Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan clinched their maiden Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title after finishing second on a wet and wild Modern Tyres Ulster Rally finale.

The title-winning partnership recorded their fifth top points-scoring result of the season when they finished 47.7 seconds behind British Rally Championship visitors Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria.

Devine entered the final round of the 2023 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship knowing a fourth-place finish or higher would seal his first-ever Rally2 title. A series of stunning wins on the Circuit of Ireland, Killarney Rally of the Lakes, Donegal International Rally, and Cork 20 Rally had given him a healthy lead at the top of the standings.

Galway International Rally winners Meirion Evans and Josh Moffett were still in contention but needed a victory on the Ulster Rally to clinch the overall title. Evans slid his Volkswagen Polo R5 into a gatepost on the Banbridge North test and that meant that the Welsh crew’s rally was over, bringing an early end to their title challenge.

That left defending champions Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes as Devine and O’Sullivan’s sole title rivals.

Moffett, who has struggled to find a sweet spot aboard his new Hyundai i20 Rally2 in wet conditions, was unable to make an impact on the waterlogged County Down stages. The Monaghan driver finished day one in fifth position, 20 seconds behind Devine who was second overall after winning Friday’s final test.

Jonathan Greer and Niall Burns completed Ulster Rally’s top three after an intense battle with Ulster rivals Cathan McCourt and Dean O’Sullivan.