The Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship makes a welcome return to County Mayo this weekend. Event rotation rules mean it is two years since the Triton Showers series last visited the county. On that occasion, the Mayo Stages Rally was based in Claremorris, but it is all of eight years since the series was last headquartered in Ballina, the host town for this weekend’s action. Leading the capacity 150-car entry is defending Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Champions, Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty. Back in 2022 Monaghan’s Moffett and his Limerick co-driver Keith Moriarty took a start-to-finish victory on the McHugh’s Service Station Mayo Rally, in their Hyundai i20 R5. They have switched to Citroen C3 Rally2 for the 2024 campaign and finished third on the Galway International Rally last month. A notable absence is last year’s runners-up, Calum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan in their Volkswagen Polo R5. This opens the door for Desi Henry and his Scottish co-driver Stewart Loudon. Also, Citroen mounted, Henry made his Irish National Rally championship debut at the ALMC Rally in Oldcastle last August and promised at the time he would be back for more as the one-day format suited his work schedule. He was right in the mix of the Galway Citroen battle last month and will be fighting hard for their share of the championship spoils at the end of Sunday’s eight stages. Sam Moffett and James O'Reilly start at four in their usual Hyundai I20 R5, one place ahead of another Citroen driver and former triple champion Declan Boyle and his Welsh co-driver Patrick Walsh. Daniel Cronin and Donnchadh Burke return for a second craic at the National title in their Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. Highlights last season included a third-place finish on their home Fastnet Rally and a win on the non-championship Wexford Rally. Michael Boyle and Dermot McCafferty start at six and will pilot the second Polo R5 in the top ten. A maiden podium is surely on the cars, this season, for the Donegal crew, after several top-five finishes in 2023. Cork crew David Guest and Jonathan McGrath made sporadic National appearances last year in their Ford Fiesta Rally2. It is a busy period for the West Cork-based crew as their home international rally is just weeks after Mayo. Tommy Doyle and Liam Moynihan also made sporadic National appearances in their Hyundai I20 R5 but when they do they are always in the mix and are certainly a crew to keep an eye on. The top ten is completed by two drivers who have made the switch from Ford Escort Mk2 power to four-wheel-drive machinery in recent times. Defending Irish Tarmac Modified champions Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy have entered in a Skoda Fabia R5 and Gary Kiernan and John McCabe appear in the Ford Fiesta R5 that they debuted in Galway last month. The modified section is headed by the Darrian T90 GTR of Kevin Gallagher and Ryan Moore. The defending champions put in some giant-killing performances last season, particularly on the faster and drier rallies. They will followed by quick Escort crews like Mark Alcorn /Darren O’Brien and Damien Tourish / Domhnall McAlaney.
The Mayo Rally gets underway with a ceremonial start in Ballina town centre on Saturday at 7 pm. Motorsport Ireland will launch its road safety mission and announce two new ‘Keep the Race in its Place’ ambassadors on the start ramp just ahead of the main opening event. The rally is based at The Great National Hotel in Ballina and will start at 830 on Sunday morning. The first car is due at the finish ramp at 530pm on Sunday evening.
Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Championship Rounds 2024
1. Mayo Stages Rally 3rd March
2. Monaghan Stages Rally 7th April
3. Birr Stages Rally 21st April
4. Carlow Stages Rally 19th May
5. Circuit of Munster 2nd June
6. Stonethrowers Rally 14th July
7. Galway Summer Stages 1st September
8. Donegal Harvest Rally 12th October
All those attending the Mayo Stages Rally this weekend are asked to stay safe and adhere to all safety instructions
