John Stone now heads the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship standings after finishing fifth overall on last weekend’s Manx Telecom Rally.

It was the Blackburn businessman’s best ever showing on the island and he reckoned that was due in no small part to the input of co-driver Ian Grindrod, who enjoyed many Manx Rally successes alongside the great Jimmy McRae in years gone by.

“Ian was fantastic, he didn’t miss a single call throughout the two days,” said Stone.

Their Legend Fires Skoda Fabia WRC ran faultlessly all weekend, their only problems coming with tyre selections.

Stone, pictured said: “The changing weather made tyre choices something of a lottery.

“They were very challenging conditions and some had big accidents so we were pleased to finish fifth after finishing Friday’s leg in 12th place.”

Stone is now looking ahead to the next round of the championship, the Jim Clark National Rally later this month, when Lee Carter will return to the co-driver’s seat.

He said: “We finished third there last year and it would be nice to get a repeat of that result to, hopefully, retain the championship lead.”

Melvyn Evans and Patrick Walsh won the rally in a Subaru Impreza WRC after Paul Bird, who has won the rally for the past two years, retired having put his Ford Focus WRC in a ditch.