Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty Triumph in STS Group Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally
Monaghan’s Josh Moffett, alongside Limerick’s Keith Moriarty, celebrated a victorious return to his trusted Hyundai i20 R5 by winning the Clonmel-based STS Group Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the sixth round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.
At the conclusion of the eight-stage event, co-driven by Keith Moriarty, Moffett narrowly defeated his brother Sam Moffett, who was co-driven by James O’Reilly, in another Hyundai i20 Rally2 by just 3.4 seconds.
Ballylickey’s Daniel Cronin and his Dunmanway co-driver Donnchadh Burke, in a VW Polo GTi R5, finished 22.6 seconds behind in third, propelling them into the lead of the series.
Pre-event championship leaders Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy from Kilkenny and Limerick, respectively, faced a setback when their Skoda Fabia R5 suffered an electrical issue, leaving them without a digital readout for the entire event and relegating them to fifth place.
The opening stage near Ardfinnan saw Josh Moffett and Daniel Cronin share the fastest time, with Sam Moffett and Eddie Doherty tying 4.7 seconds behind. The top six also included Jason Mitchell’s VW Polo GTi R5 and Desi Henry’s Citroen C3 Rally2.
Josh Moffett led by 3.7 seconds after SS2 and extended his lead to 4.2 seconds by SS3. He remarked at service, “The car feels good, it’s very soft and moves around a bit but I’m fine with that.”
Cronin held second with no issues, while Sam Moffett was happy with his performance 4.3 seconds behind. Doherty, 14 seconds off the top spot, contended with an electrical issue throughout. Henry and Mitchell held fifth and sixth, respectively, with Paul Barrett in seventh. Rob Duggan was the top two-wheel-drive competitor, completing all stages untroubled.
Heavy rain affected the repeat loop of stages. Josh Moffett extended his lead to 7.3 seconds after SS4. Sam Moffett then surpassed Cronin in SS5 and closed to within 3.2 seconds of the lead after SS6.
Cronin’s third place was challenged by Desi Henry, who closed to within 11.4 seconds and moved ahead of Doherty, who had further issues with a buckled front left wheel. Mitchell slid off and Duggan retired with electrical problems.
The final stages saw no changes in positions, with Sam Moffett securing bonus points for winning the Power Stage. Michael Carbin from Monaghan won the Modified category.
Meanwhile, British Rally Championship rivals Chris Ingram and Keith Cronin finished first and second, respectively, at the Nicky Grist Rally in Wales. Ingram, in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, led by 0.4 seconds midway and extended his lead to win by 14.7 seconds. Meirion Evans finished third in another Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Ballylickey’s Colin Cronin, racing with Fox Motorsport, finished sixth, seventh, and eighth in the Ginetta Junior Championship at Snetterton.
STS Group Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally (Round 6, Triton Showers National Rally Championship):
1. J. Moffett/K. Moriarty (Hyundai i20 R5): 55m 03.7s
2. S. Moffett/J. O’Reilly (Hyundai i20 Rally2): +3.4s
3. D. Cronin/D. Burke (VW Polo GTi R5): +26.0s
4. D. Henry/A. Hayes (Citroen C3 Rally2): +32.9s
5. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5): +49.4s
Triton Showers National Rally Championship (Provisional after Round 6):
1. D. Cronin: 87 points
2. E. Doherty: 85 points
3. S. Moffett & J. Moffett: 76 points
Nicky Grist Rally, Builth-Wells, Wales:
1. C. Ingram/A. Kihurani (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2): 37m 41.0s
2. K. Cronin/S. Buckley (Ford Fiesta Rally2): +14.7s
3. M. Evans/J. Jackson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2): +53.4s
