Josh Moffett snatches maiden Ulster Rally victory after dramatic late twist

Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty began Saturday's leg of six stages with a 6.2s advantage over Moffett.

Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) won the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, the penultimate round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Picture: Martin Walsh.

A skitter of rain during the final loop of stages of the Ballymena based golden jubilee Modern Tyres Ulster Rally had a silver lining for Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who took the lead for the first time on the penultimate stage and went on to claim their first Ulster Rally success, finishing just three seconds in front of long time leaders Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty and Limerick's Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). The Tyrone/Fermanagh duo of Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) were a minute and 32.1s further behind in third.

Doherty began Saturday's leg of six stages with a 6.2s advantage over Moffett. On the morning's first stage (Tardree) Moffett cut the deficit to 2.1s. That margin remained after the completion of the loop where both beat the bogey times for the stages at Cairncastle near Larne and Broughshane close to Ballymena. It was a frustrating experience for all concerned given the level of performance where even fractions of a second were significant.

Doherty reckoned his pacenotes were not brave enough on the day's first stage as he needed to be "flat out." The race for third also intensified as Carryduff's Jonny Greer (Toyota Yaris Rally2) piled on the pressure on McCourt, who admitted things didn't click on SS7 and he backed off over the jumps on SS8. Having moved ahead of McCourt on SS8, Greer had issues at the virtual chicane on SS9 and arrived at the final service just a tenth of a second behind.

With the possibility of beating the bogey times on the final two stages, the repeat of the Tardree stage (SS10) took on an extra significance. However, a change in the conditions altered the narrative. The road surface became damp as they progressed with Moffett winning the stage and moving to within 1.7s of Doherty. On the penultimate stage the road surface was a mixture of dry, damp and wet. Moffett pushed hard and moved into the lead for the very first time - four seconds ahead of Doherty. McCourt and Greer tied for third.

Monaghan's Josh Moffett (right) and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) won the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, the penultimate round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Although Doherty made a brave bid, Moffett went on to claim a three second victory, his first in Ulster and the advantage ahead of the final round Cork "20" Rally championship decider in late September. Reflecting on his victory Moffett said, "Yes, I guess the change in conditions helped, only for it, both of us would have ended up with the bogey times which would have been a dull enough end to the rally. Fair play to the lads (Doherty/Murphy) they pushed so hard all weekend, they were going very hard." 

Having led until the penultimate stage Doherty said, "We didn't have the experience on that second last stage. Josh (Moffett) did it a few years ago in the wet, look, it is what it is, definitely disappointed more than anything else, Josh and Andy drove a great rally as well." 

McCourt won the battle for third from Greer with Jersey's Sam Touzel securing fifth ahead of British driver Mark Kelly, both in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars.

In the Ulster International Rally, a round of the European Historic Rally Championship, Donegal's Eamonn Kelly (BMW M3) took an impressive victory, finishing a minute and 46.4s ahead of the similar car of Welsh driver Tomas Davies with Killarney's Alan Ring (Subaru 555) a minute and 16.2s further behind.

Meanwhile, Moffett/Hayes also won yesterday's (Sunday) DJD Transport Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally to move into the lead of the Irish Forest Rally Championship. They finished 19.9s ahead of their championship rivals Mark Donnelly/Martin Brady (VW Polo GTi R5) with Omagh's Niall McCullagh and Monaghan's Conor Mohan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) some 11.7s further behind in third.

Moffett led all through with Vivian Hamill (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who was only a fraction of a second behind after SS3 and 5.1s after SS4 retiring with mechanical issues.

Earlier, title contender Claudy's Jordan Hone (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) retired with steering trouble. Moffett now leads all three Irish Rally Championships.

Elsewhere, Kesh native Jon Armstrong (Ford Fiesta Rally2) won the Grampian Rally in Scotland where he finished 9.3s ahead of the similar car of Estonian Romet Jürgenson.

Osian Pryce (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2),who was third, annexed top points in the British Rally Championship after overcoming pop-off valve issues. Max McRae (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) completed the BRC podium.

Modern Tyres Ulster Rally (Irish Tarmac Rally Championship; European Historic Rally Championship) Ballymena: 1. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 1h. 20m. 09.3s; 2. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+03.0s; 3. C. McCourt/B. McNulty(Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 35.1s; 4. J. Greer/N. Burns (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+1m. 40.1s; 5. S. Touzel/M. Freeman (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 57.4s; 6. M. Kelly/W. Atkins (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+3m. 21.5s; 7. J. Black/K. Egan (Toyota Starlet)+5m. 00.4s; 8. N. Henry/P. Ward (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+5m. 48.2s; 9. P. McToal/C. O'Loan (Ford Escort)+6m. 46.7s; 10. L. McFall/I. Lamont (Ford Fiesta)+8m. 18.9s.

Historics (EHRC): 1. E. Kelly/R. Kennedy (BMW M3 E30) 1h. 29m. 40.0s; 2. T. Davies/E. Davies (BMW M3 E30)+1m. 46.4s; 3. A. Ring/A. Deasy (Subaru Impreza 555)+3m. 02.6s; 4. R. Breen/D. Morrissey (Subaru Legacy)+3m. 18.9; 5. E. Graham/A. Graham (BMW M3 E30)+4m. 30.4s; 6. W. Graham/K. Graham (BMW M3 E30)+55m. 10.3s.

Juniors: 1. A. Reid/C. Reid (Honda Civic) 44m. 57.5s; 2. J. McLaughlin/R. McAleer (Nissan Micra)+2m. 47.4s; 3. C. Corry/J. Kelly (Nissan Micra)+4m. 31.8s.

Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally (Irish Forest Rally Championship) Quitrent Mountain, Kildorrery: 1. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5) 39m. 13.3s; 2. M. Donnelly/M. Brady (VW Polo GTi R5)+19.9s; 3. N. McCullagh/C. Mohan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+31.6; 4. D. Condell/M. Coady (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+44.4s; 5. S. Dickson/B.Teggart (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+51.0s; 6. G. Mimnagh/J Barry McCarney (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+57.8s; 7. J. Burke/L. Moore (VW Polo GTi R5)+1m. 10.8s; 8. J. Brennan/M. McGeehan (Ford Fiesta R3)+2m. 05.8s; 9. S. Moore/T. McHugh (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 08.4s; 10. M. O'Brien/J. Cotter (Ford Fiesta RS Rally2)+2m. 43.1s.

Voly Grampian Forest Rally (British Rally Championship) Banchory, Scotland: 1. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 52m. 07.5s; 2. R. Jurgenson/S. Oja (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+09.3s; 3. N. Gryazin/K. Aleksandrov (Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally2)+39.6s; 3. O. Pryce/J. Morgan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+51.7s; 4. Yohan Rossel/A. Dunand +(Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally2)+1m. 05.4s; 5. B. Semenuk/R. Whittock (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 11.0s; 6. M. McRae/C. Fair (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 17.8s; 7. M. Evans/D. Furniss (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+1m. 19.1s.