AND THE WINNER WAS. . . . .

With more than six weeks to go before this year’s RBS International Manx Rally (9/10^th May) takes to the closed public roads on the Isle of Man, the entry list is filling up and three past winners, all in Subaru Impreza WRCs, have already indicated their intention to return to the scene of their former triumphs!

Welshman MELVYN EVANS put his name on the trophy in 2002, while well-known Norfolk mushroom farmer DAVID MANN was victorious the following year on his way to taking the MSA Gravel Rally Championship crown in the same season. For Mann’s co-driver, ALUN COOK, it was his second win, having kept Richard Moore ‘on the island’ back in 1995.

Since what is now known as the RBS International Manx Rally first took place in 1980, two drivers (Phil Collins and the late Bertie Fisher) have won it on three separate occasions. Having been successful in 1999 & 2000, KENNY McKINSTRY joined them in 2004 but, not content to leave it there, went on to increase his tally in 2006 and again last year. The popular Ulsterman, and co-driver NOEL ORR, return in 2008 as defending champions and it is, therefore, quite possible that not only will their number of wins rise to six, but that they also become the first crew to record a hat-trick of victories on the event.  

As a qualifying round of both the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt & Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championships, the ‘Manx’ is one of the most hotly contested events in the calendar, and also one of the most popular. Add contenders for the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge into the equation and it won’t only be rally cars and trailers heading for ferries at Liverpool and Heysham but spectators, eager for a chance to catch a piece of the action, will be joining them.   

The Entries Secretary, from whom regulations/entry forms are available, is :

Susan Crellin – Tel : 01624 672145/E-mail : rbsirally@manx.net

Further details of the RBS International Manx Rally are available from the Event Press Officer :

Andrew Haill – Tel : 0121 313 1416/E-mail : andrew.haill@btconnect.com

to whom all requests for accreditation should be addressed.

- ENDS -