Round 5: Samdec Security Services Lakeland Stages Rally, 6 September

Donagh Kelly was victorious on the Lakeland Stages Rally, the fifth round of this year’s championship.

Kelly spent the early stages acclimatising with local co-driver Mark Cassidy, while Josh Moffett streaked into the lead in a newly built Group A Lancer Evo 9. Kelly moved ahead on SS3 but Moffett wasn’t finished and promptly moved in front again, commanding a five-second advantage after six of the eight stages.

It was a surprise that Moffett was leading, with a heavy testing accident the previous night having entailed an all-night rebuild, but the car cried enough on stage seven and Kelly cruised to victory. Desi Henry eventually climbed to second place, with Martin Cairns third.

Results1 Donagh Kelly / Mark Cassidy (Mini Cooper WRC) 43m36s2 Desi Henry / Liam Moynihan (Mitsubishi Evo 9) +33s3 Martin Cairns / Kevin Flanagan (Subaru Impreza S14) +43s