Josh Moffett benefits from Derek McGarrity's misfortune

After a dramatic opening on the final leg of the Easter Rally in Antrim, when the Subaru WRC of overnight leaders Derek McGarrity/Paddy Robinson failed to start after transmission troubles, Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Ford Fiesta R5) and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes took the spoils and consolidated their lead in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

At the finish in Ballymena, they were 4.6 seconds ahead of Monaghan’s Sam Moffett and his Cork co-driver Karl Atkinson, also in a Fiesta R5. Derry’s Marty McCormack and his Mallow co-driver David Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5) were 11.8 seconds further behind in third.

Following McGarrity’s misfortune, McCormack set out on Saturday’s opening stage as rally leader, but Josh Moffett held the mantle by the stage finish. By the completion of the loop of three stages, where he was quickest on two and was one of four that were shown to have beaten the bogey time, Josh led brother Sam by eight seconds, McCormack was 2.3 seconds behind in third. The Fiesta R5’s of Robert Barrable, Daniel Cronin and Jonny Greer followed, Cronin lost time with an overshoot.