn Kelly to 17th OA and 1st in the RC4 Class. Amazingly they set the fastest time in their class on each of the rally’s fourteen stages. John McQuaid drove his Escort to 22nd OA and 7th Class 14. Gary McCrudden guided Hazel O’Callaghan to 56th OA and 11th in Class 13. Brendan McAree finished 12th OA and 4th in Class K in the Historic section in his Porsche 911.
Martin Connolly navigating for Brendan Cumiskey failed to make the finish, retiring after SS12 while sitting 8th Class RC2. Gary Cassidy/Killian McArdle retired after SS2 with mechanical trouble. Kaine Treanor navigating for Chris O’Callaghan unfortunately crashed out on SS3. Mark Fox/Callum Maguire competing in the Junior rally also failed to make the finish, retiring on SS13 while sitting 5th OA.
Open Meeting
Monaghan Motor Club are holding an open meeting this Friday at 8pm in the Four Seasons Hotel. All Welcome.
PRO: Oisín Sherlock oisinsherlock97@gmail.com
County Monaghan Motor Club 