Motorsport: In-form Josh Moffett gearing up for Birr Rally

Victory in the West Cork Rally was the first in his new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026 - 12:28

Martin Walsh

Monaghan's Josh Moffett isn't getting carried away with his recent West Cork Rally victory, the first in his new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, but the prospect that it will trigger further momentum on Sunday's Birr Rally is a real possibility.

The four-time national champion headlines the capacity entry for the Nenagh-based event as the Birr Motor Club celebrates its 50th anniversary.

"Yes, we were certainly happy with our pace for West Cork. I suppose we wondered there for a long time if we still had the pace and now, thankfully, with the new car things seem to be starting to go the right way for us.

Look, we are not going to get too hopeful with one good result, we know we are going to have to work hard and keep pushing hard and continue that pace."

Run by TGM (Tom Gahan Motorsport), Moffett will aim for the maximum brace of 20 championship points along with the single Power Stage point from the nine-stage event, the second round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

He knows there are no easy wins in rallying.

"It's hard to say, obviously everybody in the top ten would really like to win the event, they are all good competitors. Michael Boyle has shown great pace all year, he's just unlucky with punctures and different things but I would say he's definitely one to watch, also Desi Henry and while he hasn't been out in a while, he's equally very fast when he gets going."

Not lacking in seat time, Moffett is even planning to compete in the Irish Forest Championship, that continues with the Moonraker Rally on April 18 next.

"The forestry is something that I wanted to get back to for many years. I just thought this year, obviously I have been doing the Tarmac and the National for many years, that I would try and give the Forest Championship a go as well with the anticipation if one of the three don't go that well for whatever reason, I would pull out but its early days in all three championships, we will continue with all three and see how it goes."

Identifying Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) as a major challenger is a fine assessment by Moffett. The Donegal driver, who finished off last season with an impressive winning treble - Wexford, Cork 20 and Fastnet rallies, had strong pace in both Galway, Mayo and West Cork but failed to finish for a variety of reasons - should be at the cutting edge in North Tipperary and get his national bid off the ground.

Derry's Desi Henry (Ford Fiesta Rally2) could be the dark horse and while his outings are sporadic, his pace is never in doubt.

The trio of Donegal drivers Declan Boyle, Matthew Boyle and Kevin Eves are all aboard Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars, the latter on his debut in the Czech machine. The top ten also includes the Ford Fiesta Rally2 duo of Tyrone's Jason Dickson and Longford's Shane Quinn.

Hoping to rediscover some decent form Daniel Cronin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) starts at number nine followed by Maynooth's Paul Barrett (Citroen C3 Rally2). The day's first stage begins at 9.30pm.

The rally is also a counting round of the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship, the MI Junior Rally series and the Stellantis Rally Cup Ireland, the latter promoted by Race & Rally and supported by Michelin Motorsport. The series has €3,000 in parts vouchers on offer at each round with a funded drive in the Hungarian Zemplén Rally and a test in the Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally2 awaiting the overall winner of the six event series.

Top 10

Meanwhile, the top 10 seeds for the McKinney Competitions Circuit of Ireland Rally that gets underway next Friday (April 3) are listed as follows:

140. Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2);

1. William Creighton (Citroen C3 Rally2);

2. Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2);

5. Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2);

3. Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2);

4. David Kelly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2);

6. Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2);

14. Sam Touzel (Ford Fiesta Rally2);

7. Ryan Loughran (Ford Fiesta Rally2);

8. Cathan McCourt (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2).