Higgins leads McKinstry in Manx International Rally
Welsh-based and Manx-born driver David Higgins (Ford Focus) managed to keep a strong Irish challenge at bay on this evening's first leg of the Total Manx International Rally.
He leads Banbridge ace and former Irish Tarmac champion Kenny McKinstry by 19 seconds, with current Irish Tarmac championship leader Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC) in third place, a further 13.6 seconds behind.
Higgins was quickest on four of the five stages. The margin might have been closer, but McKinstry spun and lost well over 10 seconds on the penultimate stage.
Eugene Donnelly took a little time to settle and, having adjusted the suspension of his Corolla, he moved into third by the end of SS4, where the previous incumbent of the spot, Derek McGarrity, lost over 30 seconds. He is fourth overnight.
Young Welsh driver Gareth Jones (Subaru) is an impressive fifth ahead of Paul Bird (Ford Focus).
Rory Galligan, in a works Mitsubishi, stormed through the night’s final two stages to take the lead in Group N, 4.7 seconds ahead of teammate David Higgins. They are eighth and ninth respectively.
Elsewhere, Austin MacHale (Ford Focus) is 12th overall, just two seconds ahead of the Toyota Corolla WRC of his son, Gareth.
1. M. Higgins/B. Thomas (Ford Focus WRC) 26m. 14.5s.
2. K. McKinstry/N. Orr (Subaru WRC) 26m. 33.5s.
3. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 26m. 47.1s.
4. D. McGarrity/D. O'Gorman (Subaru WRC) 27m. 08.6s.
5. G. Jones/I. Thomas (Subaru WRC) 27m. 16.6s.
6. P. Bird/I. Windress (Ford Focus WRC) 27m. 41.3s.
7. E. Boland/F. Regan (Subaru WRC) 27m. 43.0s.
8. R. Galligan/G. Shinnors (Mitsubishi) 27m. 47.7s.
9. D. Higgins/D. Barritt (Mitsubishi Lancer N) 27m. 52.4s.
10.T. McNulty/E. O'Donnell (Subaru WRC) 28m. 03.6s.
