Latest news with #TritonShowersNationalRallyChampionship
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Reigning champions Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes claim victory at Cavan Rally
Reigning national champions Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes took a start to finish victory in the Cavan Rally, the third round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship. Another of the Moffett siblings, Sam (Hyundai i20 N Rally2), who was co-driven by Killarney's Shane Buckley, finished 18.2s behind after they edged out the Donegal duo of Kevin Eves/Chris Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2) by 3.7s on the final stage. Changeable weather conditions made it difficult as Josh Moffett coped best and with a trio of fastest times on the first loop, he led Sam by 15.7s with Eves, with one of his best performances since switching to Rally2, just two seconds further behind in third. Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty had a huge moment over a jump on the opening stage (where Sam Moffett also had a similar moment), a spin on the second stage and a time loss on SS3, saw him down in fifth - 24.3s off top spot. Michael Boyle was the first major retirement when his Skoda Fabia Rally2 slid off and crashed into a tree during the opening stage. The stage interruption rule was implemented on SS4 when the services were called to the assistance of Kesh driver Garry Jennings and his co-driver Brian Hoy when their Ford Fiesta Rally2 crashed heavily. Meanwhile, the top three of Josh and Sam Moffett and Eves each took a stage win as Josh led the family battle by 19.1s. Rain showers continued to make tyre choice a lottery and while Josh Moffett maintained a good lead, his brother Sam lost second place to a charging Eves, who entered the final stage just 1.4s ahead of his rival, who was determined to regain second and win the Power Stage to reduce his brother's haul of championship points, he managed to achieve both. Barrable and Doherty (who retains the lead of the series - three points ahead of Sam Moffett) completed the top five. In the Maiden City rally in Derry, Strabane's Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) took a 5.9s victory over the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Kesh driver Garry Jennings with Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi), who led for two stages, finishing 9.2s further behind in third. In wet conditions, Caldwell led Jennings by 1.2s on the first stage where Kelly was 2.3s off top spot in third. With a stage win on SS2 and despite issues with the wipers on SS3, Kelly led Jennings by 3.9s as Caldwell slipped to third - 5.7s off the lead. However, Caldwell was back in the lead after SS4, the second running of Bigwood, where he excelled once more, taking 5.1s out of Jennings to lead by 3.3s as the latter made some set-up changes. Kelly (third) had an overshoot. The top three order remained unchanged to the finish as Caldwell netted his first victory on tarmac surface. Donegal's Michael Boyle, debuting the Skoda Fabia RS Rally previously campaigned by his father Declan, was fourth with top seed Desi Henry, who switched to a Ford Fiesta Rally2, took a stage win on his way to fifth. Sadly, the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland was curtailed following a tragic accident on Saturday's second stage (SS8) that claimed the life of Welsh co-driver Dai Roberts. The organisers cancelled the remaining stages of the event (Round three of the British Rally Championship) and also the Reivers Rally that was scheduled to take place yesterday (Sunday). The 39 year old co-driver, whose brother Gareth (Jaffa) passed away in an accident at the 2012 Targa Florio Rally in Sicily, was co-driving for fellow Welshman James Williams (Hyundai i20 rally2) when they crashed on the first run of the Edrom stage. Williams was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious but not life-threatening injuries. In motor racing, Offaly's Alex Dunne crashed out of the F2 feature race in Monaco on Sunday morning. Starting in pole position Victor Martins raced into the lead as they headed into Turn 1. As Martins turned the first corner, the front of Dunne's car speared into the side of his Martins' car that resulted in both spinning into the outside barrier. Some nine other drivers were caught in the ensuing pile up and the race was red flagged. Seven drivers including Dunne and Martins were forced to retire. When the race re-started, Jak Crawford took the chequered flag. The event stewards gave Dunne a grid penalty of ten places on qualifying at next week's Spanish Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Cork driver Robert Cronin secured his maiden victory in the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta Championship at Oulton Park on Saturday afternoon. The Ballylickey driver, who started from P2 in his Elite Motorsport run Ginetta was quickly into the lead, edging out polesitter Jack Collins just before the first corner and went on to take the chequered flag as Cronin's team mate Harry Gamble took second place with a brave move on the final lap. Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally (Round 3 Triton Showers National Rally Championship) Cavan: 1. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5) 59m.17.0s; 2. S. Moffett/S. Buckley (Hyundai i20 Rally2)+18.2s; 3. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+21.9s; 4. R. Barrable/P. Robinson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+31.6s; 5. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5)+51.2s; 6. D. Henry/N. Burns (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 23.9s; 7. R. Loughran/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 26.5s; 8. P. Barrett/D. Kelly (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 27.6s; 9. