Josh Moffett triumphs at West Cork Rally

rte.ie:

Monaghan's Josh Moffett won the West Cork Rally, the second round of the 2023 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC) in his Hyundai 120.The reigning Irish champion held an 18.6-second lead overnight lead over Galway the International Rally winner Meirions Evans (Polo) heading into Saturday's remaining stages with Callum Devine (Polo) a further nine seconds backBut the duo never got near Moffett and over the stages at Shanaway in difficult climactic conditions, Sam's Cross, and Ardfield it was the Dubliner Robert Barrable who cut a 36.1-second overnight to eventually lose by only 8.9 seconds in the Citroen C3 Rally2.With three stages to go Moffett and Barrable then shared a stage win apiece over the last runs of Shanaway and Sam's Cross with Moffett's lead now down to an attainable 6.5 seconds ahead of the final test at a foggy Ardfield.Barrable was fastest through Ardfield on the first loop and the former circuit racers would have been confident of cutting the gap even further on the final stageMoffet though responded magnificently and flew his Hyundai through the last stage to eventually register a mere 8.9 second win with Barrable in second and Evans, winner of the opening round, the Welshman taking the final step on the podium 42.9 seconds adrift of the eventual winner.Callum Devine, Jonny Greer and Sam Moffett rounded out the top six on the overall leaderboard.Josh Moffett now leads the ITRC standings after two rounds, with the next round, the Circuit of Ireland taking place on 15 and 16 August.