Dominant display by Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes in West Cork Rally

A start-to-finish victory in the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally for Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes finally broke the recent Skoda victory dominance within the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. They gave their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 a first-ever win in a round of series.

They dominated from the start on Friday and finished the 16-stage rally 9.9 seconds in front of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) with Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty, also in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 - 5.3 seconds further behind in third.

The Ballylickey/Castlemartyr crew of Daniel Cronin/Padraig O'Donovan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) were the top Cork crew in eighth place. There was a local victory in the Historic category that was won by Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Ford Escort Cosworth) and his Barryroe co-driver Dylan Doonan.

Margins between the top three continued to be close through Saturday morning's opening stages at Ring and Kilbrittain. However, overnight leader Moffett dominated the action and with three stage wins he was 9.5s ahead of Devine with Doherty, who struggled with brake problems, mostly a spongy pedal, 8.8s further behind. By the conclusion of the repeat loop the time gaps began to increase with Moffett extending his lead over Devine to 9.5s with Doherty another 8.8s behind and still bothered by brake problems.

Michael Boyle made up several places to move into fourth but he was 47.7s behind rally leader Moffett with Jersey visitor Sam Touzel (Ford Fiesta Rally2) in fifth.

GREAT RUN

Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy, who headed the local challenge saw his great run end due to an electrical (master switch) issue that manifested itself twice on Ring and once on Kilbrittain. His 10th place was annexed by fellow local Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2). Moffett and Doherty exchanged stage wins on the repeat of both with Moffett ending the day 21.2s ahead of Doherty. Devine was third. 

The Boyle brothers had a troubled afternoon, Matthew punctured on SS7 and ended the in 20th but a crash on SS9 brought an end to Michael's bid. Donegal's David Kelly and Declan Boyle, both in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2's and Jersey's Sam Touzel (Fiesta Rally2) rounded out the day's top six. Locals Cronin and Guest were ninth and tenth overnight.

On the first loop of Sunday's three stages the top three took a stage win apiece. Tyre choice in the sometimes showery conditions was crucial. As Moffett adopted a safe pace to ensure victory, the battle for second intensified with Devine making inroads into Doherty's second place. With the roads drying out Devine cut the deficit to his rival to just 0.5s with one stage remaining and with a stage win on Ardfield, he took the runner-up spot by 5.3s.