Latest news with #Rally2
Belfast Telegraph
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Callum Devine on course to complete hat-trick at Donegal International Rally
A winner of the Irish Tarmac Championship fixture in 2023 and again in 2024, the Claudy man is aiming to emulate Cathal Curley (1972-1974), Billy Coleman (1984-1986), and the late Manus Kelly who dominated his home meeting between 2016 and 2018 respectively. Devine was quickest out of the blocks on yesterday's 'Malin Head' opener in his Michelin-shod Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, with that setting the tone for much of the Friday leg. 'I am happy enough with how the first leg has gone, it has been a very good day,' reflected Devine, who provisionally leads by 12.4 seconds. 'The speed and times are both there. 'The pace is fast – as fast as it has been all year, actually – and it is nice to be in the mix. The priority now is to ensure we get a good rest overnight because Saturday is a big day.' Although he did not record quickest times on each of the six stages, Devine was able to move into a comfortable lead as some big Rally2 names suffered unexpected setbacks. Event debutant Hayden Paddon was fifth after the opening loop in his C&M Motorsport Hyundai i20 N Rally2 having reported a moment on stage one, a trip into a ditch on two, and a set-up that left the Korean supermini nervous over the bumps and jumps on three. Despite this, and revealing his car felt underpowered for Friday's closing two runs, his time competing in the sport's top tier came to the fore as he vaulted up to second place. 'We are not in the window with the car – it has been challenging but it has also been enjoyable,' the New Zealander said. The battle for third-position is also finely poised but it is Welshman Meirion Evans that currently enjoys the upper-hand over Castrol MEM driving-mate William Creighton who was happier with the ride of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 as he arrived the overnight halt. M-Sport Ford driver Jon Armstrong set the same time as Devine on 'Malin Head' and led after the second test before his works-supported M-Sport Ford Fiesta was struck down with driveshaft failure, leaving it with front-wheel-drive for the seven miles of 'Coolcross'. That demoted him to ninth overall, however, with his car repaired by mechanics at service in Letterkenny, he went on to win two of the afternoon stages to pass Josh Moffett for fifth. Saturday's action comprises four loops of two stages, with the first – the 7.45-miles of 'High Glen' – scheduled to get underway just before 10 o'clock in the morning.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
William Creighton knows there's no room for error at Donegal International Rally
Moira man Creighton and his Belfast co-driver Liam Regan have landed a starting place for the fourth round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in their Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris Rally2 thanks to ongoing support from sponsors and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. The pair tackled the event 12 months ago, albeit on opposite sides of the car and purely for fun, but this time around, they return expecting to challenge many of the top Rally2 seeds, including defending Champion Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), the Moffett brothers — Sam and Josh — and Jon Armstrong, who arrives fresh from a podium finish in Poland as part of his FIA European Rally Championship campaign. Added spice comes in the form of New Zealander and two-time FIA European Rally Champion Hayden Paddon, who is deputising for Matt Edwards in a C&M Motorsport-run Hyundai i20 N Rally2. 'The pace at the front of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is very strong,' said Creighton, who makes his first competitive outing as a driver on Irish soil since the West Cork Rally last March. 'There is no room for error, and it is important to find a good rhythm from the beginning of the rally — but that is what makes the Donegal Rally such a brilliant challenge. 'This is a rally that I have always wanted to contest in a Rally2 car — it is such a special event for Irish rallying, and the atmosphere is second to none. To be competing on such an iconic event, on home ground, with the support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and in the Castrol GR Yaris really means a lot. 'I think Donegal will be a huge test, not just because of the pace of the competition, but the intensity of the rally and how much the local knowledge comes into play. I did the rally last year, but in the co-driver's seat of Liam's Skoda — this will be a world away from that. Either way, I am really looking forward to enjoying the weekend and putting on a show for the fans.' Creighton's appearance at the Letterkenny-based event is also going to serve as a useful warm-up for the next asphalt round of the Probite British Rally Championship, which the 27-year-old has made winning the priority this season. After the first three rounds, he provisionally leads the way with Castrol MEM Rally team-mate Meirion Evans. Next up in the BRC is August's Grampian Forest Stages Rally before the action switches to Rali Ceredigion in Wales. 'This is a great opportunity for me, both in terms of contesting such an iconic rally and in staying sharp during the gap in the BRC schedule,' was Creighton's assessment. 'Three days in Donegal offers very useful seat-time ahead of our next asphalt BRC round at Rali Ceredigion later in the summer. 'It is a huge boost to be back behind the wheel and to do it on Irish soil, I am grateful to the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and the team for making it happen.'
