The Limerick Forest Rally, the penultimate round of the 2016 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship was always going to be an important one as the title chase nears its end.

Josh Moffett scored a fabulous victory in his Fiesta R5, but more significant in the championship it is that Desi Henry’s second place moves him into the lead. Championship challengers Ger Lucey, who led on points going into this rally, did not finish the Limerick Motor Club’s event.

The drama started early on the first of the six stages, as the crews battled the wet conditions. Championship leader Ger Lucey in his Evo 8 was one of the retirements with a broken gearbox half-way through the stage, whilst Mickey Conlan ended up with his MK2 Escort stuck in a bog, just a few hundred yards into the first stage.  Also significant on the growing retirement list was Monaghan charger Michael Carbin in the Evo 4. He battled through punctures on stages two and three, a branch ripping a windscreen wiper off, only to retire at service from sixth place with a broken rear differential.

There was more drama as Desi Henry in a Fabia bumped off the scenery collecting a puncture, a broken alternator belt and warning lights were then flashing on the dash! It meant that he was over a minute slower than stage winner Josh Moffett, and chances of an overall win were slim. Patrick O’Brien was also in trouble on the opener with a loss of power and a loss of brakes, as once again the Tyrone driver headed for another retirement from a Valvoline round.

However another Tyrone driver Darren McKelvey with Graham Henderson co-driving had a superb rally in their Evo 9, clocking up third place overall, despite punctures on stages one and four.

The Valvoline two-wheel battle started with John Gordon fastest on the first test, just 0.6 of a second ahead of Shane McGirr. However John punctured on stage two and McGirr took the Starlet into a lead it was never to lose. Behind them David Crossen had a good day to take third despite being another to suffer a puncture-his delay being on stage four.

The winner of the rallytrader.ie/ Kumho tyres Junior category, Derek Mackeral in his Vauxhall Nova lasted the distance without dramas this time.

At the front of the field Josh Moffett and Emmet Sherry powered to a fine victory by over a minute. “We are extremely happy with today’s rally, and hopefully it can be more of the same on the Glens of Antrim!” said Josh.

2016 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship-Round Six-Results:
1 Josh Moffett/Emmet Sherry                                      Ford Fiesta R5  
2 Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan                                     Skoda Fabia R5 
3 Darren McKelvey/Graham Henderson                  Mitsubishi Evo 9 
4 Shane McGirr/Aileen Kelly                                      Toyota Starlet    
5 Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors                                   Mitsubishi Evo 

Points after round six:
1st Desi Henry                    81
2nd Ger Lucey                    74
3rd Michael Carbin            69
4th  John Gordon               69
5th Shane McGirr               65