by Geoff Mayes


Mark Higgins controlled from the front to take the win on the Rally Isle of Man on Saturday, however the event won't be remember so much for that, as the carnage that the island and its unique changeable weather and tricky roads created.

Before the event, the third round in the 2006 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, local man Mark Higgins had stated that the pace of the championship would mean everyone would be pushing very hard from the word go - and he was right!

Roman Kresta took the dubious honour of being the rally's first casualty when the rear of his Ford Fiesta S1600 stepped out of line over a crest just over a mile into the very first stage. With the section being extremely narrow the car clipped the bank, ripped a wheel off and ended up on its side hanging over the edge of a small ravine. Both crew were ok, but those competitors following lost a bit of time as they slowed to ensure everyone was alright.

As on the Pirelli International in July, Guy Wilks went quickest in his Suzuki Ignis S1600, 2 seconds faster than Mark Higgins' Group N Subaru Impreza N12. Ryan Champion and Rory Galligan were next up but pre-event favourite Gwyndaf Evans dropped loads of time with an electrical problem whilst double British Rally champion Jonnie Milner dropped down the order with a blown turbo.

Higgins reclaimed the lead by going 10 seconds quicker than Wilks in the very fast second stage, Baldhoon 1. However most of the field would receive nominal times after Stuart Jones crashed his Hankook liveried Mitsubishi Evo IX heavily half way through the stage causing it to be halted. Fortunately the crew, though shaken, were both ok.

After two short runs around the Castletown Spectator stage Higgins had extended his lead slightly and Ryan Champion was now closing on Wilks with only one stage left on Thursday. A big push by both Wilks and Higgins through the final 8 mile stage on Thursday saw Mark Higgins end the day 9 seconds ahead of Wilks whilst the two works Mitsubishi drivers, Ryan Champion and Rory Galligan, were next up, a further 6 seconds further back, but both unhappy with the set-ups on their cars.

Day two was typical Isle of Man weather, dry and cloudy in service, but foggy and wet on the opening stage. Mark Higgins made the right call on tyres and not only went 10 seconds quicker than Evans, the closest BRC competitor, but also went an incredible second fastest overall against the Irish World Rally Cars. Third fastest amongst the BRC contenders was Jonny Milner, eager to make up for the time lost on Thursday.

Higgins continued with his rapid performance by going 17 seconds quicker than Evans over the next stage, whilst Champion, Galligan and Wilks all chose the wrong tyres, costing them time.

This stage also saw the demise of Stephen Petch Junior who lost control of his SG Petch Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo IX on a tight and twisty section and crashed heavily into a wall. Although very sore both crew were ok.