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Reigning champions Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes claim victory at Cavan Rally
Reigning national champions Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes took a start to finish victory in the Cavan Rally, the third round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship. Another of the Moffett siblings, Sam (Hyundai i20 N Rally2), who was co-driven by Killarney's Shane Buckley, finished 18.2s behind after they edged out the Donegal duo of Kevin Eves/Chris Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2) by 3.7s on the final stage. Changeable weather conditions made it difficult as Josh Moffett coped best and with a trio of fastest times on the first loop, he led Sam by 15.7s with Eves, with one of his best performances since switching to Rally2, just two seconds further behind in third. Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty had a huge moment over a jump on the opening stage (where Sam Moffett also had a similar moment), a spin on the second stage and a time loss on SS3, saw him down in fifth - 24.3s off top spot. Michael Boyle was the first major retirement when his Skoda Fabia Rally2 slid off and crashed into a tree during the opening stage. The stage interruption rule was implemented on SS4 when the services were called to the assistance of Kesh driver Garry Jennings and his co-driver Brian Hoy when their Ford Fiesta Rally2 crashed heavily. Meanwhile, the top three of Josh and Sam Moffett and Eves each took a stage win as Josh led the family battle by 19.1s. Rain showers continued to make tyre choice a lottery and while Josh Moffett maintained a good lead, his brother Sam lost second place to a charging Eves, who entered the final stage just 1.4s ahead of his rival, who was determined to regain second and win the Power Stage to reduce his brother's haul of championship points, he managed to achieve both. Barrable and Doherty (who retains the lead of the series - three points ahead of Sam Moffett) completed the top five. In the Maiden City rally in Derry, Strabane's Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) took a 5.9s victory over the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Kesh driver Garry Jennings with Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi), who led for two stages, finishing 9.2s further behind in third. In wet conditions, Caldwell led Jennings by 1.2s on the first stage where Kelly was 2.3s off top spot in third. With a stage win on SS2 and despite issues with the wipers on SS3, Kelly led Jennings by 3.9s as Caldwell slipped to third - 5.7s off the lead. However, Caldwell was back in the lead after SS4, the second running of Bigwood, where he excelled once more, taking 5.1s out of Jennings to lead by 3.3s as the latter made some set-up changes. Kelly (third) had an overshoot. The top three order remained unchanged to the finish as Caldwell netted his first victory on tarmac surface. Donegal's Michael Boyle, debuting the Skoda Fabia RS Rally previously campaigned by his father Declan, was fourth with top seed Desi Henry, who switched to a Ford Fiesta Rally2, took a stage win on his way to fifth. Sadly, the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland was curtailed following a tragic accident on Saturday's second stage (SS8) that claimed the life of Welsh co-driver Dai Roberts. The organisers cancelled the remaining stages of the event (Round three of the British Rally Championship) and also the Reivers Rally that was scheduled to take place yesterday (Sunday). The 39 year old co-driver, whose brother Gareth (Jaffa) passed away in an accident at the 2012 Targa Florio Rally in Sicily, was co-driving for fellow Welshman James Williams (Hyundai i20 rally2) when they crashed on the first run of the Edrom stage. Williams was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious but not life-threatening injuries. In motor racing, Offaly's Alex Dunne crashed out of the F2 feature race in Monaco on Sunday morning. Starting in pole position Victor Martins raced into the lead as they headed into Turn 1. As Martins turned the first corner, the front of Dunne's car speared into the side of his Martins' car that resulted in both spinning into the outside barrier. Some nine other drivers were caught in the ensuing pile up and the race was red flagged. Seven drivers including Dunne and Martins were forced to retire. When the race re-started, Jak Crawford took the chequered flag. The event stewards gave Dunne a grid penalty of ten places on qualifying at next week's Spanish Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Cork driver Robert Cronin secured his maiden victory in the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta Championship at Oulton Park on Saturday afternoon. The Ballylickey driver, who started from P2 in his Elite Motorsport run Ginetta was quickly into the lead, edging out polesitter Jack Collins just before the first corner and went on to take the chequered flag as Cronin's team mate Harry Gamble took second place with a brave move on the final lap. Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally (Round 3 Triton Showers National Rally Championship) Cavan: 1. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5) 59m.17.0s; 2. S. Moffett/S. Buckley (Hyundai i20 Rally2)+18.2s; 3. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+21.9s; 4. R. Barrable/P. Robinson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+31.6s; 5. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5)+51.2s; 6. D. Henry/N. Burns (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 23.9s; 7. R. Loughran/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 26.5s; 8. P. Barrett/D. Kelly (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 27.6s; 9. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 43.2s; 10. T. Doyle/L. Moynihan (Hyundaii20 Rally2)+1m. 54.9s. Maiden City Rally (Round 3, Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship) Derry: 1. R. Caldwell/S. O'Brien (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 32m. 26.8s; 2. G. Jennings/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+5.9s; 3. D. Kelly/A. Kierans (VW Polo GTi R5)+15.1s; 4. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+16.5s; 5. D. Henry/D. O'Sullivan (Citroen C3 Rally2)+22.0s; 6. N. Devine/L. McIntyre (VW Polo GTi R5)+33.4s; 7. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+35.8s; 8. A. Wray/C. McKenna (VW Polo GTi R5)+42.0s; 9. R. Loughran/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta R5)+59.4s; 10. J. McGonigle/G. O'Brien (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 19.2s. Jim Clark Rally (Round 3, Probite British Rally Championship) Duns: (Event was stopped after SS8 due to a fatality. 1. M. Evans/D. Furniss (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 46m. 09.7s; 2. E. Thorburn/P. Beaton (VW Polo GTi R5)+4.0s; 3. C. Black/J. Morton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+51.6s; 4. M. McRae/C. Fair (Citroën C3 Rally2)+1m. 02.3s; 5. G. Pearson/H. McKillop (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 26.6s; 6. S. Touzel/M. Freeman (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 34.6s; 7. E. Payne/P. Walsh (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 52.7s; 8. M. Hirst/D. Dear (Skoda Fabia R5)+1m. 55.3s; 9. D. Robertson/D. Beaton (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 06.0s; 10. J. Greer/N. Burns (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+2m. 38.3s.
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Hero Motosports Team Rally Completes South African Safari Rally 2025 With Strong Results
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters - Hero MotoCorp, has successfully completed its campaign at the South African Safari Rally 2025 – the third round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2025. After five grueling stages across the Savannah, Nacho Cornejo and Tobias Ebster secured impressive top-10 finishes overall — Nacho placing 6th and Tobias 9th while Botswana's own Ross Branch finished 11th overall in the rally. In the Rally 2 category, Tobias made a strong debut with Hero MotoSports, clinching 2nd place overall. With this performance, Tobias continues to lead the Rally 2 Championship standings. Today's Stage 5 witnessed Ross Branch bounce back with a spirited ride, finishing 3rd — just around two minutes off the stage winner — while Nacho continued his run of consistency, securing 7th place. Tobias also maintained his momentum, finishing 9th in the stage. Meanwhile, Ebster won today's stage in Rally 2, securing the team's first-ever stage win in this category. The young Austrian talent is making a strong case for the title with two races remaining this season. His consistent pace and four podium finishes in Rally 2 at this rally reflect his growing confidence and synergy with the team. Nacho once again proved to be dependable for the team, finishing top-10 in all stages in this rally. After finishing 7th at Dakar and 6th at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge earlier this season, his current form promises exciting results in the remaining rounds. The ongoing season has been quite a challenging one for Ross Branch. After an unfortunate crash at Dakar and a premature exit at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, he entered the Safari Rally with renewed energy. His Stage 1 win and Stage 3 podium reaffirm his speed and determination. Despite the setback in Stage 2, Ross remains optimistic and is eager to capitalize on the remaining two rounds of the championship — racing as the reigning World Champion. With 34 points after the 3rd round, Nacho has moved