The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is perfectly poised heading to it's biggest event of the year.
Round five, the Donegal International Rally. International, modified, historic, and junior categories have been at their unpredictable best. Each are all to play for with three rounds remaining.
Several crews have staked a strong claim on the coveted Irish Tarmac title. Last year's champions, Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes, have consistently recorded podium finishes. Once again leading the championship heading to Donegal.
Driving the same Hyundai i20 R5 which brought them success on the Donegal International Rally 12-months ago. Moffett and Hayes have only managed one victory from ITRC's first four rounds. They had no answer to Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson's searing Sunday speed on Galway's Irish Tarmac opener.
A couple of errors meant Moffett had to settle for second on round one. However, it wasn't long until he rekindled his form. Moffett jumped to the top of the Samdec Security Irish Tarmac standings after an assured West Cork Rally victory.
The south coast success proved, his dated Hyundai still had winning potential at the hands of the on-the-limit Monaghan man. A repeat of Moffett's dramatic Donegal win, would make him a strong favourite for his third Irish Tarmac title.
Managing to do the Donegal double is not going to be simple, however. Especially with 2022's long-term rally leader, Callum Devine, coming into form at a dangerous time in the season. Devine and co-driver, Noel O'Sullivan, struggled to make things work aboard their Volkswagen Polo R5 in both Galway and West Cork.
Season Challenges
That lack of pace left them languishing outside Irish Tarmac's top positions and wondering whether they had any chance of challenging for this season's silverware. Two seriously impressive April performances on the Circuit of Ireland and Rally of the Lakes, secured a brace of maximum scores. That was invaluable for a championship chase.
The Derry-Kerry duo's rapid run in Donegal came to a gutting end after colliding with a baled chicane on the final day of last year's rally. They know they have the pace to add Donegal to the list of their recent victories. Knowing a repeat of last year's result could bid their Tarmac hunt farewell. Meirion Evans will be hoping to bounce back from his disappointing retirement on Killarney's Rally of the Lakes.
The Welshman was gathering some momentum on Saturday's Beara Peninsula tests, when a roll on Cod's Head put him out of the running. Evans and Jackson's campaign got off to the best possible start with a stylish victory on the Galway International Rally.
They'll crave a Donegal International Rally challenge and with their pace increasing across Ireland, you'd be foolish to put them out of the running.
