Daniel McKenna: Manx Challenge Awaits For Pirelli Star
Posted: May 9, 2014 12:32 PM
2014 Pirelli Star Driver Daniel McKenna and his co-driver Arthur Kierans head to the Isle of Man this weekend to sample some of the most challenging and unique tarmac stages in the world.
Daniel and Arthur are heading to the island in the Scanbitz Mark II Ford Escort with two missions; to continue development work for Pirelli and to gain experience of the unique Manx terrain ahead of the Manx International Rally in mid September, a counting round of the British Rally Championship.
Speaking ahead of the weekend Daniel said: “It’s always nice to drive the Escort but getting experience of the Manx stages is the key this weekend. It’s a place I’ve heard so much about and I can’t wait to sample the roads myself. The weather could be difficult this weekend but that’ll make the learning experience all the better. Getting these miles in now could be of real benefit at the business end of my BRC campaign as the Manx International Rally is the penultimate round of the championship.”
Daniel’s season with Pirelli has been a fruitful one so far having netted 3 podium finishes and placing highest 2 wheel drive competitor on the Circuit of Ireland, a round of the European Rally Championship. A podium on such a specialised event as the Manx National Rally, against a very strong entry isn’t really a possibility but this isn’t a concern for the Monaghan driver. “It’s all about learning. The tyres, the car, the roads. In terms of this weekend the result is really secondary but I’d love to finish to get the most out of the experience before taking the Escort to Donegal next month.”
The action on the Manx National Rally gets underway on Friday with a shakedown stage before the crews set off at 7pm in the evening into the daunting Manx tests. The second day gets underway on Saturday morning just before 9am with the first crews arriving back at the finish ramp at 4pm. Once again the organisers have designed a compact route for ease of recce, with centralised service at the famous TT Grandstand.
ENGLISHMAN BIDS TO JOIN AN IRISHMAN & A WELSHMAN!...
Posted: May 1, 2014 8:48 AM
Having taken his third victory on the Manx National Rally last year, Cumbrian Paul Bird starts the 2014 event at No.1 in his Ford Focus WRC with the express intention of joining Ulsterman Kenny McKinstry and Melvyn Evans, from Llanwrda, as a four-time winner of what has become, since its inception in 1980, one of the most popular rallies in the UK calendar. Indeed, McKinstry holds the record with five wins, the last of which came in 2007, and Bird will no doubt feel that that is also in reach - but first things first!...
Although McKinstry & Evans will not be present in the starting line-up, the organisers, Manx Auto Sport Ltd, have amassed a superb entry of 110 cars for this year’s event which takes place on 9th/10th May. Bird will be accompanied by the experienced Aled Davies who already has two wins on the Isle of Man to his credit - last year with Bird and 2012 with Evans.
The Manx National Rally is the second round of the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship and, as such, all the main protagonists will be present. As crews make their way across from the mainland, it is defending champion Damian Cole (Ford Focus WRC) who leads the table, along with co-driver Elliott Edmondson. Cole has yet to taste victory on the Manx and now would be an ideal time to break that duck as he bids for a record-breaking fifth consecutive Asphalt title.
Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh are next up in their Subaru Impreza WRC - 2007 Asphalt Champion Simpson has never won the Manx either whilst, although Walsh hasn’t actually been Co-drivers’ Champion (he’s been runner-up for the past two seasons), he does have a Manx victory to his name - with Melvyn Evans in 2011!...
Making the journey from one island to another, Mull resident John MacCrone will be making his tarmac debut in his Ford Fiesta R200 in which he recently finished top 2WD car on the Granite City Rally. Dai Roberts will be pointing him in the right direction on this occasion.
On the 2013 Manx National Rally Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke had a rare outing in a Focus WRC and put in one of the ‘Drives of the Rally’! They eventually finished 2nd to Bird by just 3.4 seconds, having set fastest time on the final stage by 7.5 - who knowswhat might have happened if the event had been a bit longer!... Well, they’re back once again and, barring problems, will be hoping to go one better!
John Indri and Manx resident co-driver Pete Johnson - 8th last year in his two-wheel drive Darrian - now have the benefit of the four-wheel drive turbo-charged power of a Subaru Impreza WRC. In this way, rain on the stages won’t be quite such an issue as has been the case in the past! John Stone returns in the Skoda Fabia WRC that has taken him to Top Ten finishes on the event in each of the last four years, the highest of which was 4th in 2012. With Carl Williamson reading the notes, Stone will be looking to keep the momentum going and knows that, given a clear run, there is still room for improvement on past performances.
