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| 13-08-2023: Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan, in their VW Polo GTI R5, in action on SS6 Mullahmeen, during the ALMC Helfire Stages Rally. Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Picture: Barry Cregg. |
The ALMC
Motor Club where hosts for round six of the Triton Showers National Rally
Championship. The Hellfire Stages Rally was based in Oldcastle in county Meath
on Sunday. All of the sports top crews were out in force to tackle the loop of
three stages which would be run three times each. Irelands top two drivers in
Callum Devine and Josh Moffett would once again be the ones to beat as both men
are going for the championship.
Devine
would be out in his trusty VW Polo while Moffett would be out in the newer
version of the Hyundai i20. Since he switched to it, he has had to work hard on
setup to feel comfortable in the car. While a win in the Ravens Rock rally
brought maximum championship points, Devine was not out that day and has since
won the Cork 20 International last weekend.
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| 13-08-2023: Desi Henry and Shane Byrne, in their Citroen DS3 Rally 2, in action on SS6 Mullahmeen, during the ALMC Helfire Stages Rally. Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Picture: Barry Cregg. |
The weather
brought mixed conditions, dry for the most part but some heavy showers would
fall during the day, making tyre choice a nightmare for the drivers. Devine
came out of the blocks first setting fastest time on the opening stage. Behind him it wasn’t Moffett chasing him
down. Desi Henry in his Citroen DS3 was also quick out of the blocks and lay in
second with Moffet in third with Gareth McHale in fourth. His best showing this
year so far and getting closer to the time of the men in front of him.
After
completing the first stage on the final loop 7 seconds cover the top three with
only 0.6 between Devine and Henry. It was turning into one of the best and
closest rallies of the year with all the crews complementing the stages and how
the were enjoying them even with showers falling on certain parts of them at
times. Moffett was happy with the dry setup of his car now but not in the wet
which was costing him time. Devine pulled out a further two seconds on the
penultimate stage, Lough Bán, over Henri, but anything can happen in rallying,
and it was all to play for going into the final stage.
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| 13-08-2023: Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarity, in their Hyundai i20 R5, in action on SS6 Mullahmeen, during the ALMC Helfire Stages Rally. Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Picture: Barry Cregg. |
Try as he might Henri could only take 0.2 seconds out of Devine to win the stage but not the rally. Devine held on and showed his growing maturity to withstand such pressure to take his second win of the championship.
It was
magic rallying in what is a new golden era for the sport with so many top-level
cars competing in Ireland, and by young drivers too. It certainly bodes well
for the future. Next weekend sees the crews back out for the Irish Tarmac
Championship final round at the Ulster Rally.
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