to the 7th position in the World Championship. Ross, on the other hand, has opened his tally with 8 points in the table. The South African Safari Rally wrapped up today with the fifth and final stage in Sun City, spanning 216 kilometers — including 118 kilometers of timed special. Though short, the stage was anything but easy, demanding razor-sharp focus through a mix of slick hard-packed cotton soil, river crossings, and loose gravel. The terrain breakdown featured 44% 'black turf' typical of local XXL farms, 27% savannah with dense vegetation, 7% rocks, and 16% red earth tracks. A final 33-kilometer liaison brought competitors back to the bivouac, where they were welcomed with celebration. Making its debut on the W2RC calendar, the South African Safari Rally has quickly earned a reputation as a future classic. The groundbreaking event tested the endurance, adaptability, and technical skill of the world's best rally racers. From fast-flowing savannah trails to rocky outcrops and deceptive black earth, the rally showcased South Africa's raw and rugged beauty while challenging competitors with diverse terrain and shifting weather. As a new addition to the championship, the Safari Rally stands out not only for its stunning landscapes but also for the sheer variety and intensity it brought to the W2RC season. Up next, Hero MotoSports Team Rally is all set to take on the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, scheduled to take place from September 22–28, 2025. As the fourth round in the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) calendar, this event presents a fresh opportunity for the team. Buoyed by the momentum and confidence gained from the South African Safari Rally, the team is more focused than ever to conquer the terrain and leave a lasting mark on the championship. With the final two rounds remaining in this season, Hero MotoSports now looks ahead with renewed motivation and strong momentum across both Rally GP and Rally 2 categories. Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: 'Overall, it was a very good race — congratulations to the organizers for delivering a fantastic event. The new terrain brought a fresh challenge and was very well received by the Southern Africa motorsports community. We came in aiming for victory with Ross, and he showed strong form by leading after Stage 1. Unfortunately, a large bird strike in Stage 2 damaged his oil cooler, ending his podium hopes — that's rally, some things are just out of your hands. Still, Ross showed great resilience, finishing the marathon stage and securing two more stage podiums. Most importantly, he proved he's back and competitive after his Dakar injury.' 'Nacho had some ups and downs — this terrain doesn't naturally suit his style, but he stayed consistent and we can always depend on him for a solid result. Tobias has an impressive debut with us, adapting quickly, finishing second in Rally2 overall, and closing with a stage win. We couldn't have asked for more. It's a promising outlook for the upcoming races. While we take a short break from racing, the work continues with testing and prep. We're looking forward to joining the championship battle again in Portugal.' Tobias Ebster, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: 'The last stage is done, and it's an emotional moment for me. It was just 111 km today, and I had a great rhythm until around the 92nd kilometre, when my bike suddenly stopped. A wire was stuck in the rear tyre — I had to stop and cut it out with a side cutter. I also had a small crash and an issue at the checkpoint, but in the end, I'm super happy. We got our first Rally2 stage win for Hero MotoSports today. We made steady progress all week, and I'm proud — not just for myself, but for the entire team. Finishing second overall in Rally2 and keeping our lead in the Rally2 World Championship is a great achievement. A huge thanks to the team for their support and to everyone who came to the track or sent messages — you really kept us going. See you in Portugal in September!' Nacho Cornejo, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: "We are done with the Safari Rally — it's been a super cool week of racing here in South Africa. We had our ups and downs, but also a couple of really strong stages. I was able to perform well in conditions that have typically been a weakness for me, so that's a big positive. Yes, I lost some time here and there, but overall, I believe we're moving in the right direction and making clear improvements in these kinds of terrains. I want to thank the entire team — managers, technicians, physios — everyone who works so hard behind the scenes to support us. Also, a big thank you to all the fans and supporters for the encouragement. We'll keep pushing and working hard for the final two rounds of the year!' Ross