Moffett & O’Reilly win Jim Walsh Forest Rally at Mallow
Monaghan’s multiple rally champion Sam Moffett and his co-driver James O’Reilly improved on their overnight second place to take victory in the Cork MC CFF Group Jim Walsh Forest Rally at Mallow yesterday, bringing their Fiesta R5 to the finish 21 seconds ahead of Saturday evening leaders Barry McKenna and Andy Hayes in another Fiesta.
McKenna, also from Monaghan, won this rally last year with a different co-driver, and led by seven seconds after the first day. However, Moffett upped his pace yesterday and was well clear by the last of the fourteen stages.
James Wilson, the holder of the Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year Award, had a good run in a Hyundai i20 to finish third on only his second drive in a powerful R5 car, while fourth for Cathan McCourt’s Fiesta gives the Tyrone driver the lead in the Valvoline National Forestry Championship with just one round left.
Round 5 winners Barry McKenna & Andy Hayes in a Ford Fiesta R5 courtesy of Ger Leahy