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 43.2s; 10. T. Doyle/L. Moynihan (Hyundaii20 Rally2)+1m. 54.9s. Maiden City Rally (Round 3, Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship) Derry: 1. R. Caldwell/S. O'Brien (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 32m. 26.8s; 2. G. Jennings/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+5.9s; 3. D. Kelly/A. Kierans (VW Polo GTi R5)+15.1s; 4. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+16.5s; 5. D. Henry/D. O'Sullivan (Citroen C3 Rally2)+22.0s; 6. N. Devine/L. McIntyre (VW Polo GTi R5)+33.4s; 7. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+35.8s; 8. A. Wray/C. McKenna (VW Polo GTi R5)+42.0s; 9. R. Loughran/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta R5)+59.4s; 10. J. McGonigle/G. O'Brien (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 19.2s. Jim Clark Rally (Round 3, Probite British Rally Championship) Duns: (Event was stopped after SS8 due to a fatality. 1. M. Evans/D. Furniss (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 46m. 09.7s; 2. E. Thorburn/P. Beaton (VW Polo GTi R5)+4.0s; 3. C. Black/J. Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+51.6s; 4. M. McRae/C. Fair (Citroën C3 Rally2)+1m. 02.3s; 5. G. Pearson/H. McKillop (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 26.6s; 6. S. Touzel/M. Freeman (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 34.6s; 7. E. Payne/P. Walsh (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 52.7s; 8. M. Hirst/D. Dear (Skoda Fabia R5)+1m. 55.3s; 9. D. Robertson/D. Beaton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 06.0s; 10. J. Greer/N. Burns (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+2m. 38.3s.
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: No fear of the unknown for championship leader Eddie Doherty
It doesn't really bother Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) that he will be in somewhat unfamiliar places and situations this weekend. As he continues his quest to win the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the former county minor hurler has never competed in the Cavan Rally, this Sunday's third round of the campaign. Following an impressive victory in the previous round - the Circuit of Kerry - he has grabbed a nine-point lead in the series - the first time he has ever led by more than a handful of points. Agreeing that a good reconnaissance of the stages is key, he said, "We don't treat these things any different to what we do any other rally weekend. The Circuit of Kerry was our first time doing it and we were able to win the rally. I don't think any more into it, that process could wreck your head. It's great to have a competitive entry and there are four of five (drivers) doing the Maiden City Rally on Saturday and they will have plenty of seat time. The national series is our primary concern for this year." He concluded: "Last year I made the mistake thinking about points and at the end of the year it didn't work out. You have to win rallies to get a good championship result." What will be familiar though is his championship opposition that includes Josh and Sam Moffett in Hyundai's, Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2, Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally2), Donegal trio David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and the Skoda Fabia Rally2 cars of Michael and Declan Boyle, local ace Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Cork's Daniel Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2). Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is also in the top ten. Meanwhile and in the absence of series leader William Creighton from this weekend's Jim Clark Rally in Scotland, the third round of the Probite British Rally Championship is likely to have a new frontrunner with M-Sport's Romet Jurgenson, the FIA Rally Star and reigning Junior WR champion favourite to capitalise. A family wedding has ruled Creighton out on this occasion while top seed and last year's rally winner Keith Cronin withdrew his entry following his accident of the Rally of the Lakes and is pausing his rallying for the immediate future to concentrate on business interests. Estonian Jurgenson (25) is aiming to secure back-to-back wins but Welsh aces James Williams (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) and Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), local hero Garry Pearson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Max McRae (Citroen C3 Rally2) will aim to deny him the spoils. Evans is targeting a strong result. 'We certainly go to the event with confidence, having had a strong run on the Rally of the Lakes. Although the Scottish stages are a lot different in character to the ones in Killarney, the plan is to carry that form into this weekend and put in another good performance." Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) is a late entry. In the Junior BRC, Irish drivers Kyle McBride, Joe Kelly and Kalum Graffin, all in Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars, will be chasing maximum points. Beginning with the Langton Mill stage and its iconic water splash, there are six stages this evening and eight more tomorrow. Elsewhere, the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship reaches midpoint with tomorrow's Derry based Maiden City Rally. Local ace Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally) heads a competitive entry that includes series leader, Donegal's Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5), who is seeded at nine. Like many others Kesh driver Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is utilising the rally as a shakedown for the Donegal International. That grouping also includes Omagh's Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2), Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and recent winner of the Tipperary Forest Rally, Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Glengormley's Derek McGarrity (VW Polo GTi R5) returns to the series as Warrenpoint's Peadar Hurson and Strabane's Aidan Wray in VW Polo GTi R5's along with Joe McGonigle (Citroen C3 Rally2) round out the top ten. The first of the day's seven stages starts at 9.53am.
