Moffett and Moriarty Back on Top at ALMC Hellfire Rally
Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty took victory on Sunday’s ALMC Hellfire Rally, round six of the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship.
The Monaghan–Limerick pairing were fastest on the opening stage but slipped back in the ultra-competitive first loop. They regained the lead on stage five after early leaders Gary Kiernan and John McCabe spun, losing around 20 seconds. From there, Moffett and Moriarty controlled the pace to secure their fourth maximum score of the season, following top scores in Longford, Cavan and Ravens Rock.
It was their first outing in a Škoda Fabia Rally2 hired from Dom Buckley Motorsport, the same car Robert Barrable used earlier in the season. “It was a bit of a risk taking a new car for the rally, but a few tweaks during the day and I was very happy with it,” said Moffett at the finish in Oldcastle.
Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy recovered from pop-off valve issues in the morning to take second. The problem cost time early on, but once fixed, they moved clear and also took the bonus championship points for fastest time on the final stage.
Declan Boyle and Patrick Walsh claimed third in their Škoda Fabia Rally2, matching their Ulster Rally podium from the day before. Boyle admitted they lacked preparation time, while Walsh noted the unusual coincidence of “two rallies, both with number four on the door, both third place, and both hotels I stayed in room 228.”
Desi Henry and Dean O’Sullivan were second for much of the rally in a Ford Fiesta Rally2. Henry admitted he wasn’t fully on the pace early on but a switch to a harder tyre compound improved his speed as the day progressed but fell back to fourth following a final stage puncture.
Gary Kiernan and John McCabe were fastest early on before their spin on stage five. They dropped from first to fifth and eventually ended the rally in fifth, still encouraged by finding more speed in their Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Matthew Boyle and Gary Byrne had a steady run to sixth, describing their pace as “not here nor there,” but the result added another haul of points.
Seventh went to Tom Holton and Stephen Joyce, who enjoyed one of their best runs of the season with a trouble-free day.
Jason Dickson and Martin Brady battled a misfire on every gear change in their Fiesta Rally2. They brought the car home in eighth but were frustrated after their strong form in recent rounds.
Daniel Cronin and Padraig O’Donovan used the rally to rebuild confidence after recent setbacks and took ninth in their Volkswagen Polo R5.
Tommy Doyle and Liam Moynihan rounded out the top ten on their return in a Hyundai i20 Rally2, admitting it took time to get back up to speed.
The Modified battle went to Daniel McKenna and Andrew Grennan in their Ford Escort Mk2. Set-up changes at first service, including a stiffer anti-roll bar and harder tyres, improved their pace and carried them to the category win and 12th overall. Barry Morris and Dylan Doonan placed second in their Darrian GTR, while Brian and Sean Brady impressed to take third and Class 13 victory in a Honda Civic – a rare front-wheel-drive success against the Escorts.
Michael Boyle and Dermot McCafferty lost two minutes with an opening stage puncture but recovered to 11th overall with a series of strong times. Chris Armstrong and Darren Curran were 15th and fourth in the Modifieds, putting them close to wrapping up the Mk2 Challenge title. Stephen McCann and Kaine Treanor came home 16th in their Fiesta R5 on their first tarmac rally since Cavan.
In the classes, Cian Caldwell and Paul McPhillips won Rally4 ahead of Oran England and Darragh Mullen. Ronan Dorrian and Mickey Joe Browne dominated the Juniors in Class 16 with their Honda Civic.
The Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship now moves to the Clare Stages Rally on September 7, the penultimate round of the eight-round series.