BATTLE GOES IN MOFFETT’S FAVOUR AFTER WHITE SUFFERS PROBLEMS
Ravens Rock Stages
Organiser: Carrick on Suir Motor Club When: June 30 Where: Waterford, Co. Waterford Championships: Irish National Rally Championship; South East Stages Championship Stages: 9 Starters: 91
Josh Moffett (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) edged another step closer to the Irish National Rally Championship crown with an 18.3-second victory on the Ravens Rock Stages from the similar car of his nearest title rival Roy White.
Moffett was understandably low key after the previous week’s tragedy in Donegal but took the lead on the opening stage alongside Andy Hayes, before White snatched a 2.4 second lead by the end of SS3.
But it all went awry for White on the repeat loop with troubles on every stage, including no handbrake, an overshoot, a spin, the loss of fifth gear and differential woes which added up to drop him 24 seconds behind Moffett as eventual runner-up.
Hugh Hunter/robert Fagg (Ford Focus RS WRC) were in the frame on SS1 but retired a stage later with steering damage, as Sebastian Ling (Citroen DS 3 R5) followed suit after he too made contact with the scenery.
A great duel for third ensued and John Dalton (Darrian T90 GTR) looked to have done enough on the penultimate stage only to be denied by Richard Moore (Ford Escort Mk2). David Guest (Skoda Fabia S2000) and Daniel Harper (Mini John Cooper WRC) followed.
Shane Maguire (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) won the Motorsport Safety
Team Group N category and Brian Brady (Honda Civic) swept to victory in the Junior category.
Results
1 Josh Moffett/andy Hayes (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) 1h06m39.2s; 2 Roy White/james O’brien (Fiesta RS WRC) +18.3s; 3 Richard Moore/john Mcgrath (Ford Escort Mk2); 4 John Dalton/gwynfor Jones (Darrian T90 GTR); 5 David Guest/jonathan Mcgrath (Skoda Fabia S2000); 6 Daniel Harper/chris Campbell (Mini
John Cooper WRC); 7 Keith Power/tommy Cuddihy (Mitsubishi Lancer E9); 8 Tomas Davies/eurig Davies (Ford Escort Mk2); 9 Aaron Mcloughlin/darren Curran (Lancer E9); 10 Shane Maguire/anthony Nestor (Lancer E9).
Class winners: Pat/chris Bolger (Honda Civic); Denis Maher/pat Knox (Civic); Michael Ormond/paddy King (Civic), Maguire/nestor; Guest/mcgrath; Harper/campbell; Lloyd Hutchinson/willie Fitzpatrick (Austin Mini); Pierce Doheny/eilish Dunne (Opel Corsa); Niall/gary Fitzpatrick (Escort Mk1); Richard/brian Harney (Escort Mk2); Dalton/ Jones; Sean/patricia Hogan (Talbot Sunbeam); Neil Williams/anthony O’sullivan (Escort Mk2); Ian Davies/shane Buckley (BMW M3); Power/cuddihy; Jason Ryan/peter Keohane (Toyota Starlet); Tim Flood/anthony Smith (Escort Mk2); Brian Brady/gary Mcnamee (Honda Civic), Colin O’donoghue/sean Collins (Ford Escort).