RallyNews No13 Manx International Rally

MANX TAILS NO.13 Grandstand-Douglas-Saturday 4.30
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 24 (final stage)
1ST (15) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Corolla WRC) 2.52.07.0
2ND (16) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 2.57.51.4
3RD (14) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 2.59.17.6
4TH (11) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Impreza N) 3.01.52.3
5TH (17) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 3.03.55.1
6TH (1) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 3.07.31.8
7TH (20) Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 3.08.21.4
8TH (21) Trevor Cathers/D.Wilson (Lancer N) 3.08.59.6
9TH (23) Robert Watson/Sean Crellin (Impreza) 3.10.28.6
10TH (18) Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 3.11.56.1
Just outiside the leaderboard: 11th Martin Sansom 12th Guy Woodcock 13th John Cope 14th Seamus Leonard
Mark Higgins finished this Manx International Rally by pirouetting his Corolla WRC over the flying finish of this fabulous last "Millennium" stage here at the TT Grandstand. Mark was soon coasting the car into service and took time out to tell us "this is my 2nd Manx International win on the trot and doing it privately this time, on a shoestring, means even more than the last. Pirelli tyres were great, Davy Greer's team was fantastic, the car ran like clockwork. It is specially good after the bad luck I've had recently. I've taken a totally different approach to the rally, just did what I had to do and when the going got tight I played it cool. Jonny drove very well but obviously had his problems. A great event". For Mark's co driver Craig Thorley it was his first ever International win, and he said "It was so emotional coming down to the end of that last stage I could hardly read the pace notes". For 2nd placed Andrew Nesbitt today's runner up spot breaks a sequence of 8 consecutive Tarmac Championship wins. The Tarmac Champion commented "It was a mixed event, Jonny's problems left the door open for 2nd place, but really I'm just pleased to get through the event. I've only been here once before and it was good experience. Now I'm looking forward to beating them on the Ulster!"

Most people's hearts went out to Jonny Milner - he drove so well but obviously his gearbox troubles spelt the end of any chance of a win. The Yorkshireman said at the finish of that last stage "I even lost 4th gear on that last stage, so we could only come through in 3rd. I did the best I could do". Consolation for Jonny is that he retains the lead in the Pirelli British Championship, although by winning the Super 1600 category Justin Dale closes right up on Jonny at the top of the points table. Justin told us "After the first day and half Mick Linford our Peugeot boss told us to hold station, not go for the WRCs, just concentrate on the class. We had plenty left".

David Higgins takes 4th place today and wins gpN in the Barretts Subaru. This means that David has now won the gpN category in the BRC, and along with his brother Mark is going to compete on the Wild West Rally in the USA on the same weekend as the Ulster, but hopes to be back for the Trackrod, possibly in a WRC. Late news is that Dickie Curran has had a big accident in his gpN Lancer just a mile into the last stage. Driver and codriver OK. Many thanks to all who have helped and supported the RallyNews and well done to Richard Bargery and his team, and our thanks to Paul Moore. BIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net