Mark Higgins, making a welcome return to the 2002 Pirelli British Rally Championship in a rented David Greer Toyota Corolla WRC, and co-driven by Craig Thorley, drove immaculately to win a very tough Manx International Rally by over four minutes from Irish Tarmac Champion Andrew Nesbitt's Impreza WRC.
Third was Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech, who overcame huge technical adversity in their Corolla WRC to narrowly retain their Championship lead from Justin Dale, winner of the 1600 category in his works Peugeot 206 by over six minutes.
For those PBRC enthusiasts who like their rally cars low and fat, as opposed to high and skinny, the three PBRC tarmac events during July, August and September make this the most enjoyable period in the calendar. The fastest cars, in the most capable drivers' hands, on slick tyres, and on dry (or wet) tarmac, are an unforgettable sight. Throw in closed public roads (where the average driver would be struggling to reach 50mph but rally drivers regularly exceed 120), bumpy crossroads and blind crests, and the picture becomes even more awesome.
The action this time swapped from the leafy green Berwickshire lanes of the
Jim Clark to the leafy green (not surprising after experiencing the Manx weather system) lanes of the motor sport fans' paradise of the Isle of Man. What other place in these boringly politically-correct days of the 21st century has road maps marking out a still-used motorcycle road-race course so famous that even Auntie Mabel has heard of it? The motor cycle TT has been held on the island since 1907, made possible by the 1904 Manx Parliament having the foresight to pass an Act allowing the public roads to be closed. The famous mountain course has been used since 1911, and it blows the mind to think that official practice for the annual race was held on open roads until 1924!
