Moffett taking a serious approach to BRC after opening win

Sam Moffett will up his preparation for the next British Rally Championship rounds after surprising himself by winning last Monday’s season-opener. The Monaghan driver pipped England’s Rhys Yates by one second on the Neil Howard Stages to claim his first ever BRC victory.

Speaking on the Irish Rally Podcast, Moffett explained how work commitments had sidelined any serious preparation before the Oulton Park based event.

“The prep heading into the rally was that I was out of the country on business all week,” admitted Moffett. “I came back home, repacked the bag, and went to the rally.

“I’m not a person who is looking a career out of rallying, it’s a hobby, and I want to enjoy it as much as possible.

“That’s what I said to Keith [Moriarty] going into the very last stage, ‘Do you know what Keith, let’s go out and enjoy this as much as possible because that is what we are here to do.’

“My commitment leading up to it was not days of preparation, it was work. If I can balance both lives, it is always good.”

Moffett had a short test in his Ford Fiesta Rally2 before the Neil Howard Stages but the 2017 Irish Tarmac Champion hadn’t been expecting to match the pace of BRC’s regular front-men.

“I knew I wouldn’t be 15th or whatever, I kind of had an idea that we would be running around fifth or sixth but we are now at the top.

“It will make me more focused at night, trying to watch old YouTube videos of people from the Nicky Grist and all the other rallies. It will make me put in the effort.

“When I think back to 2017 when we won a few championships in Ireland, the dedication it takes from finishing fifth to trying to be at the very top takes a hell of a lot of work.

“If we want to compete there the effort is going to have to go in because these guys do not hang around in the forests.”

Moffett’s brother Josh endured a more challenging start to his BRC campaign as he settled back into the Hyundai i20 R5. Despite missing out on an overall top ten finish on the Neil Howard Stages, Sam expects his brother to be right back on form when the BRC goes to July’s Nicky Grist Stages.

“I do fear for myself on the gravel where he [Josh] goes very fast so we’ll see how he goes,” said Sam.

“I’d say he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with when we get to the next round.”

Listen to Moffett’s full interview about winning the Neil Howard Stages on the Irish Rally Podcast. Moffett explains how he claimed an historic Irish rally treble in 2017 and revealed which Irish event he is most looking forward to following Motorsport Ireland’s 2021 calendar release earlier this week.

Photos by Jakob Ebrey / BRC