Higgins on course for Manx victory

Seven stages totalling almost 60 miles stand between Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley and victory on the Manx International Rally.

Manx-born Higgins has led the rally since Thursday except for a brief tenure yesterday when his closest rival, Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech occupied the lead.

Higgins stamped his authority on the rally and courtesy of a string of fastest times (of the 18 stages so far, Higgins has posted 10 fastest times), he starts today’s third and final leg with a 34.4 seconds advantage.

Milner, who leads the Pirelli British Championship, must decide whether or not to gamble and try and win or hold station and take valuable points and increase his lead.

Meanwhile, Irish pair, Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien, who had the misfortune to incur a 110 second road penalty, remain on course to increase their lead in the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac series. They are three minutes 16.6 seconds behind Milner.

In Group N, Trevor Cathers (Mitsubishi) has a similar mission for the Irish Championship.

Other Irish drivers looking to consolidate or perhaps improve their current overnight standings are Seamus Leonard (Subaru) 16th.; Damien Keenan (Peugeot) 17th; Eugene Meegan (Peugeot) 20th; Roy White (Mitsubishi) 21st and Gerrard Sharkey (Astra) 30th.

34 crews start today's final leg.

Times to S.S. 18 (Friday overnight):

1. M. Higgins/C. Thorley (Corolla WRC) 1h. 58m. 40.4s;

2. J. Milner/N. Beech (Corolla WRC) 1h. 59m. 18.0s;

3. A. Nesbitt/J. O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 2h. 02m. 34.6s;

4. D. Higgins/D. Barritt (Impreza N) 2h. 05m. 06.4s; Gp. N

5. E. Boland/F. Regan (Impreza WRC) 2h. 06m. 36.3s;

6. J. Dale/A. Bargery (Peugeot) 2h. 08m. 32.4s; Super 1600

7. T. Cathers/D.Wilson (Lancer N) 2h. 10m. 15.7s; Gp. N

8. 8. A. Ginley/R. Kennedy (Lancer N) 2h. 10m. 17.6s. Gp. N