Day 1
The West Cork Rally huge crowds, is the second round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and it was the defending champion Josh Moffett, driving a Hyundai i20 R5, who held an 18.6 second lead on the opening day over Welsh driver Meirion Evans with Derry’s Callum Devine, a further 9.4 seconds behind in third.
On a wet morning as misty rain swept southwards, it was Welsh ace Evans that set the pace on the opening and slippery Clogagh stage taking a three second lead over Monaghan’s Sam Moffett in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car. On the second stage, Devine set the best time but Evans continued to lead by 2.9 seconds as conditions began to dry.
At the service park, tyre changes proved crucial as last year’s winner Josh Moffett took control. Fastest times through the repeat of both stages and also on the first run over both the classic Ring stage and the stage at Dunworley saw the defending Irish Tarmac champion stretch his advantage to 14.6 seconds with early leader Evans in second spot and 7.1 seconds in front of Devine.
Even though Devine was quickest on the day’s penultimate stage, Josh Moffett punched in the best time on the day’s eighth and final stage to lead Evans at the overnight halt in Clonakilty by 18.6 seconds.
Former winner Robert Barrable (Citroen C3 Rally2) occupied fourth in a top six that also featured Sam Moffett and Jonny Greer (Citroen C3 Rally2).
In the other classes, Gary Kiernan & Cathal Mulgrew lead in the 2WD Class and William Creighton & Liam Regan taking a break from their JWRC campaign leading their class in the FWD Fiesta Rally 3.
Day 2
Treacherous conditions caused everyone to stick with the full wets throughout the day and one man was able to take advantage of that. Starting 3rd on the road Barrable & Gordon blitz through the morning stages taking chunks of time off the leaders.
They where able to pull a gap on Evans & Devine which brought them from within 6.5 seconds off the leaders Joss Moffett and Andy Hayes. By this put there was nothing that the rest of the pack could have done. It was all to play for going into the final stage of this year’s West Cork Rally.
At the final stage Moffett and Hayes did just enough to take the win at West Cork. The pair took the stage win and it was win no2 at the event and their first win of the 2023 season.
Robert Barrable claimed a well-deserved 2nd with Meirion Evans 3rd, Devine 4th and Jonny Greer wounding off the top 5 places.
In the other classes, Gary Kiernan & Cathal Mulgrew took the 2WD Class honours and William Creighton & Liam Regan claimed the FWD class finishing 12th overall at the event.
