McKinstry third as Milner leads Manx Rally

Banbridge ace, Kenny McKinstry in his Subaru WRC heads the Irish challenge at the end of the first leg on the Manx International Rally, a counting round of both the Irish and British rally championships.

Rally leader, Jonny Milner (Toyota Corolla WRC) clocked the first fastest time and was never headed through this evening’s six stages.

Even with one moment when his Corolla hit a bank that damaged the rim, Milner never relinquished his advantage.

However, on tonight’s sixth and final stage, he dropped some five seconds to second placed, Jari Matti Latvala (Ford Focus WRC) to leave 18.7 seconds between them at the overnight halt.

Kenny McKinstry (Subaru WRC) had a problem with tyres during the afternoon, but he is only 2.4 seconds adrift of second place.

British Touring Car Championship exponent, James Thompson in a Mitsubishi holds fourth from Finland’s Tapio Laukkanen (Subaru WRC).

Glengormley’s, Derek McGarrity sixth overnight.

Austin MacHale is tenth at the overnight halt.

Gwyndaf Evans (MG ZR) heads the Super 1600 series from Northern Ireland’s, Kris Meeke (Opel Corsa) who has closed the deficit to 6.3 seconds.

In Group N, Omagh’s Seamus Leonard in a Subaru leads the Mitsubishi of Dickie Curran. Pre-event series leader, Roy White from Tipperary, crashed out on the second stage.

1. J. Milner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 25m. 02.9s.

2. J. M. Latvala (Focus WRC) 25m. 21.6s.

3. K. McKinstry (Subaru) 25m. 24.0s.

4. J. Thompson (Mitsubishi) 25m. 35.2s.

5. T. Laukkanen (Subaru) 25m. 39.8s.

6. D. McGarrity (Subaru) 25m. 41.3s.