Motorsport News

JOSH MOFFETT HEADS IRISH TARMAC FIELD TO WEST CORK

Hyundai driver keen to build on successful start to 2022

- By Jason Craig

Irish Tarmac Rally Championsh­ip leader Josh Moffett believes he can carry his momentum into the second round of the series in West Cork this weekend.

Moffett triumphed at the opener in Galway in early February, mastering two days of wet and windy weather on Ireland’s west coast to claim a maiden victory on the event.

The Hyundai i20 R5 driver also scored maximum points at the Irish National Rally Championsh­ip curtain raiser, the Mayo Stages Rally, to underline his form.

“We have had a very strong start to the year,” said Moffett, the Tarmac champion from 2018. “To go to

Galway and win there in those conditions, that definitely ranks as one of my best performanc­es.

“It isn’t going to be easy, it never is in the Irish Tarmac Championsh­ip, but I don’t see why I can’t go [to West Cork] and do it,” he added.

Classic stages including Ardfield, Ring and Ballinasca­rthy all feature in the twoday itinerary and has drawn entries from talent such as Callum Devine (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Alastair Fisher (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5), Jonathan Greer (Citroen

C3 Rally2) and Welsh visitor Meirion Evans (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5).

Moffett, though, is unfazed and feels his recent performanc­es are proof of the gains he has made with his Hyundai.

“There is more to come,” he said. “The pace was really strong in Galway – people could see that by the times – but at no point did I think I was driving beyond my limits, that I might end up making a mistake in those conditions.

“The car worked perfectly in the wet… if it’s dry it will make our job that bit harder as there is some work to do on the set-up but when you start the year well, you do everything to keep it going,” he added.

 ?? Photos: Martin Walsh, William Neill ?? Moffett will be looking to add another rally victory
Photos: Martin Walsh, William Neill Moffett will be looking to add another rally victory

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