Higgins cruises to win in Manx Rally

As expected, Manx born driver, Mark Higgins in a Ford Focus has taken a facile victory in the Manx International Rally, a counting round of both the Irish and British Pirelli Championships.

After 22 stages, Higgins finished 5 minutes 43.1 seconds ahead of the Toyota Corolla WRC of Eugene Donnelly, who took the top points in the Irish Tarmac Championship.

Derek McGarrity, in a Subaru, took third place - a minute and 39.1 seconds behind.

Higgins set fastest time on all of the 22 stages; the only stage where he didn’t dominate solely was the third stage where he shared equal fastest time with Kenny McKinstry.

On today’s final leg, Higgins completed the rout but second-placed Donnelly was more interested in acquiring the top points in the Irish Tarmac series, he has extended his lead over chief rival, Derek McGarrity to six points.

Meanwhile, in the British series, Mark Higgins is ten points ahead of Austin MacHale with Rory Galligan now up to third place.

MacHale moved up the order today and went ahead of Rory Galligan to take third-placed points.

The other Irish finishers in the top ten today were Eamonn Boland in fourth and Garry Jennings (Mitsubishi) in tenth.

1. M. Higgins/B. Thomas (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 37m. 26.5s.

2. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 2h. 43m. 09.6s.

3. D. McGarrity/D. O'Gorman (Subaru WRC) 2h. 44m. 48.7s.

4. E. Boland/F. Regan (Subaru WRC) 2h. 46m. 55.4s.

5. P. Bird/I. Windress (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 47m. 31.0s.

6. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 48m. 01.3s.

7. R. Galligan/G. Shinnors (Mitsubishi) 2h. 49m. 03.3s.

Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship:

1. E. Donnelly 69 Points.

2. D. McGarrity 63 Points.

3. T. McNulty 47 Points.

4. E. Boland 45 Points.

5. A. MacHale 44 Points