Rally Isle of Man
CountryIsle of Man
Date
TypeStage Rally/Asphalt
Clerk of the CourseAlan Teare (National A - formerly an International event)
Event OrganiserRally Isle of Man Ltd
Principal SponsorMicrogaming Software Systems Ltd
History
First Event1963 Manx Trophy Rally
Number of events50 (2014)
First winnerReg McBride/Don Barrow (1963)
Most winsMark Higgins 5 (1989–2009)

Rally Isle of Man (previously the Manx International Rally and formerly the Manx Trophy Rally) is a car rally competition held in the Isle of Man. It was first held in 1963, and later became a well-known event in the British Open Rally Championship and the European Rally Championship (until 1996). In 2002, it became part of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in addition to the British Rally Championship.[1] The most successful drivers in the history of the rally include the five-time winner Mark Higgins and the four-time winners Tony Pond and Russell Brookes.

This has been an annual event for many years, apart from cancellation in 2011. In early September 2018, it was announced that the 2018 event had been cancelled. Various allegations were made, blaming the cancellation on, inter alia, the rally organisers, the Department of Infrastructure and the Department for Enterprise. The event returned in 2022 as part of the FIA Celtic Rally Trophy.

Stage locations

Rally Isle of Man is run on public roads closed for racing by the provisions of an Act of Tynwald (the parliament of the Isle of Man). The event has special timed stages that use narrow farm-lanes with high grass banks, stages over open moorland and Monaco-style 'around-the-houses' stages in Ramsey or Castletown. The exact routes vary each year, but in 2008 the longest timed special stage was the 21.46-mile (34.54-kilometre) Milerisk stage and the shortest included the 1.46-mile (2.35-kilometre) Balley Cashtal stage in Castletown and the 0.90-mile (1.45-kilometre) Villa Marina "super-special" stage in Douglas.[2]

Special stage records

Records and stage times for competition sections for the Manx International Rally and Rally Isle of Man[3][4]
NameRouteYearDriverTypeLengthTimeAverage
speed
Balley CashtalCastletown2006Andreas MikkelsenFord Focus RS WRC 051.26 miles (2.03 km)1' 17.0058.90 miles per hour (94.79 km/h)
Castle RushenCastletown - Balladoole - Poyll Vaaish - Strandhall - Kentraugh Mill2016Desi HenryŠkoda Fabia R55.08 miles (8.18 km)4' 19.970.36 miles per hour (113.23 km/h)
ClassicBallaugh Glen – Druidale – Brandywell Cottage – Injebreck – Baldwin Valley – TT Grandstand2008Eamonn BolandSubaru Impreza WRC S1213.27 miles (21.36 km)11' 30.571.16 miles per hour (114.52 km/h)
CringleBallabeg – Round Table – Glen Rushen Mines – St. Johns2004Mark HigginsŠkoda Octavia WRC13.66 miles (21.98 km)11' 06.274.73 miles per hour (120.27 km/h)
GlascoeDog Mills – Andreas – Jurby East – Sandygate – St. Judes2009Keith CroninMitsubishi Lancer Evo12.47 miles (20.07 km)10' 08.873.74 miles per hour (118.67 km/h)
Glen RoyBegoade Road – Conrhenny – 5½ Mile Corner – Social Cottage – Baldhoon2007Andreas MikkelsenFord Focus RS WRC 054.66 miles (7.50 km)4' 10.766.91 miles per hour (107.68 km/h)
KellaWest Kella – The Curraghs – Ballaugh Cronk – Orrisdale2007Andreas MikkelsenFord Focus RS WRC 0511.21 miles (18.04 km)9' 23.171.66 miles per hour (115.33 km/h)
MarineDouglas Head – Port Soderick – Crogga – Santon2008Eamonn BolandSubaru Impreza WRC S123.30 miles (5.31 km)4' 23.866.09 miles per hour (106.36 km/h)
MaugholdHibernia – Ballajora – Slieau Lewaigue1991François ChatriotSubaru Legacy RS3.30 miles (5.31 km)2' 50.066.33 miles per hour (106.75 km/h)
Newtown (Milerisk)Santon – The Braaid – Foxdale – Loobs Road – St. Marks – The Gate2006Tapio LaukkanenRenault Mégane Maxi21.38 miles (34.41 km)17' 20.0074.28 miles per hour (119.54 km/h)
RavensdaleDruidale – Brandywell Cottage – Sartfield Hairpin – Little London1989Jimmy McRaeFord Sierra RS Cosworth7.14 miles (11.49 km)6' 08.068.08 miles per hour (109.56 km/h)
Sand QuarryGerman Parish: Ballagyr – (Loop Section; Lynague – Ballakaighen – Staarvey – The Kew – East Lhergydoo) – Ballagyr Lane2017Fredrik AhlinŠkoda Fabia R513.23 miles (21.29 km)10' 37.874.74 miles per hour (120.28 km/h)
StaarveyGerman Parish: Stockfield – Lynague – Ballagyr – East Lhergydhoo – Staarvey Road – Ballakaighen2009Mark HigginsSubaru Impreza WRX STI7.22 miles (11.62 km)6' 12.068.97 miles per hour (111.00 km/h)
Tholt-e-WillSulby Claddaghs – Sulby Glen – Tholt-e-Will Glen1999Martin RoweRenault Mégane Maxi4.14 miles (6.66 km)3' 36.368.97 miles per hour (111.00 km/h)
Villa Marina
(Super-Special)
Douglas: Harris Promenade – Broadway – Villa Marina – Gaiety Chicane – Loch Promenade – Senna Slip Hairpin – Greensills Corner – Sefton Chicane – Villa Marina – Broadway2016Craig BreenCitroën DS3 R50.90 miles (1.45 km)1' 02.851.62 miles per hour (83.07 km/h)
West BaldwinLittle London – Brandywell Cottage – Injebreck – Ballaoates – Abbeylands – Cronk-ny-Mona1992Colin McRaeSubaru Legacy RS11.65 miles (18.75 km)9' 21.074.82 miles per hour (120.41 km/h)