The first two-wheel drive car in the entry is the Vauxhall-engined MkII Escort of Gwyndaf Evans/Phil Pugh. In spite of a glittering career, the former British Rally Champion has never actually won an event on the Isle of Man and whilst, with the best will in the world, that is unlikely to change in the short term, his presence will doubtless cause a great deal of interest, especially amongst the others in his class!...
Behind the Welshmen are defending Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Champions Arron Newby and Kirk Michael’s Rob Fagg in their Subaru Impreza. The pair are also leading this year’s series after the opening round and a good result here will do their hopes of back-to-back titles no harm at all!
The Top Ten is completed by the exciting Ford Fiesta WRC of Graham Coffey/Jenny Gaebler, but then the quality just keeps on coming, with the likes of Manxman Nigel Cannell (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9), Peter Taylor (Fiesta S2400) and the rapid Escorts of Darren Atkinson & Simon Mauger all nestling in the ‘teens’. One of several ‘unknown quantities’ on an event such as this is Ollie Mellors’ 2.5 litre Proton Millington. Ollie’s father, Chris, was the first person to win three consecutive MSA Gravel Rally Championships (1994-96) but, in spite of several visits to the Isle of Man, the nearest he got to winning was runner-up in 1995!....
This year’s Manx National Rally, which incorporates the Chris Kelly Memorial Rally and the Manx Rally Challenge, will be won and lost over 14 special stages, totalling 125 miles, over the closed public roads on the Isle of Man.
Paul Bird & Aled Davies will lead the field away from the start in Port Erin at 7.00pm on Friday 9th May. Six stages later, they return to the TT Grandstand for an overnight halt, prior to the restart at 9.00am on Saturday. The first car is then due back at the Grandstand for the finish at 3.00pm that afternoon.
Seeded Entry Lists
Posted: April 30, 2014 4:01 PM
Manx National Rally 2014
1 Paul Bird/Aled Davies (Ford Focus WRC) [B14]
2 Damian Cole/Elliott Edmondson (Ford Focus WRC) [B14]
3 Stephen Simpson/Patrick Walsh (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
4 John MacCrone/Di Roberts (Ford Fiesta R200) [B10]
5 Jason Tauber Pritchard/Phil Clarke (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
6 John Indri/Pete Johnson (Subaru Impreza WRC) [B14]
7 John Stone/Carl Williamson (Skoda Fabia WRC) [B14]
8 Gwyndaf Evans/Phil Pugh (Ford Escort Mk2) [B12]
9 Arron Newby/Rob Fagg (Subaru Impreza WRX) [B13]
10 Graham Coffey/Jenny Gaebler (Ford Fiesta WRC) [A8]
11 Nigel Cannell/Graham Fargher (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX) [B13]
12 Steve Colley/Andrew Cowley (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX) [B13]
14 Peter Taylor/Andrew Roughead (Ford Fiesta S2400) [B13]
15 Darren Atkinson/Phil Sandham (Ford Escort Mk 2) [B12]
16 Simon Mauger/Brian Cammack (Ford Escort Mk11) [B12]
17 Daniel Mc Kenna/Arthur Kierans (Ford Escort Mk 2) [B12]
18 Oliver Mellors/Ian Windress (Proton Millington Satria Neo) [B14]
19 Bob Fowden/Ashley Trimble (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
20 Alex Laffey/Jack Morton (Ford Fiesta R5+) [B14]
21 Barry Groundwarer/Neil Shanks (Mitsubishi Lancer E9) [B13]
22 Quintin Milne/Martin Forrest (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX) [B13]
23 Tristan Pye/Andrew Falconer (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
