McKinstry leads Manx International Rally

Kenny McKinstry (Subaru) heads a strong Irish contingent at the end of the first leg of the Manx International Rally, a vital round of both the Irish and British Rally Championships.

The Banbridge ace is just 1.1 seconds ahead of fellow ace from the North, Derek McGarrity (Subaru), after five special stages that formed the first of three legs.

McKinstry was quickest on the opening two tests with McGarrity and then Eamonn Boland (Ford Focus) his respective nearest challengers.

Young Welsh ace Gareth Jones lost vital time when he could not avoid some stones that were dragged out by earlier competitors, he damaged two wheels of his Subaru and he dropped down the order.

The first major retirement was that of Roman Kresta, who rolled his Fiesta Super 1600 car out of the rally on the first stage.

McGarrity posted a very quick time on S.S. 3 and moved into the lead on this evening’s penultimate test. McKinstry then edged ahead on the night’s final stage where the pace was set by Eugene Donnelly, who lies third overnight.

Eamonn Boland is trouble-free in fourth, while a slipping clutch over the early stages cost Mel Evans a few seconds. Mark Higgins in his Subaru leads the British Rally Championship contenders with Meath’s Rory Galligan (Mitsubishi) third in the category.

Guy Wilks is the top Super1600 driver, and is seventh in general classification.

Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen, in his Ford Focus WRC, is up to eighth in a top 10 completed by Ryan Champion and Rory Galligan.

Seamus Leonard is the leading driver in the Irish Group N Championship, he is 11th overall just ahead of Roy White. Gareth Jones, who was outside the top 20, has climbed back to 13th.

Standings:

1. Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Subaru WRC) 22m. 19.5s.

2. Derek McGarrity/Diarmuid Falvey (Subaru WRC) 22m. 20.6s.

3. Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 22m. 30.0s.

4. Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Ford Focus WRC) 22m. 33.3s.

5. Melvyn Evans/Aled Davies (Subaru WRC) 22m. 52.7s.

6. Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru) 23m. 11.2s.

7. Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Suzuki Ignis) 23m. 20.6s.

8. Andreas Mikkelsen/Oza Floene (Ford Focus WRC) 23m. 22.0s.

9. Ryan Champion/Craig Thorley (Mitsubishi) 23m.