Higgins, Kennedy lead Isle of Man Rally

Fastest through the evening’s final and longest stage, Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru) have an overnight lead of 18 seconds over Guy Wilks/David Moynihan (Mitsubishi) in the Rally Isle of Man International.

The event is a counting round of both the Irish Tarmac Championship and the British Rally Championship.

Irish Tarmac Championship leaders, Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru WRC) are 41.9 seconds behind the leaders.

Boland (Subaru WRC) set the pace on this evening’s opening stage, he was 2.2 seconds faster than the Group N Mitsubishi of Guy Wilks with mark Higgins (Subaru) 0.2 of a second further adrift in third.

Boland lost the lead on the second stage where he incurred a ten second road penalty, indeed, the Wexford man slipped down to third – Wilks moved into the lead – 5.8 seconds ahead of British championship rival, Mark Higgins.

Elsewhere, other Irish drivers to feature in the top ten included Phillip Morrow, John McGlaughlin, Jonny Greer and Darren Gass, all driving Mitsubishi’s.

Wilks retained the lead through Stage 3 but then on the longest stage of the opening leg, Higgins was best in the wet conditions as Wilks lost time with a puncture.

Rally leader, Higgins and third placed Boland both endured spins, the latter lost some 40 seconds as he had to reverse his Subaru to rejoin the stage.

David Higgins (Subaru) ended the day in fourth place while a cautious Phillip Morrow (Mitsubishi) was fifth.

Sixth placed James Wozencroft had a problem with the anti lag system of his Subaru.

Irish drivers, Darren Gass (Mitsubishi) and Brian O’Mahony (Renault Clio S1600) ended the day in seventh and eighth respectively, the latter endured an anxious moment when he arrived at a chicane at high-speed.

Another Irish driver, John McGlaughlin put his Mitsubishi off the road at the same chicane, however, he still ended the day in tenth place – over 30 seconds ahead of his Irish Tarmac Championship Group N rival, Kevin Kelleher.

Overnight results:

1. Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru) 20m. 21.5s.

2. Guy Wilks/David Moynihan (Mitsubishi) 20m. 39.5s.

3. Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 21m. 03.4s.

4. David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Subaru) 21m. 12.9s.

5. Phillip Morrow/Daniel Barritt (Mitsubishi) 22m. 00.7s.

6. James Wozencroft/Chris Ridge (Subaru) 22m. 02.7s.

7. Darren Gass/Neil Shanks (Mitsubishi) 22m. 08.7s.

8. Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Renault Clio S1600) 22m. 20.4s.

9. Guy Woodcock/John Skinner (Escort Maxi) 22m. 22.3s.

10. John McGlaughlin/Damien Connolly (Mitsubishi) 22m. 30.2s.