Arron Newby and Rob Fagg (Subaru Impreza) lead Rally Isle of Man, powered by Microgaming into Saturday’s final leg after a day of high drama, particularly in the battle for the MSA Brisitsh Rally Championship title.
Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss (Citroen DS3) led going into Friday’s marathon day, 13 closed roads stages over 14 hours, and they were able to extend the advantage when points leaders Daniel McKenna/Arthur Kierans punctured their DS3 on the opening test at the Lhoobs.
Third placed overall Connor Corkill/Paul McCann (Subaru Impreza) crashed out when clouting a bank two stages later at Ballateare, as Newby/Fagg surged from an overnight fourth into the lead, albeit by just 2.2s over Pryce.
After lunchtime service, Pirelli Star Driver Mckenna rolled on SS9 Sand Quarry, forcing him to miss the next two stages, with the DGM Team racing to re-prepare the car for the second and deciding round of the Championship that would start at tea-time.
Pryce meanwhile had his own issues, a loose tank guard grinding the Citroen to a halt on the very same stage, though they were able to complete the remaining tests to scoop victory and maximum points on the opening round of the two this weekend.
Similarly in the Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship, opening half victory meant that Newby/Fagg retained their titles.
Steve Colley/Andrew Cowley held second with Nigel and Michaela Cannell third, both in Mitsubishi’s.
In BRC terms the second points scoring round became a winner takes all battle, and Pryce set about his work, fastest on the opening two stages including the spectator special through the streets of Castletown mid-evening.
It all began to unravel however on the next stage with a puncture for the Welshman, and then on the next stage he clipped a rock at a chicane and bent a rear beam when he hit a kerb at the next junction on 5 Tons Bridge, sidelining him from the remaining nights tests and leaving the crew to work through the night to fix the car to offer even the slimmest chance of pushing Mckenna tomorrow.
For their part the Irish crew had gone from the lows of thinking the dream was shattered when lying upside down in the afternoon, to knowing simply finishing will probably make them British champions.
Ahead Newby has pushed the overnight lead over Colley past two minutes, with the Cannell’s a further 1m20s back in third.
In the Historic battle Rob Smith/Alun Cook continue to lead, fourth overall despite having binding brakes throughout the day, with Meirion Evans/Iwan Jones second and David Stokes/Guy Weaver third, all in Ford Escort’s.
In the NGK Spark Plus BRC Challenge a similar see-saw day to the main title has taken place, with Ross Hunter/Josh Davison (Peugeot 205) needing only to finish to secure the title after Richard Sykes/Emma Morrison (Citroen C2) put the car off the road on SS10 Snuff the Wind, before rejoining only to be sidelined again with a broken driveshaft on the penultimate stage of the day.
The action continues on Saturday, a further seven stages building up to the traditional finale, the Classic stage that takes crews across the island, starting near Ballaugh and ending with the dash through the streets of Douglas to the finish at the TT Grandstand, where the champagne will await the event victors, and title winners.
Spectating is free of charge throughout the event.
Combined Top 10 after SS17 of 24 (End of Day 2)
1 7 Arron Newby Rob Fagg Subaru Impreza 1:16:15.9
2 9 Steve Colley Andrew Cowley Mitusbishi Evo IX 1:18:18.0
3 8 Nigel Cannell Michaela Cannell Mitusbishi Evo IX 1:19:01.6
4 11 Rob Smith Alun Cook Ford Escort RS1800 1:21:53.4
5 13 Meirion Evans Iwan Jones Ford Escort MkII 1:22:41.7
6 30 Andrew Hockridge Aled Edwards Citroen DS3 1:23:30.4
7 14 David Stokes Guy Weaver Ford Escort RS1600 1:23:43.1
8 15 Will Onions Dave Williams Ford Escort RS 1:24:48.3
9 12 Martyn Jones Martin Burns Vauxhall Nova GSi 1:24:50.9
10 34 Ross Hunter Josh Davison Peugeot 205 1:25:01.9
