Stockport’s Dave Pattison and Bolton’s Paul Whittaker scored a dominant win on the two day Mann Construction sponsored Chris Kelly Memorial Stages Rally. They powered their EARS Mitsubishi Evo 6 into a lead of 62 seconds on Friday night’s opening six tests at the outskirts of Laxey, fastest on every stage in atrocious weather, with thick mist and driving rain. Andrew Leece/Graham Fargher (Evo 6) were the nearest challengers and maintained second on Saturday morning’s tests on Tholt-e-Will and Druidale until a power steering pipe came off on SS10. They ultimately retired from third spot when the propshaft snapped on the start line of the penultimate stage. Nigel Cannell (Evo 9), who had 16-year old daughter Imogen making her debut alongside, was the only driver to take a stage win away from Pattison, on Druidale, and upped the pace significantly over the afternoon stages around Andreas in the north of the island, though not enough to make inroads on the eventual winners. John Stone/Rob Fagg (Skoda Fabia WRC) had a fraught run on the opening night, off the road twice including one lurid spin that cost them the light pod, but recovered on Saturday’s drying condition to snatch third place on the final test from Martyn Jones/Dave Radcliffe (Evo 6), the youngster once again producing a solid performance. Connor Corkill/Mark Perryman (Ford Escort MkII) were the leading two-wheel drive crew rounding out the top 5. Former British Junior Champion Stuart Egglestone (Vauxhall Astra) with Brian Hodgson on the notes took sixth spot while it was the father and son crew of John and Martin Cressey who were seventh in the sole surviving BMW Mini following Daniel Harper/Paula Swinscoe’s retirement on stage 12 following an altercation with a telegraph pole. Adrian Kemode/Maurice Beckett (Porsche 911) scored top spot in the Historic class as well as taking eight place holding off the late charge of Andrew “Tugs” Sherrignton/Bradley Johnson (Evo 4) with the top ten being completed by Sean Kelly/Will Rand (Evo 6) who put in a controlled performance following there graduation to four wheel drive turbo from a 1400 Corsa. · Full results are attached with further information available at www.manxautosport.org · The event was covered for the “Special Stage Rally Review” program which will be broadcast on Motors TV on Wednesday March 9th at 17:50. Ends