Winners

SeasonDriverCo-driverCar
1963Reg McBrideDon BarrowAllardette
1964Dave FriswellKeith BinnsMini Cooper S
1965Tony FallDave FawcettMini Cooper S
1966Dennis EasthorpeDennis CraineFord Cortina GT
1967Norman HarveyTerry VauxMini Cooper S
1968John HuytonBob CorrinFord Cortina GT
1969Colin MalkinJohn DavenportHillman Imp
1970Chris SclaterJohn DavenportFord Escort TC
1971Roger ClarkHenry LiddonFord Escort RS1600
1972Roger ClarkJim PorterFord Escort RS1600
1973Adrian BoydJohn DavenportFord Escort RS1600
1974Cahal CurleyAustin FrazerPorsche
1975Roger ClarkJim PorterFord Escort RS1800
1976Ari VatanenPeter BryantFord Escort RS1800
1977Pentti AirikkalaRisto VirtanenVauxhall Chevette HSR
1978Tony PondFred GallagherTriumph TR7 V8
1979Russell BrookesPaul WhiteFord Escort RS1800
1980Tony PondFred GallagherTriumph TR7 V8
1981Tony PondMike NicholsonVauxhall Chevette HSR
1982Jimmy McRaeIan GrindrodOpel Ascona 400
1983Henri ToivonenFred GallagherOpel Manta 400
1984Jimmy McRaeMike NicholsonOpel Manta 400
1985Russell BrookesMike BroadOpel Manta 400
1986Tony PondRob ArthurMG Metro 6R4
1987Jimmy McRaeIan GrindrodFord Sierra RS Cosworth
1988Patrick SnijersDany ColebundersBMW M3
1989Russell BrookesNeil WilsonFord Sierra RS Cosworth
1990Russell BrookesNeil WilsonFord Sierra RS Cosworth
1991Colin McRaeDerek RingerSubaru Legacy RS
1992Colin McRaeDerek RingerSubaru Legacy RS
1993Richard BurnsRobert ReidSubaru Legacy RS
1994Malcolm WilsonBryan ThomasFord Escort RS Cosworth
1995Frank MeagherMichael MaherFord Escort RS Cosworth
1996Armin SchwarzDenis GiraudetToyota Celica GT-Four ST205
1997Martin RoweNicky BeechRenault Mégane Maxi
1998Martin RoweDerek RingerRenault Mégane Maxi
1999Martin RoweDerek RingerRenault Mégane Maxi
2000Mark HigginsBryan ThomasVauxhall Astra Kit Car
2001Cancelled due to the United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis.
2002Mark HigginsCraig ThorleyToyota Corolla WRC
2003Jonny MilnerNicky BeechToyota Corolla WRC
2004Jonny MilnerNicky BeechSubaru Impreza WRC
2005Mark HigginsBryan ThomasFord Focus RS WRC 02
2006Eugene DonnellyPaul KielyToyota Corolla WRC
2007Eugene DonnellyPaul KielySubaru Impreza WRC
2008Mark HigginsRory KennedySubaru Impreza WRX STI
2009Mark HigginsBryan ThomasSubaru Impreza WRX STI
2010Keith CroninBarry McNultySubaru Impreza WRX STI
2011Cancelled
2012Steven QuineRichard SkinnerMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
2013Arron NewbyRob FaggSubaru Impreza N11
2014Nigel CannellMichaela CannellMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
2015Steve ColleyAndrew CowleyMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
2016Elfyn EvansCraig ParryFord Fiesta R5
2017Keith CroninMikie GalvinFord Fiesta R5
2018–2025Not held

Multiple winners

WinsManufacturer
17Ford
9Subaru
4Opel
Toyota
3Mini
Mitsubishi
Vauxhall
Renault
2Triumph

References

  1. ^ "Manx International Rally – Roll of Honour". RallyBase. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  2. ^ Rally Isle of Man Programme 2008 p7 Rally Isle of Man Ltd (2008)
  3. ^ 2009 Media Guide page 48 Rally Of Man 2009
  4. ^ Live Rally Results Tynemouth Computer Services