Crash.Net Rally UK News
Isle of Man next for GRC.
Wednesday, 7th May 2008
With more switches flicked than the Space Shuttle, revs held constant by the complex launch control facility, a screech of tyres and a pop of turbo boost, Kenny McKinstry will head off round the traffic island, through the streets of Port Erin and up Cregneash hill on Friday night to blast the RBS International Manx Rally into life, and with it, round three of the prestigious 2008 Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship.
Ahead of him and the hundred and twenty other competitors are a tortuous evening and full day on Saturday around the fast, tricky and increasingly unforgiving Manx lanes on what is one of the ANCRO-organised championship's most popular events.
A month after the drama of the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally, which saw Rallye Sunseeker winners Marcus Dodd and Manxman Andrew Bargery retire on the opening stage, the championship is delicately poised with Mancunian Jon Ingram and co-driver Ian Allsop at the head of the standings.
Ingram conceded victory to the unregistered Barry Johnson over in Kielder Forest last month but he'll be tough to stop around the Manx lanes given his asphalt rallying experience.
The Hyundai challenge will come from Marcus Dodd, who is a regular podium finisher but has never won the Manx, and so too young Stephen Petch who will be aiming to better dad Steve's results around the Island.
Ulsterman Stephen Moore will be a major contender in his ex-Henning Solberg Ford Focus WRC as will the Imprezas of Julian Reynolds and Alan Cookson who are expected to be at the cutting edge.
But where the most intense battle will take place will be in the Group N category and namely, those protagonists who are chasing honours in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge. Ulstermen Daniel Barry and Richard Cathcart are front-running after two rounds but David Bogie, Nik Elsmore and Neil McCance have all racked up points in both Bournemouth and Jedburgh and know a good, solid run around the Manx lanes could prove vital come the end of the season when they get tossed the keys to a works Mitsubishi for 2009.
ANCRO stalwarts Roger Duckworth (Subaru) and Steve Perez (Ford Focus) both make their welcome comebacks on the event, so too former champion David Mann in his Subaru whilst former Manx winner Melvyn Evans will also be in action.
Throw in the likes of regular asphalt men such as the MG Metro 6R4s of John Stone and Mark Jasper, veterans Charlie Payne and Brian Bell, as well as Icelandic visitor Daniel Sigurdsson, and the scene is set for an epic Manx battle whereby come the prize-giving on Saturday night at the Villa Marina, the cheers reserved for the winners will be most deserving.
The action starts at 19.00 on Friday with the five opening tests before the crews return to the Grandstand in Douglas at 21.00 and then on Saturday, the crews head out at 08.45 for the remaining nine stages with the winners due back around 15.20 at the TT Grandstand.
