Stone bids for Manx Rally joy

1:56pm Thursday 8th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

TARMAC rally specialist John Stone tackles his favourite event this weekend - the RBS International Manx Rally.

However, 120 stage miles on some of Europe's fastest roads - compressed into just a day and a half - also represents one of rallying's toughest challenges.

The Blackburn-based businessman is seeded at car 32 in his familiar Legend Fires Metro 6R4, with regular navigator Lee Carter on the maps.

As a qualifying round of both the MSA Asphalt and Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championships, the event benefits from the appearance of most of the top national rally drivers in the UK.

Heading the 120-strong entry are a trio of state-of-the-art Subaru Imprezas led by Irishman and Manx expert Kenny McKinstry, Roger Duckworth and Melvyn Evans.

Other former Asphalt Champions are represented by 2007 winners Steve Simpson and Mark Booth (Hyundai Accent WRC) and John and Caroline Price (Metro 6R4).

Action starts at 7pm tomorrow night, with a 1.5-mile blast around Port Erin, followed by four more stages.

Saturday's leg starts from the famous TT Grandstand at 8.45am, with nine stages before the winners return at 3.30pm.