‘Moffett fends off strong competition’
Sam Moffett makes the most of dominant Boyle’s late retirement to claim Cavan victory
Organiser: Cavan Motor Club When: May 29 Where: Cavan, Republic of Ireland Championships: Triton Showers MI National Championship, Sligo Pallets Border Championshi Stages: 9 Starters: 127
Sam Moffett headed off the strong World Rally Car contingent in Cavan to take an overdue win, his first since the Fivemiletown Spring Rally in February.
Declan and Brian Boyle held the lead for most of the rally in his Ford Fiesta WRC, but his continued bad luck struck again and he was out after six stages with alternator failure.
Roy White and James O’brien couldn’t fend off the advances of Moffett after Boyle’s retirement and settled for second. Josh Moffett had a subdued morning but rounded out the podium spots with usual navigator John Rowan calling the pacenotes.
The three stages of the rally, repeated three times, were all fast, technically challenging ‘country’ roads, in close proximity to the Hotel Kilmore Cavan headquarters.
Roy White was fastest out of the box, by 1s from Boyle. Sam Moffett was third and in close attendance on the opening stage Shankill. Through stages two and three Boyle was fastest to lead Sam Moffett by 12s at first service, with White third.
Peadar Hurson found his newly acquired Impreza WRC S12B a bit of a struggle initially and he was down in seventh. As the day progressed former National champion Hurson firmed up the car’s suspension and was a little happier, but even then was shy of the fastest times, although he did improve to fifth overall.
Through the middle loop of stages Declan Boyle, despite alternator worries with his Fiesta WRC, was the man to beat and still led from Sam Moffett at second service after stage six. However, he would go no further.
Another leading retirement was Daragh O’riordan, his Fiesta WRC suffering broken steering when lying in fourth position.
Gary Mcphillips maintained his twowheel-drive lead to the finish. Aidan Wray (Lancer) won Group N, his closest early pursuer Paul Barrett retiring his Impreza with turbo problems. Gary Mcnamee had a brilliant start-to-finish win in the Junior category driving his Honda Civic. Results 1 Sam Moffett/james Fulton (Ford Fiesta R5) 1h07m10.7s; 2 Roy White/james O’brien (Fiesta WRC) +29.5s; 3 Josh Moffett/john Rowan (Fiesta R5); 4 Niall Maguire/ Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC); 5 Peadar Hurson/ Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC); 6 Seamus Leonard/ Paul Mcloughlin (Impreza WRC); 7 Stephen Mccann/ Damien Fleming (Impreza WRC); 8 Kevin Barrett/ Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC); 9 Gary Mcphillips/ Paul Sheridan (Ford Escort Mk2); 10 Gary Kiernan/ Ryan Moore (Escort Mk2) Class winners Ruari Mccaffrey/ Seamus Mctigue (Honda Civic); Jenna Mccann/james Mccann (Fiesta R2); Pakie Duffy/ Evin Hughes (Civic); Aidan Wray/ Kieran Mcgrath (Mitsubishi Lancer E10); S Moffett/ Fulton; White/ O’brien; Gene Mcdonald/ Kevin Reilly (Ford Escort Mk2); Padraig Connolly/ Cain Treanor (Peugeot 106); John Mccabe/ Niall Mcgaughran (Civic); Seamus Connolly/ Gary Mccrudden (Toyota Corolla); John Gordon/ Nial Tierney (Ford Escort Mk2); Kiernan/ Moore; Mcphillips/ Sheridan; Mccann/ Fleming; Colin Quirk/ Chris Caley (Mitsubishi Lancer E10); Malcolm Pedlow/ Ivor Ferguson (BMW 2002tii); Gary Mcnamee/ Kieran O’donoghue (Civic EG6)