MOFFETT KEEPS UP THE MOMENTUM TO WIN
Continuing his customary dominance of the Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship, Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 R5) and co-driver Keith Moriarty dictated the pace en route to victory in the Circuit of Munster Rally, the fifth round of the national series.
They finished 56.1 seconds clear of the Ford Fiesta R5 of Robert Barrable and his co-driver Paddy Robinson with Eamonn Kelly and Conor Mohan (VW Polo GTi R5) 32.6s further behind in third.
With the template that delivered four wins from the previous four rounds, Moffett was quickest through the first loop to open up a 34.2s advantage – over half accrued from stage two, the longest of the rally at 15 miles.
Tim McNulty (Fiesta R5) occupied second with late entry Jordan Hone in a Ford Fiesta R5, just 1.2s shy. Barrable had been second, only to spin and stall on the third stage.
Cathan McCourt (Citroen C3) and Keith Lyons (Ford Fiesta) bowed out on stage two – the former drifted wide on the final junction only to clout the rightrear off a bank and subsequently nudge the front right into the scenery that hid a stone which broke the steering arm and ripped off the right wheel, he retired at the stage finish. Earlier in the stage, Lyons crashed out while on the opening stage Jason Black (Toyota Starlet) was the first major retirement.
On the repeat loop Moffett extended his advantage to
49.2s with Kelly, quickest through stage six becoming his nearest rival moving 6.3s ahead of Barrable.
Both McNulty and Hone departed the fray at the same slippery spot on stage five, each beaching their respective mounts without any damage.
Seamus Leonard was fourth, a position that relied on a huge chunk of good fortune when his Fiesta got out of line at high speed. Fifth-placed Ed O’Callaghan (Escort) dominated the two-wheel-drive category with an untroubled Michael Carbin (Mitsubishi) sixth.
Heavy rain made for an interesting final loop as Moffett wrapped up his fifth victory to inch closer to the title. Kelly had a time-consuming excursion and failing wipers on stage eight that denied him the opportunity of taking second spot, which went to Barrable, who won the Powerstage.
Carbin, Leonard and Gareth Sayers (Fiesta R5) finished ahead of seventh-placed O’Callaghan, who nudged a bale that both dented a fine drive and his Escort.
Constantly improving throughout Gareth MacHale brought his right-hand-drive VW Polo GTi R5 home in eighth, advancing his pacenotes on each loop on what was a shakedown for his outing in next week’s Donegal International. Stephen McCann (Fiesta R5) and Jonny Pringle (Escort) completed the top 10.
Results
Circuit of Munster Rally
Organiser: Limerick Motor Club When: June 5 Where: Rathkeale, County Limerick Stages: 9. Championships: Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship; West Coast Rally Championship; Southern 4 Rally Championship. Starters: 143.
1 Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Hyundai i20 R5) 1h00m48.1s; 2 Robert Barrable/Paddy Robinson (Ford Fiesta R5 Mk2) +56.1s; 3 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (VW Polo GTi R5) +1m28.7s; 4 Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer E8); 4 Seamus Leonard/ John McCaffrey (Ford Fiesta R5); 6 Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrist (Ford Fiesta R5); 7 Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort); 8 Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (VW Polo GTi R5); 9 Stephen McCann/John McCabe (Ford Fiesta R5); 10 Jonny Pringle/ Paul Sheridan (Ford Escort. Class winners: Teighearnan Kelly/Conal Doherty (Honda Civic EK4); Joseph Kelly/Ronan Comerford (Peugeot 208); Francis Kelly/Damian Doherty (Honda Civic): Tomas O’Rourke/ Tomas Scallan (Mitsubishi Evo); Seamus Leonard/John McCaffrey (Ford Fiesta); PJ McDermot/Ray Fitzpatrick (Ford Fiesta WRC); Eamonn Barrett/Adrian O’Gorman (Ford Escort); Alan Costello/Paddy Costello (Ford Escort); Sam Johnston/Gary McCrudden (Honda Civic); Conal Hegarty/ John Spillane (Toyota Corolla); Denis Dineen/Donal Dineen (Ford Escort); Stephen Faughnan/Stephen Joyce (Ford Escort); Ed O’Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort); Ian Roche/Paddy Nash (Subaru WRC); Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan (Mitsubishi Evo); Peadar Walsh/ Fionn Walsh (Ford Escort); Eoghan Fogarty/ Stephen Meskell (Toyota Corolla); Greg O’Brien/Jake Lennon (Honda Civic).