A VERY well-organised Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally created its own piece of rally history – Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes took their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to its first-ever victory within the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC).

Without a victory in a round of the series since his last success in Clonakilty three years ago, Moffett led from the start of the event, as he powered the Japanese marque up Barrack Hill in the heart of the award-winning town on Friday night.

Moffett makes no secret that he likes the Clonakilty event; both he and co-driver Andy Hayes frequently comment about the great welcome they receive in West Cork.

It was extra special on Sunday evening as they sprayed the champagne in Emmet Square following their start-to-finish victory on the three-day, 16-stage event, the second round of the ITRC.

They finished 9.9 seconds ahead of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Derry's Callum Devine and his Killarney co-driver Noel O'Sullivan, who edged out fellow Skoda crew Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty and Limerick's Tom Murphy on the final stage to claim second, 5.3 seconds ahead of their rivals.

Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin and his Ladysbridge co-driver Padraig O'Donovan, aboard their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, were the top Cork crew – they finished eighth overall. Clonakilty's David Guest (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Bandon's Stephen Quin were ninth in the general classification.

Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney and Barryroe co-driver Dylan Doonan won the Clonakilty Park Hotel Historic West Cork Rally. Ardfield co-driver Gary Lombard partnered Ladysbridge driver Darragh Walsh (Honda Civic) to victory in the Junior category.

Meanwhile, in the main event, locals that took class wins were Bandon's Donie O'Brien and Drinagh's Ciaran Daly (Vauxhall Nova) in Class 9; Clonakilty's David Jennings/David Jennings Jr. (Ford Escort) in Class 10 and The Pike's Eamonn McCarthy (Honda Civic) in Class 11F.

Monaghan's Josh Moffett (right) and Wexford's Andy Hayes with the TP Houlihan Trophy at the finish in Emmet Square. (Photo: Martin Walsh)

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Fastest times on Friday night's pair of stages gave Moffett a slim lead of 2.2 seconds over Doherty with the in-form Callum Devine 3.5 seconds further behind in third. While the margin was small, it was a confidence-booster for the Monaghan driver.

Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) was the highest placed local, co-driven by Rosscarbery's Eric Calnan; he held tenth overnight. Daniel Cronin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) was 13th, and David Guest (Ford Fiesta Rally2), who stalled at the start line of the town stage, was one place behind.

On Saturday's opening four stages – a double run over Ring and Kilbrittain – Moffett continued to set a strong pace. With three stage wins he moved 8.9 seconds ahead as Devine moved into second, albeit 0.4 of a second ahead of Doherty, who was concerned that a spongy brake pedal that manifested itself just after Ring village on the morning's opening stage. Devine acknowledged Moffett's pace as he declared that he needed to find some speed.

Having finished seventh overnight, Donegal's Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) quickly made inroads to hold fourth place; he remarked that the rear of the car was somewhat errant. Out in his new Ford Fiesta Rally2, Jersey's Sam Touzel was fifth with sixth-placed Matthew Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) clipping a chicane bale on Ring.

Skodas continued to dominate the leaderboard as those of Declan Boyle, David Kelly and Ryan Loughran filled the next three places. Cal McCarthy continued to uphold local honour – he was tenth. He opined that the tyres had lost their efficiency by the end of the Ring stage but were alright for a slippery and mucky Kilbrittain stage where he was one of a number of drivers to receive a notional time after Cathan McCourt had an off-road excursion in his Skoda Fabia.

Daniel Cronin, a place and 13.6 seconds behind, remarked: ‘I'm going hard but the times are poor.’ David Guest was 12th, as he admitted he was too cautious on Ring.

Both stages were repeated with Devine setting the fastest time on Ring where Moffett had some intercom woes before going on to punch in the best time on Kilbrittain to move 9.5 seconds ahead. Doherty's progress was blighted by a continuation of his brake problems and he dropped 8.8 seconds off second-placed Devine. Brake troubles also surfaced for Michael Boyle, however he retained fourth.

Unfortunately, Cal McCarthy's great run came to an end with an electrical issue (master switch) that manifested itself twice on the Ring stage where it cut out at a chicane (losing ten seconds), again at the stage finish and once in Kilbrittain that sidelined his Citroen C3 Rally2. He later re-joined on SS9 under Super Rally.

Cronin became the new incumbent of tenth place and felt his performance was getting better. Guest was 12th as he quipped: ‘I would like to be faster’.

Moffett began to stamp his authority on the rally and by the conclusion of the stages at Dunworley and Clogagh, he more than doubled his lead that stood at 22.2 seconds. Doherty became his closest rival, moving into second after the first run through Clogagh.

On the second run at Dunworley, Michael Boyle crashed out while his younger brother Matthew had to stop and change a punctured wheel some four corners into the stage.

Ending the day with a 21.1-second advantage over Doherty with Devine a further 8.5 seconds behind, Moffett remarked: ‘It's all good so far, we're on a steady pace.’ Donegal's David Kelly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) held fourth overnight; he was untroubled all day with the exception of a spin on SS4.

Cronin (having changed the rear dampers to try and make the car more stable) and Guest (who had to contend with a loose hub) were ninth and tenth respectively at the overnight halt.

Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and his Ladysbridge co-driver Padraig O'Donovan finished eighth. (Photo: Martin Walsh)

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Cold, windy and showery conditions on Sunday brought a marked change in the conditions for the double loop over the stages at Ballinacarriga, Sam's Cross and Ardfield.

Doherty posted the best time on Ballinacarriga to increase his lead over Devine to 10.1 seconds as Moffett began to measure his performance. Despite the element of caution, the Monaghan driver was still quickest on Sam's Cross to increase his lead to 22.3 seconds.

Devine was the pacesetter through Ardfield as he cut the deficit to Doherty to 6.5 seconds. Moffett arrived at the final service with a lead of 26.1 seconds – the biggest lead margin throughout the weekend.

On the way to the final loop and with blue skies emerging, Doherty knew he had made the wrong tyre choice. By the time he had finished the penultimate stage (Sam's Cross 2), Devine was only half a second shy of the Kilkenny driver, who changed to a harder compound tyre for the final run of Ardfield that was set to decide the podium places.

Devine also won that stage to secure the runner-up spot, demoting Doherty to third, 5.3 seconds behind. All the time Moffett/Hayes had managed their pace perfectly to secure what was their third victory in Clonakilty and a famous first for the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

The last time a Toyota won a round of the ITRC was in 2006 when Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely won the Ulster Rally in a Toyota Corolla WRC.

The top six was completed by Donegal's David Kelly (Skoda), Jersey's Sam Touzel (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Donegal's Declan Boyle (Skoda). Cronin and Guest finished eighth and ninth respectively. Having re-joined under Super Rally, Cal McCarthy and co-driver Eric Calnan (Citroen C3 Rally2) were classified 20th overall.