No Sam Moffett for Irish Forest opener

Defending event winner Josh Moffett will start the opening round of the Irish Forest Rally Championship this weekend, but the reigning champion and Josh’s brother Sam has elected not to compete.

The Willie Loughman Memorial Forest Rally in Carrick-on-suir has received a strong entry with myriad R5 cars on the list, including Moffett who sticks with his faithful Ford Fiesta.

Ray Breen, father of Citroen WRC driver Craig, returns to rallying after a decade out, in a similar Ford Fiesta, while Barry Mckenna and Andrew Purcell also drive M-sport-built machines. Group N graduate Cathan Mccourt will debut his ex-melvyn Evans Citroen DS 3 R5 on the event.

The Ford Escort Mk2 of David Crossen and Ger Lucey (Mitsubishi Lancer E8) are also on the entry. They finished second and third in last year’s championship behind Sam Moffett, respectively.

The R2 class also has a strong entry. Reigning champions in the Group N class, Jordan and Paul Hone, have switched to Callum Devine’s Junior British Rally Championship-winning Opel Adam, and will face off against the 2017 winner of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Junior division Jenna Mccann.

The event is also the opening round of the South East Rally Championship.