Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes make Irish rallying history

The duo gave the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 its first success in a round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship courtesy of a start to finish victory in the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally.

Sun, 15 Mar, 2026 - 17:23

Martin Walsh

Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes have written their own piece of Irish rallying history by giving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 its first success in a round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship courtesy of a start to finish victory in the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally.

Moffett, with his third victory in Clonakilty, finished 9.9 seconds ahead of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who won the final stage to deny the similar car of Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty for the runner-up spot by 5.3 seconds.

Moffett began Saturday's leg of eight stages with a 2.2s lead over Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty.

Three stage wins from the morning's four, a double run over the iconic Ring and the less familiar Kilbrittain, saw him extend that advantage to 8.9s.

The Monaghan driver's improving knowledge of his Toyota was a key factor as Devine slotted into second and third placed Doherty, who experienced brake problems that began with a spongy brake pedal as he made his way along the causeway on the first run through Ring, just 0.4s further behind.

Devine commented on the dust on SS4 (Kilbrittain) before adding that he needed to find more speed. Michael Boyle, seventh overnight, slotted into fourth even though the set-up of the rear of his Skoda was a trifle too stiff as it was proving wayward on the stages.

Jersey visitor Sam Touzel in his new Ford Fiesta Rally2 was fifth followed by Matthew Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who clattered a chicane bale on Ring.

More examples of the Czech marque in the hands of Declan Boyle, David Kelly and Ryan Loughran preceded Cal McCarthy's Citroen C3 Rally2 that completed the top ten and upheld local honour.

Tyrone's Cathan McCourt went off the road and hit a bank on S.S.4 - Kilbrittain that cost him some two minutes before re-joining the action, albeit down in 22nd position.

On the repeat of both stages, Moffett and Devine traded stage wins with the latter maintaining second - 9.5s behind the rally leader. Brake troubles continued to thwart Doherty, who fell 8.8s off second place.

Michael Boyle also had brake troubles, but he still occupied fourth.

Elsewhere, Cal McCarthy's fine run ended when his Citroen experienced an electrical issue (master switch) on Ring (twice) and on Kilbrittain that forced him out. He re-joined under Super Rally, his tenth place was inherited by another local, Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin, who was of the opinion that his stage times didn't reflect his efforts.

The afternoon stages at Dunworley and Clogagh were expected to provide a different type of challenge. They duly did and armed with the confidence generated from his morning's performance, Moffett began to stretch his legs and his lead.

Doherty finally began to show improved form and less troubled by the brakes, he slotted into second 22.2s behind Moffett and 5.3s ahead of Devine. Doherty's liking for the Dunworley test provided his second stage win as Moffett signed off on an impressive day with his fifth stage win and an overnight lead of 21.1s.

Matthew Boyle was forced to stop and change a punctured wheel just after the fourth corner of Dunworley before he ended the day in 20th, the repeat of the same stage saw his brother Michael crash out of the rally. At the overnight locals Cronin and David Guest (Ford Fiesta Rally2) were ninth and tenth respectively.

On Sunday, the top three each took a stage win on the first loop of stages at Ballinacarriga, Sam's Cross and Ardfield. Conditions were mixed with showers on the first pair of stages making for tricky conditions.

Shane Quinn spun and crashed out on the Sam's Cross stage with damage just cosmetic as he withdrew at the stage finish. The stage interruption time given to a number of competitors caught in the stage blockage.

Moffett arrived at the final service with a 26.1s lead. "I'm taking no chances, just on a steady pace." Doherty in second was 6.5s ahead of Devine.

As Moffett backed off slightly to ensure a safe passage to victory Devine, with a more astute tyre choice, was quickest on the three stages of final loop to edge out Doherty for second place.

Donegal's David Kelly (Skoda), Jersey's Sam Touzel (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Donegal's Declan Boyle (Skoda) rounded out the top six.

Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) was the top local driver in eighth with Clonakilty's David Guest (Ford Fiesta rally2) ninth. Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney and Barryroe co-driver Dylan Doonan (Ford Escort Cosworth) won the Historic category.

Meanwhile, Japan's Katsuta Takamoto and his Fermanagh co-driver Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) won the Safari Rally Kenya.

Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally (Round 2, Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Clonakilty

Positions after Day 1

1 J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 1h. 57m. 15.6s

2, C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+9.9s

3. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+15.2s

4. D. Kelly/S. Buckley (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 41.5s

5. S. Touzel/M. Freeman (Ford Fiesta rally2)+3m. 39.6s

6. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+3m. 48.7s

7. R. Loughran/D. McGettigan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+4m. 14.7s

8. D. Cronin/P. O'Donovan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+7m. 38.0s

9. D. Guest/S. Quin (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+8m. 34.6s