Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally Day 2 Update

With two days down in the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally, its Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes (Toyota Yaris) who still hold the lead, having extended their lead throughout the day. After ten special stages they hold a lead of 21.1 seconds over the Skoda Fabia of Eddie Doherty & Tom Murphy. Moffett seemed to revel in the West Cork stages and has been quickest on five of the days eight stages. Doherty was five seconds quicker on the penultimate stage over Dunworley, but Moffett responded by taking that time back on the days final stage at Clogagh. Current NAPA Autoparts Irish Tarmac Rally Champion Callum Devine with Noel O’Sullivan co-driving, holds third place having found it difficult to match Moffetts pace on a consistent basis during the day. However, the Derry driver is still less than thirty seconds off the lead with six stages still to go.

Behind the leading trio, David Kelly & Shane Buckley hold fourth place in their Skoda Fabia, with Declan Boyle moving into fifth place and faring much better through Saturdays stages than his two sons. Matthew was holding a top five position until a puncture on the first run over the Dunworley stage cost him over five minutes. Worse was to follow for his brother Michael who went off the road on the second run over the Dunworley stage. Sam Touzel had held fourth overnight but dropped back a couple of places to sixth but is still driving very well on his first trip to West Cork. John Dalton despite a huge moment on the penultimate stage is leading the modified category in his Darrian, with Frank & Lauren Kelly second and Michael Carbin & Conor Mohan third. Jason McSweeney & Dylan Doonan lead the Historic category in their Escort WRC with several of their closest rivals retiring during the day, including Ray Breen, Fergus O’Meara, Robert Barrable, Wayne Evans & Tommy McDonagh.

Tomorrows itinerary has six stages, at Ballinacarriga, Sams Cross and Ardfield, with the Junior competitors joining the rally for the entire day. The first stage at Ballinacarriga is scheduled for 10:57am with the first car due back at the finish ramp at around 4.00pm. Josh Moffett will be pushing hard to take his third win in West Cork, while all of his challengers are aiming for their maiden West Cork win, so tomorrows action is not to be missed.

Top 6 Overnight

1 – Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes   Toyota Yaris Rally 2     1:09:31.3

2 – Eddie Doherty & Tom Murphy    Skoda Fabia Rally 2     1:09:52.4 3 – Callum Devine & Noel O’Sullivan  Skoda Fabia Rally 2     1:10:00.9 4 – David Kelly & Shane Buckley         Skoda Fabia Rally 2     1:11:25.3 5 – Declan Boyle & Patrick Walsh        Skoda Fabia Rally 2     1:11:50.0 6 – Sam Touzel & Max Freeman          Ford Fiesta Rally 2       1:11:52.5 

Kevin O’Driscoll

Press Officer