Josh Moffett got the better on Callum Devine to take the win in the Fastnet Rally & the 2023 Irish Rally National Championship.
It was simple for Moffett, finish ahead of Devine and the title will be his but neither of them got the best of starts. After the 1st loop of stages, Daniel Cronin and D Burke led Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty by 4.7 seconds with Callum Devine and Noel O Sullivan in 3rd a Further 14.5 back.
Cal McCarthy And Eric Calnan 4th and Steve Wood and Kenny Hull 5th. After the 2nd loop Cronin and Burke led Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty by 1.0 seconds with Callum Devine and Noel O Sullivan in 3rd a Further 8.7 back. Eamon Kelly and Conor Mohan 4th Cal McCarthy and Eric Calnan 5th.
All the drivers were reporting very slippery stages in the very autumnal conditions.
In the other classes, Declan Gallagher/ Gavin Doherty led Chris Armstrong/Darren Curran by 28.8 seconds with Conor Murphy/Sean Collins a further 3.5 seconds back in the modified section while Ronan Dorrin led the juniors with championship registered Seamus Browne and Oisin Gallagher in 3rd place.
It was clear at this point the final group of stages was going to be make or break in the championship battle and thats exactly what happened in stages 7 & 8.
Devine won stage 7 to close the gap on Moffett by 6 seconds however Moffett struck back on the final stage winning the event & by claiming the championship in succession.
A well deserved in for the Irishman who was driving in his older Hyundai for the season finale. Devine finished second while Daniel Cronin had to settle for third.
Declan Gallagher comfortably won the modified section while Evan McEvoy overturned a 13 second deficient on Ronan Dorrin to win the junior section.
