After overcoming an incident-packed weekend, Daniel Barry crossed the finish line of the RBS International Manx Rally to claim third place in round three of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge and, in doing so, continues to lead the one-make championship for Group N Mitsubishis.
Famous for its TT motorcycle races, the Isle of Man has become a mecca for motorsport, largely because the authorities have the ability to close public roads for racing and rallying. For Barry, this was the first event of the season to take place on a tarmac surface, the previous rallies all held on gravel forestry tracks.
Due to the nature of the island's roads, events on the Isle of Man have a reputation for their demanding and arduous nature and Barry found that out first hand.
The rally got underway on Friday night with five stages before the overnight halt and, after a good run through the opening stage, 1.5 miles through the coastal town of Port Erin, Daniel immediately found himself on the pace of the Mitsubishi front-runners.
However, on the very next stage the first of a catalogue of problems emerged, when a shock absorber became damaged - not ideal when negotiating the bumpy Manx lanes. Even so, Barry kept everything under control, but then on stage four the rear differential stopped working and he had no choice but to drive steadily for the remainder of the evening, ending the day an uncharacteristic fifth in the Evolution Challenge standings,
With rain falling overnight, grip levels were extremely unpredictable for the first loop of three stages on Saturday morning - a factor discovered by Daniel when he slid wide on a left-hander in SS7 and clouted a steel post with the rear of his Mitsubishi. The subsequent impact removed the lights and a large proportion of the off-side rear wing, but fortunately there was no mechanical damage and the 24-year old Irishman continued, having lost only a handful of seconds in the incident.
![Daniel Barry / Mark Bowens - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. RBSI Manx Rally. May 2008. [Pic credit: cmwi.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/438613.jpg)