24 Darren Doherty/Stewart Merry (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
25 Martyn Jones/Ben Hardy (Vauxhall Nova GSI) [B10]
26 Carine (Kex) Walker/Dannii Matthews (BMW 325) [B12]
28 Andy Bird/Sam Spencer (Vauxhall Chevette) [B12]
29 Gary Nuttal/Mark Perryman (Mitsubishi Evo 6.5) [B13]
30 Stu Bainborough/Charlotte Shimmin (Mitsubishi Evo 3) [B13]
31 Alan Oldfield/Ken Bills (Proton S2500) [B14]
32 Keith Robathan/Ian Nicoll (Ford Escort Mk2) [B12]
33 Martin Hodgson/Tony Jones (Ford Escort) [B11]
34 David Tinn/Marc Sp Fowler (Mem Proton 2500s) [B14]
35 John Cressey/Martin Cressey (BMW Mini *s*) [B12]
36 Connor Corkill/Dale Furniss (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
37 Guy Simpkiss/Debbie Perry (Vauxhall Astra) [B11]
38 Ian Kenvin/Ian Meakin (Ford Escort Mk1) [B12]
40 Geoff Wright/Chris Sanderson (Nissan Almera) [B11]
41 Chris Marshall/Simon Hunter (Mitsubishi Evo 5) [B13]
42 David Craine/Geoff Leece (Ford Escort Cosworth) [B13]
44 Richard Felgate/Mark Mason (BMW M3) [B12]
45 Andrew Hockridge/Aled Edwards (Citroen DS3) [B12]
46 Dan Taylor/Andy Conibear (BMW Compoact) [B12]
47 Pete Rayner/Den Golding (Ford Escort Mk 2) [B12]
49 Chris Ford/Micheal Gilbey (Subaru S11 WRC) [B14]
50 Darren Underwood/Sue Underwood (Vauxhall Nova) [B10]
51 Adrian Kermode/Maurice Beckett (VW Golf) [H4]
53 John Richardson/Eric Wilcockson (Ford Escort Mk 2) [B11]
55 Andrew Dudgeon/Adam Yates (Honda Civic) [B10]
56 Steve Oleary/Michael Oleary (Darrian T90) [N3]
57 Dale Clatworthy/Marc Clatworthy (Toyota Corolla ae86) [B10]
58 Chris Rice/Criag Cameron (Subaru Impreza) [N4]
59 Paul Doroszczuk/Julian Doroszczuk (Fors Escort Mk 2) [B11]
60 Tommy Graham/Mike Bailey (mitsubishi evo) [B13]
63 Dean Quayle/Barrie Ford (Vauxhall Corsa Kitcar) [B11]
64 Walter Bridson/Stephen Christian (Vauxhall Astra Gsi) [B11]
68 Geoff Glover/Keith Barker (Vauxhall Astra (RWD)) [B11]
70 Brian Watson/Caroline Will (Ford Escort MK2) [B12]
71 Ian Copping/Dave Rowley (Ford Focus) [B13]
73 David Hughes/Emma Kennaugh (BMW E30 325i) [B12]
74 Matthew Bettridge/Ian Postlethwaite (Honda Civic) [N3]
76 Daniel Boardman/Steve Coombes (Honda Civic Type R Ep3) [A7]
77 Greg Pye/Ken Cottee (Seat Ibiza) [B11]
78 Huw Reed/Jonathan Boucard (Darrian T90) [B11]
83 Andrew Scott/Ian Robertson (Ford Escort Mk2) [B11]
85 Mike Taylor/Peter Grant (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus) [B12]
88 Paul Clapham/Colin Watson (peugeot 106) [B10]
92 Tim Healy/Rob Jackson (Opal Corsa) [N1]
94 Cathy Sewart/Martin Haggett (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus) [B12]
100 Richard Andrew Kneen/William Brown (Honda Civic) [N3]
102 Darren Pool/Christopher Beer (Vauxhall Corsa) [B10]
104 Tom Jones/Mark John Butler (Honda Civic) [B10]
105 Richard Bestwick/Gavin Butler (Peugeot 309 GTI) [B11]
Chris Kelly Memorial Rally 2014 / ( ) [] Chris Kelly Memorial Rally 2014
27 Timmy Collins/Cliona Collins (Mitsubishi Evo) [N4]
39 Ian Chadwick/Kevin Horgan (Honda Civic) [B10]
43 Keith Dowthwaite/Tony King (Ford Escort Mk2) [B12]
48 Chris Daykin/David Jones (Subaru Impreza) [N4]
52 John Kirkpatrick /Martyn Quine (Vauxhall Astra (RWD)) [B12]
54 Paul McEvoy/Michael McEvoy (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
61 Richard Barnard/TBC (Subaru Impreza N8+) [B13]
62 Grant Leece/Nick Pledger (Vauxhall Astra GSI Merit) [B11]
65 Matthew Carter/Mark Collister (Ford Escort MK1) [B12]
