RallyNews No9 Manx International Rally

MANX TAILS NO.9 Grandstand-Douglas-Friday 9pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 17 Baldhoon (last Fri.stage)
1st (15) Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley (Corolla WRC) 1.58.40.4
2nd (14) Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Corolla WRC) 1.59.23.0
3rd (16) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 2.02.34.6
4th (11) David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Impreza N) 2.05.06.4
5th (17) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 2.06.36.3
6th (1) Justin Dale/Andrew Bargery (Peugeot) 2.08.32.4
7th (21) Trevor Cathers/D.Wilson (Lancer N) 2.10.16.0
8th (20) Alistair Ginley/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 2.10.17.6
9th (31) Dickie Curran/Gary Lyons (Lancer N) 2.11.06.7
10th (23) Robert Watson/Sean Crellin (Impreza) 2.11.28.8

This Manx International Rally still has over 60 stage miles to run and the last 2 days have been a tough and difficult test for the drivers. There is still a fight for the lead between Mark Higgins and Jonny Milner. Higgins was fastest through stage 16, Cornaa, by just under 6s from Milner and then on stage 17, Baldhoon, just 1s separated the pair - and they are both still going more or less flat out. Rally leader Mark said, "We definitely had a bit of a go in there, the tyres felt good. The aim for tomorrow is to stay in front. I would like dry weather, less of a gamble. We can only carry one spare tyre in this car, Jonny can carry 2, which gives him more of an option". Pirelli British Championship leader Milner commented "There's still a long way to go and I'm going to stay on it. Keep the pressure. We've had a few good stages earlier today, good tyre choices, but Mark keeps coming back. We got a good wet weather set up, but that edge has now gone". Third placed Andrew Nesbitt was fastest through the two Ramsey stages, and that was despite breaking a rim on the "sleeping policeman" past the park. Justin Dale is content now to just hold on to his Super 1600 lead, go for maximum points and not worry too much about his top 10 placing.

David Higgins continues to dominate group N in the Barretts Subaru, and was only a second slower than Nesbitt through the Baldhoon stage. It was foggy in there and Andrew told us he took no chances, thinking now of Tarmac Championship points. The battle for 2nd group N is a huge ding dong between Cathers and Ginley - just a split second separating them. While Dickie Curran had an overshoot in stage 17. Further back in the classification, Seamus Leonard was faster than all the other gpN runners through stage 16, apart from Higgins, but his Seamless Aluminium Subaru seems to lose out on certain types of stages.

In the Manx Trophy Rally - Eugene Ferry was leading at last service, the most recent times we have available. Adrian Kermode headed the Volkswagen Polo Challenge drivers from Ian Chadwick with Swedish driver Roger Andersson 3rd. Shaun Woffinden led the Ford Ka competitors from Barry Clark with Niki Cleland 3rd. In the 1400 Puma battle, Darren Snape led from Ian Forgan. In the Historic part of the rally Martin Freestone led the Post Historics in his Ford RS1600 with Alan Courtney leading the Historics in his Cortina from Mervyn Johnston (Mini Cooper S). David Mylchreest was 3rd despite having smashed a front mudguard on his MGB. Alan Parramore leads the Land Rover Rally from John Duncan. More news in the morning..BRIAN AND LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net