National crews set for mighty mountainside Birr Stages

April 19, 2024 Rallyinsight

Josh and Sam Moffett are set to continue their National Rally Championship rivalry on Sunday’s Birr Stages Rally.

The Monaghan brothers are seeded first and second for the nine-stage event in Citroen C3 and Hyundai i20 Rally2 cars. Josh edged his elder brother on their home event less than two weeks ago after a thrilling day-long duel.

Daniel Cronin, Declan Boyle, and Rally2 dark horse Ryan Loughran complete the top five.

Enda O’Brien, who finished fourth on last year’s Killarney Rally of the Lakes, makes his first appearance of the year. The Kilkenny driver is seeded 11th in his Volkswagen Polo R5.

Another R5 entry of note is usual Class 13 suspects John Warren and Ruthann O’Connor who make their Ford Fiesta R5 debut this weekend.

Kevin Gallagher leads the two-wheel-drive entry in his Darrian T90, seeded one place ahead of Chris O’Callaghan and Kaine Treanor’s Ford Escort Mk2.

Birr’s 165 crews will take on three demanding stages with Onthepacenote’s Killian Duffy giving his expert views on the Lisduff, Glendine, and Moll Joys Hill tests.

Lisduff (6.8 km) – SS1/4/7

A short but slippery start to the Birr Stages Rally. The stage begins with a mucky surface for the first four kilometres.

A fast straight separates the test before finishing on a higher grip surface.

Don’t worry, it is only a warm-up of what is to come.

Glendine (15.4 km) – SS2/5/8

Stage two is going to be incredible. It will be difficult with tough downhill sections at the start.

The mountain section is really committed with a lot of blind crests. The stage traverses down the mountain again with some nice hairpins as well.

Crews better be switched on through here because it is an unforgiving stage.

There are a few areas under trees so care must be taken on a green road surface. It is a big stage with lots on offer but the crews will need to be at one with the 15-kilometre test if they are to master it.