Higgins wins Rally Isle of Man

Manx native Mark Higgins and his Letterkenny co driver Rory Kennedy, on board their Group N Subaru, hung on for victory at the Rally Isle of Man today.

Sat, 19 Jul, 2008 - 21:02

Manx native Mark Higgins and his Letterkenny co driver Rory Kennedy, on board their Group N Subaru, hung on for victory at the Rally Isle of Man today.

Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru WRC) began the day more than a minute adrift, but whittled the margin down to just less than 15 seconds prior to the final stage.

Higgins, who has won the event three times before – all in different cars – withstood the challenge and won by 11.6 seconds.

Boland is now 35 points clear in the Irish Tarmac Championship with Higgins moving up the order to second – even though the British Rally Championship remains his top priority.

Meanwhile, Guy Wilks and his Cork co-driver, David Moynihan came home third after they reeled in the Subaru of David Higgins earlier today

The latter retains his lead in the British rally series, however.

James Wozencroft (Subaru) was fifth.

Irish drivers, Darren Gass (Mitsubishi) and Brian O’Mahony (Renault Clio) were sixth and seventh respectively.

O'Mahony, who won the Super1600 category survived an anxious moment on the penultimate stage.

Another Irish driver, Jonny Greer (Mitsubishi), was eighth.

Boland can clinch the Irish Tarmac title on next month’s penultimate round, the Armagh-based Ulster Rally.

That, like this event, doubles as a round of the Irish Tarmac and British Rally Championships.

1. M. Higgins/R. Kennedy (Subaru) 2h. 40m. 18.8s.

2. E. Boland/D. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 2h. 40m. 30.4s.

3. G. Wilks/D. Moynihan (Mitsubishi) 2h. 44m. 04.5s.

4. D. Higgins/I. Thomas (Subaru) 2h. 45m. 38.2s.