West Cork rally winner up in the air with Motorsport Ireland stewards' decision to come

The Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally ended with late drama and is now the subject of a decision by Motorsport Ireland stewards. 

Fermanagh's Jon Armstrong, aboard his M-Sport run Ford Fiesta Rally2 finished the 18th and final stage 34.8s ahead of the Citroen C3 Rally2 of Ballylickey's Keith Cronin with Monaghan's Josh Moffett also in a Citroen, a minute and 7.2s further behind in third.

Then, Armstrong's car developed an issue related to its cooling system. 

The rules state that each car must complete the rally under its own power, how Armstrong's car arrived at parc ferme is under investigation by the Motorsport Ireland Stewards and the event results remain provisional.

Cronin set the pace on the opening stage at Ballinascarthy where West Cork drivers Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Skoda Fabia R5) and Kilcrohane's Jer O'Donovan (Ford Fiesta r5) bother crashed out within 1.5km of the start. Moffett was Cronin's initial pursuer - 4.8s behind followed Welsh ace Matt Edwards and his Mallow born co-driver David Moynihan and Armstrong. 

It was a tough opening pair of stages (that also featured Rossmore) for Armstrong as a faulty intercom system meant he couldn't her the pacenote calling of his Donegal co-driver Shane Byrne. Edward was best in Rossmore to slot into second - 5.9s behind Cronin with Armstrong moving into third and Moffett dropping to fourth after concerns on SS2. 

Edwards and Moffett were credited with Cronin's time for SS3 where Cronin's younger brother Daniel crashed out, damage was minimal and he re-joining the event under Super Rally on Saturday. Overnight, Keith Cronin led Edwards by 9s with Armstrong (who was quickest on SS4) a further 5.6s behind. Moffett held fourth.

Cronin and Armstrong dominated Saturday's eight stages but it wasn't until the repeat of Ring that the event turned unto a twin tussle. Edwards, who was impressing and very much part of the battle, retired when his Hyundai clambered up a bank and beached itself.

Several drivers beat the bogey time on the repeat of the stage at Kilbrittain (SS8). By that time, Cronin led Armstrong by 12.8s. 

However, the pair of stages at Dunworley and Timoleague, that were more gravelly, saw Armstrong punch in three stage wins to cut the deficit to Cronin to 7.5s and with both beating the bogey time on the day's final stage, the overnight margin between the pair was unchanged. Moffett retained third followed by Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) and Donegal's Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). The Citroen C3 Rally2 West Cork crew of Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy and Rosscarbery's Eric Calnan were tenth overnight.

On Sunday's six stages Armstrong punched in fastest times on all six stage reeling in Cronin on SS14, Glandore. Cronin's Citroen was understeering and led to the Ballylickey driver backing of on certain parts of the stages. Whatever happens, Cronin will pick up maximum points for the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Both Cronin and Moffett acknowledge that Armstrong deserved to take victory but the matter is up to the stewards.

Provisionally, Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy and Ovens ace Owen Murphy, both in Citroen C3 Rally2 cars were ninth and tenth respectively.

The Historic section was won by the Welsh crew of Tomas and Eurig Davies (Ford Escort).