Milner claims Manx victory
British Rally champion Jonny Milner today won round five of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship, the Gibbs Aquada Manx International Rally.
Milner was fastest on eight of the 23 stages to take a 97-second victory over Ulsterman Kenny McKinstry.
Milner said: “It’s a dream come true winning for the second year. Now we’re back on track for the Championship and everything is to play for!”
McKinstry, driving a Subaru Impreza World Rally Car, was hoping to take his first win at the event. He has won the National rally three times but the International win still eludes him.
Glengormley’s Derek McGarrity finished third and continues to lead the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship ahead of Eugene Donnelly.
Driving a Toyota Corolla, Donnelly’s first visit to the Isle of Man resulted in the Maghera man netting fourth overall, seven seconds ahead of Rathcoole’s Austin MacHale.
Manxman Robert Watson dominated Group N. A puncture during the final leg resulted in a one minute time loss but he still won the category from Irishman Dessie Keenan.
Durham’s Guy Wilks won Super 1600 despite his gearbox failing during the penultimate stage.
Wilks nursed his car through the final test to win the category and finish 10th overall.
Sweden’s Jennie-Lee Hermansson was competing on closed roads for the first time and finished as the leading lady driver.
Co-driver, Welshman Howard Davies, commented: “It has been a steep learning curve but confidence increased with every stage”.
Manx International Rally, Douglas, Isle of Man final results after stage 23 of 23
1 Jonny Milner (Subaru) 2hrs 39min 19.6sec
2 Kenny McKinstry (Subaru) at 1min 37.0
3 Derek McGarrity (Subaru) 2min 45.6
4 Eugene Donnelly (Toyota) 3min 20.5
5 Austin MacHale (Ford) 3min 28.3
6 Mark Higgins (Skoda) 4min 44.4
7 Eamonn Boland (Subaru) 7min 40.3
8 Matt Wilson (Ford) 9min 24.8
9 Barry Johnson (Subaru) 12min 44.5
10 Guy Wilks (Suzuki) 14min 45.3
Top 10 championship standings after round 5 (of 8):
1 David Higgins (Hyundai) 74 points
2 Barry Johnson (Subaru) 72 points
3 Matthew Wilson (Ford) 69 points
4 Austin MacHale (Ford) 68 points
5 Jonny Milner (Subaru) 60 points
6 Guy Wilks (Suzuki) 53 points
7 Steve Perez (Ford) 42 points
8 Sebastian Ling (Mitsubishi) 35 points
9 Paul Bird (Ford) 33 points
10 Dorian Rees (Subaru) 31 points.