Branch, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: 'It's the end of the Safari Rally here in South Africa, and what an incredible week of racing it's been! I truly enjoyed every moment — the atmosphere, the people, and the passionate spectators made it all the more special. The bike performed flawlessly as always. Unfortunately, we had a setback due to an incident on Day 2, which impacted our overall standings. But we're back on pace now, the speed is there, and I'm really happy with how everything is coming together. Looking ahead, I'm excited for Morocco and Portugal. A big thank you to everyone for all the support!' Provisional Classification of Stage 5 (Overall): 1 Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda Team 01h 23m 17s 2 Daniel Sanders Redbull KTM Factory Racing + 00m 42s 3 Ross Branch Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 02m 06s 7 Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 06m 06s 9 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 07m 16s Provisional Classification after Stage 5 (Overall): 1 Daniel Sanders Redbull KTM Factory Racing 13h 27m 44s 2 Luciano Benavides Redbull KTM Factory Racing + 08m 55s 3 Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda Team +10m 00s 6 Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 46m 02s 9 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 04m 40s 11 Ross Branch Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 55m 19s Provisional Classification of Stage 5 (Rally2): 1 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 01h 30m 33s 2 Ruy Barbosa Xraids Experience + 00m 38s 3 Michael Docherty BAS World KTM Team + 00m 57s Provisional Classification after Stage 5 (Rally2): 1 Edgar Canet Redbull KTM Factory Racing + 14h 17m 00s 2 Tobias Ebster Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 15m 24s 3 Michael Docherty BAS World KTM Team + 23m 35s 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship Standings (After Round 3): 1 Daniel Sanders Redbull KTM Factory Racing 88 Points 2 Luciano Benavides Redbull KTM Factory Racing 53 Points 3 Ricky Brabec Monster Energy Honda Team 53 Points 7 Nacho Cornejo Hero MotoSports Team Rally 34 Points 9 Ross Branch Hero MotoSports Team Rally 8 Points
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Harith Noah returns to action at W2RC's South African Safari Rally
Sun City (South Africa): Indian rally-raid sensation Harith Noah is set to make his return to competitive racing in Rally 2 category at the newly introduced South African Safari Rally, scheduled to start from the Sun City Resort from May 18 to 24, 2025. The rally marks Round 3 of the FIA FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2025, and Harith's first competitive return to W2RC after an injury-led exit at the Dakar Rally, earlier this January. Noah, who is part of the Sherco TVS Rally Factory, returns after an early exit from Dakar 2025, where a crash during Prologue left him with a fractured wrist and forced him to withdraw early. Despite the setback, Noah completed the stage before scans confirmed the injury that required immediate surgery. Now, just four months later, he's looking forward to tackling the unforgiving South African landscape and getting back in the mix for his 2025 campaign, with future rounds and a longer-term goal of mounting a strong challenge for Dakar 2026. 'After Dakar, I needed time to recover from the injury, but everything went well and I'm back to full fitness now. This is my first race since the crash, so there are definitely some nerves, which is normal. But the South African Safari Rally is a new challenge for everyone, the route is unfamiliar territory across the board. The key is to stay calm, get used to the bike again, and take it one kilometre at a time.' said Harith Noah. South African Safari Rally brings the W2RC to South Africa for the very first time, promising a groundbreaking addition to the championship and offering one of the most challenging, scenic, and diverse rally routes yet. With extreme terrains and rapidly changing climates, the Safari Rally is poised to become a standout fixture on the W2RC calendar. The 2025 W2RC season features five rounds across three continents, pushing riders through a wide spectrum of terrains and conditions. The year kicked off with the legendary Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Now, the championship heads into uncharted territory with the debut of the South African Safari Rally. The final two rounds will take riders to Portugal for the BP Ultimate Rally Raid in September, before culminating with the iconic Rallye du Maroc in October. Noah's return is significant not just from a personal standpoint, but also for Indian motorsport. With the W2RC expanding its global footprint, Indian representation in such high-level events plays a key role in elevating the country's presence in off-road racing.
