Last year’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship winners Sam Moffett and Karl Atkinson are heading to Clonakilty on St. Patricks weekend to begin the defence of their title.

Sam had a hectic year in 2017 managing to clinch the Irish Forestry and National titles as well as the Tarmac Championship.  A little more sedate year is planned for 2018 however he would dearly like to retain the Tarmac crown.

With the ever present Karl Atkinson guiding him the pair will certainly start the season as favourites but both are realistic enough to know this will be no easy task. With up to 10 R5 cars heading for West Cork there are plenty who will hope to make it difficult for him.

Top seed is Donagh Kelly who is going for an unprecedented five in row in his Focus WRC but is sure to be pressed hard by fellow Donegal man Declan Boyle (Fiesta WRC) who was victorious in Mayo last Sunday.

Moffett though in the Fiesta R5 is sure to be the main threat as the reigning champion with his brother Josh Moffett, Robert Barrable, Jonny Greer, Stephen Wright, Desi Henry and Daniel Cronin are all in similar Fiestas.

After a long break from the sport, Eugene Donnelly in his Hyundai i20 R5 is the only non Ford in the top ten and will catch the eye of many rally fans in West Cork.

Kevin Eves, Gary Kiernan, Rob Duggan, John Dalton and Declan Gallagher are just some of the top drivers competing on the National event. The Historic Rally welcomes back Barry Jones who won the category here last year on his way to becoming Tarmac Historic Champion, but he will have strong opposition in Owen Murphy, Neil Williams, Denis Cronin and Martin Doherty to name but a few. The Junior Rally is also looking strong with a capacity entry received.

This is the first round of the Tarmac Championship after the cancellation of the Galway International Rally early in the year. Galway with its traditional date in February is usually the first event in the calander, however, with its demse, the West Cork Rally is the inaugural round in this year's championship.

The action in West Cork begins with the famous Ring stage at 10.28am on Saturday morning with tests also around Clogagh, Newecestown and Ballinascarthy all to be attempted twice. Sundays six stages consist of two runs over Ardfield, Sams Cross and Rossmore with the first car due at the finish ramp at 4:30pm. The family of the late Donal O’Brien who sadly passed away last year, have kindly put up The Donal O’Brien Cup for the top Class 14 finisher.