“The Duel In Donegal” that is how I would describe this event. Two men who currently has dominated the Irish Rally Season – Josh Moffett and Callum Devine going for glory once again in arguably one of the most famous events in the Irish Rally Calendar.
Who was going to come out on top? Devine or Moffett? Or perhaps a “Dark Horse” contender? Three days & over twenty stages await us.
Day 1
Defending champion Josh Moffett took the early advantage at the end of Day 1.
The Monaghan driver, who won this event 12 months ago, holds a 4.9 second advantage over Callum Devine in second. Sam Moffett, brother of Josh, is in third place, a further 24.8 seconds back.
Kevin Gallagher was 10.3 seconds ahead of Kevin Eves in a healthy modified battle. Ioan Lloyd was out front in Rally4 with his Peugeot 208 Rally4 sitting inside the top thirty.
Day 2
The tables turned on the second day as we had a new leader at the top of the leaderboard. The weather was set to play a factor on day two as well. With very changeable conditions throughout the day tyre selection was crucial.
Devine and Noel O’Sullivan started the day in second place but overtook Josh Moffett on Carnhill.
The pair saw their lead trimmed to eight seconds by Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes after the second running of Garrygort, but they pushed clear again over Knockalla this afternoon and now lead by 15 seconds.
Sam Moffett and Keith Moriarty were third more than 48 seconds behind Devine.
However, the driver who will be happiest overall is British Champion, Matt Edwards, who recorded some of the fastest times on Day 2 and were forth overall after starting the day in seventh place.
Kevin Gallagher and Ryan Moore maintain their lead in the modified class while Dylan Eves now lead the Rally4 class.
Day 3
It was all to play for as we went into the final day in this years Donegal International Rally as Callum Devine & Josh Moffett were locked in combat throughout Sundays stages.
Then disaster struck Moffett on SS17, the first loop of Fanad, on Sunday when the Monaghan man crashed out, handing a firm advantage to Devine.
Moffett’s exit ensured that a new name would be added to the winners’ list of this famous event.
The silversmith etched the name of Devine to join a who’s who of rallying greats who have come first over the ramp at the Mount Errigal Hotel.
Sam Moffett had been ahead of Edwards for a period, but he struggled in High Glen’s torrential rain and Edwards capitalised to inch ahead.
A fantastic result for the multiple BRC driver. Kevin Gallagher retained the National Rally title in excellent fashion finishing 10th overall. Dylan Eves comfortably won the Rally4 category.
