Devine and O’Sullivan are second seeds for this weekend’s Wilton’s Donegal Internatonal Rally

The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is perfectly poised heading to its biggest event of the year, round five, the Donegal International Rally. International, Modified, Historic, and Junior categories have been at their unpredictable best and each are all to play for with three rounds remaining.
Several crews have staked a strong claim on the coveted Irish Tarmac title but last year’s champions, Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes, have consistently recorded podium finishes to once again lead the championship heading to Donegal.
Driving the same Hyundai i20 R5 that 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 but it wasn’t long until he rekindled his form.
Moffett jumped to the top of the Samdec Security Irish Tarmac standings after an assured victory on the West Cork Rally. The south coast success proved that 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 this time around 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. That lack of pace left the 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 are 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 but will know that 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.
Robert Barrable is another dark horse who could well spring a surprise this June. The Dubliner has adjusted well to his Citroen C3 Rally2 – narrowly missing out on victories in West Cork and Killarney.
Barrable’s circuit-racing style could well shine through on the fast stages north of Letterkenny. If they do, he’ll be in with a chance of turning the 2023 Irish Tarmac Championship into a four-horse race.
Donegal Rally winners, Sam Moffett, Garry Jennings, and Declan Boyle, have shown glimpses of their spine-tingling speed this year and join a host of top names capable of winning Ireland’s only three-day rally.
Matt Edwards and David Moynihan have once again thrown their names in the hat for Donegal honour this year, hiring a Volkswagen Polo R5 for June’s epic three-day event.

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