Teenager Newby takes all the headlines
Arron Newby, still only 18 years old, continued his winning sequence with the biggest victory of his career on the three-day Manx International Rally section of Rally Isle of Man, powered by Microgaming.
The Carnforth TEG Sport Subaru pilot and Manx co-driver Rob Fagg took the lead on Friday afternoon and carried a 1m39s advantage into Saturday’s final eight stages. Newby showed real maturity to drive conservatively, fastest on just two tests on the day, to conclude with a 2m20.1s victory and become the youngest ever winner of the event.
Behind there was a frantic scrap for the remaining podium places, Andrew Leece and Graham Fargher were unable to drive fully after yesterday’s roll in their Evo VI, leaving their second place in danger of crews looming behind.
They held on admirably for the first half of the day before being overhauled by Steve Colley/Andrew Cowley (Evo VIII) on SS24 Sand Quarry and then last years winners Steve Quine/Richard Skinner (Evo IX) one stage later, Quine having finally found a suspension set-up to his liking.
The drive of the day however was already coming from Connor Corkill and Mark Perryman (Subaru), setting a string of fastest times to also close on the gaggle ahead of them. They ultimately passed Leece on the penultimate stage, SS26 Dollagh to finish fourth, running out of stages to grab a podium.
Ahead of them however the battle continued to rage between Colley and Quine, swapping second place almost by the stage, with Colley admitting to being at “eleven tenths!” Ultimately however Quine got the better, by just four tenths of a second after two and three-quarter hours of rallying! Corkill was himself just 14s further back.
Darren Atkinson and Phil Sandham (Escot MkII) were the leading two-wheel drive crew in sixth place whilst early leaders Nigel and Michaela Cannell (Evo IX) used superrally rules to rejoin and take seventh spot after yesterdays gearbox problems, winning today’s round of the Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship in the process.
A blocked fuel filter delayed Sean Kelly/Emma Kennuagh (Evo VI) throughout the first half of the rally, but they improved to eighth by the finish, ahead of George Collister/Janet Craine, who had the better of an event-long BMW battle with close friends Kex Walker/Dannii Matthews by just 2.7 seconds, in a rally of close finishes.
No doubt about the star of the rally however. “The team has done brilliantly” said Newby. “Without the differential change last night we wouldn’t be here now. You look at the names on that trophy for this rally and it’s amazing. It’s been three long, hard days and everyone who’s got to the finish deserves a medal!”
Barrett cruises to Rallee Classicagh title
Ulsterman Ryan Barrett and locally based co-drover Paul McCann (MkII Ford Escort) swept to a comfortable victory on the historic Rallee Classicagh section of Rally Isle of Man powered by Microgaming.
The pair led the way into day three and immediately set out to drive for the finish, just fourth fastest on the opening run down Tholt-e-Will.
Fourth placed Will Onions/Dave Williams (MKII Escort) were in early trouble however, connecting with a wall on the rear of the car. They were out of the rally altogether just one stage later after crashing just before the end of SS21 Bretney.
With second placed David Stokes/Guy Weaver (MkI Escort) also backing off the pace, it was left to Will Rowlands/Em Hall (MkII) to set a string of fastest times en route to moving into fourth position behind the similar car of Guy Woodcock/Graham Dance.
That was how it finished, with Barrett taking a 3m5.9s victory. “It’s unbelievable to win this; the Manx is one of the most famous rallies in the world. We didn’t want to back off too much and lose concentration today, so just had to manage it.”
Stokes took Category 2 honours, whiles Derek Boyd/Howard Allison won Category 1 for the oldest cars on the event in their Porsche 911.
Bettridge is the Trophy man
Pat Bettridge/Paul Gelling (Subaru) were fastest on six of the days eight stages to take a dominant win in the Manx Trophy Rally.
The pair took a 41s advantage into the day over Matthew and Ian Davison’s MKII Escort and had extended that to over three minutes at the days halfway point.
The Davison’s succumbed to mechanical problems on SS25 at Ronague, leaving Bettridge to run out the victor by a huge margin of 7m46.6s.
Wayne Ellis/Sarah Harbour (Peugeot 205) took the runners-up spot with Stephen Bettridge/Michael Kieg (Vauxhall Corsa) third.
The organisers of Rally Isle of Man wish to thank all of the event officials and competitors for their support. That’s the 50th Anniversary completed, time to look ahead to the next 50 years!
