26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Josh Moffett elated to edge sibling rivalry after clinching Cavan Stages Rally victory
Tyre choice proved to be something of a lottery for the duration of the closed-road event due to a handful of special stages being bone dry in parts and biblically wet in others.
However, Moffett – in his older-generation but much-preferred Hyundai Motorsport i20 R5 – got the rub of the green for the Third Round of the competition when it came to strategy.
That allowed him to carve out an early lead on the opening speed test alongside stand-in co-driver Andy Hayes before he steadily added to that to finish at the head of the leaderboard.
His older brother Sam – another former National champion – made it a Moffett one-two courtesy of a scratch time on the Power Stage. He went all out for the extra bonus point and, in doing so, leapfrogged Kevin Eves to take second in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2.
'It was a good day and we really enjoyed it,' said Josh, whose winning margin after almost 70 competitive miles was 18.2 seconds.
'With the Citroen breaking down on the last event in Kerry, it was important that we came here and got the win for the Championship.
'Getting a one-two is also pretty cool as well because it has been a while since that has happened,' he continued. 'But the most important thing is that I am on the top step!'
Having been hampered in the opening exchanges by too hard a set-up, Sam's pursuit of a podium place was boosted on stage three when Round Two winner Eddie Doherty spun his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and Garry Jennings did the same in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2.
His run to second was anything but plain sailing, however, as he got caught out under braking and ended up down a slip road on SS5 before reporting a pop-off valve issue on the next test.
Set-up issues played into the hands of Eves on the penultimate stage before Sam regrouped to move back into the silver medal position with Shane Buckley right at the death.
Robert Barrable produced a strong recovery drive to climb from seventh to fourth, helped in part by Jennings' earlier spin and Doherty's Czech supermini breaking a half shaft and a rear anti-roll bar.
However, fifth was still good enough for Round Two winner Doherty to bank some all-important points.
While he remains very much in the title hunt, Desi Henry's hopes were dealt another blow in Cavan.
Targeting at least a top-three result, the best he could manage in a hired Ford Fiesta Rally2 was sixth, meaning the signs suggest he is set to pull out of the Championship.
