This, plus all the other carnage, undoubtedly robbed the event of a thrilling climax. If Milner had been challenged to the wire by Latvala, Laukkanen and the likes of McKinstry, it would have been a tremendous spectacle. As it was Milner continued on his serene way (although it was obviously far from serene inside the cockpit; driving for a finish with a six-minute advantage must be a nerve-wracking experience). According to Milner, he was driving ''just on the right side of caution.''
Saturday wasn’t a complete anti-climax, however. Ryan Champion, driving well in his Super 1600 Ford Ireland Puma, and with the class almost in the bag with a three- minute lead over Peugeot’s Garry Jennings, dropped a wheel a little too far into a ditch on the morning’s first stage and crashed, handing the class to Garry. It was now Peugeot’s turn to bit its collective nails as the minutes ticked by to the finish, particularly as Leon Pesticcio’s Fiat was taking time out of Garry, albeit 15 minutes in arrears. Elsewhere, Austin McHale (Impreza WRC) had retaken fourth place from Eamonn Boland.
The finish ramp must have looked hugely welcoming for all the survivors of this 206-stage mile marathon. This had been the 40th anniversary of the Manx International, and Richard Bargery and his team had done their customary excellent job. It’s long, it’s tough and it’s demanding, but isn’t that what top British international events should be?
At a few minutes past 4.00pm on a bright (-ish) afternoon, a triumphant Jonny Milner drove his rather second-hand looking Toyota onto the ramp, where he dedicated his victory to Mark Lovell and Roger Freeman, tragically killed in the USA two weeks ago.
He was followed by: McKinstry (+ 4:57.5); McGarrity (+ 6:34.7); McHale (+ 7:41.9); Boland (+ 7:54.9); Leonard (winner of the Production class: + 15:15.2) Jennings (winner of Super 1600: + 18:07.2); White (+ 19:19.5); Cope (+ 19:43.6); and McHale Jnr (second Production class: + 24:05.6). Shelley Taunt (Nissan Micra) again won the Ladies’ Cup.