66 Carl Lumb/Andy Darlington (Ford Sierra) [B11]
67 Chris Taylor/Brian Hodgson (Ford Escort RS) [B11]
69 Mark Constantine/Andrew Constantine (Vauxhall Corsa) [B9]
72 Kevin Jeffray/Mark Simpson (Subaru Legacy) [B13]
75 Phil Merrills/Mark Brew (Honda Civic) [A7]
79 Tim Phelps/Yan Griffiths (Ford Escort Mk2) [B12]
80 Stephen Ritchie/Ian Harden (BMW M3 Compact) [B12]
81 Paul Evans/Lol Powell (Ford Escort) [B12]
82 Jason Daly/Rory McCann (Honda Civic) [B10]
84 Terence Hough/Ben Wild (Mitsubishi Evo 7) [N1]
86 Keith de brissac Bernard/Luke Tunney (Ford Escort Mk1) [N1]
87 David Earthy/Maria Rayner (Cirtoen C2r2 Max) [A6]
89 Lee Farrer/Neil Bye (Ford Puma S1600) [A6]
90 David Paul Turner/Leonard Stanway (Vauxhall Astra Mk 2) [B11]
91 Freddie Milne/Sean Donnelly (Evol 7 Mitsubishi) [A7]
93 Chris Heyes/Cara Boalch (Volkswagen Polo GTi) [N1]
95 Nigel Cordwell/Jane Gray (Rover Mini Mini 35) [B9]
96 Terry Phillips/Ian Notman (VW Golf GTI) [B11]
97 Ian Barnard/Ashley Davies (Vauxhall Nova) [B9]
98 Craig Lemaire/Alan Lemaire (Volkswagen Golf Gti) [B11]
99 Stephen Bettridge/Michael Keig (Vauxhall corsa) [B9]
101 James Kenneth Quirk/Daniel Hurst (Suzuki Swift Gti) [B9]
103 Dave Gaggs/Mathew Crowe (Vauxhall Corsa) [N1]
106 Stephen Johnson/Steven Butler (Missan Micra) [B9]
107 Kyle Collister/Andy Barnard (Peugeot 106) [B10]
108 Daniel Shacklock/Chloe Duke-Keig (Peugeot 206) [B10]
109 Peter Thornton/Tom Woodburn (Subaru Impreza) [B13]
110 Daniel Colley/ (BMW 318) [B11]
Recently released details of the Manx National Rally (9th/10th May) indicate that
the organisers, Manx Auto Sport Ltd, have been busy making some changes to
this year’s route. Competitors will face a total of 127 miles of flat-out motoring -
an increase of ten from 2013 - which are contained in 14 special stages, a
decrease of six, with 95 road miles joining them all together over the closed
public roads on the Isle of Man.
The opening two stages on Friday evening will be the now-traditional runs
through Port Erin and the total competitive mileage on the first leg will be
approximately 50. Following the overnight halt (there will be no Parc Ferme this
year), the event will recommence on Saturday morning from the TT Grandstand,
with the balance of the mileage preceding the mid-afternoon finish.
Central servicing will also be at the TT Grandstand, with the length of each halt
extended slightly from previous years.
MAS Ltd are delighted to confirm that entries are up on this time last year and
also pleasing is that, amongst them, a high number of ‘first-timers’ are preparing
to experience the event first-hand. Already amongst the list of ‘Entries
Received’ are both leading crews following the opening round of the first round
of the Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship - Arron Newby/Rob Fagg
(Subaru Impreza) and Steve Colley/Andrew Cowley (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9).
COLE FIRES A WARNING SHOT!...
Posted: March 18, 2014 11:20 AM
The Manx National Rally (9th/10th May) is the second round of the REIS MSA
Asphalt Rally Championship and, following victory on the 2014 season opener
on the Epynt Military Ranges, defending champion (for the fourth time!) Damian
Cole (Ford Focus WRC) arrives on the Isle of Man as the leader.
However, a win on the Isle of Man is one of the few gaps in Cole’s asphalt
rallying CV and, with competition always at such a high level on the event, the
question on everyone’s lips is ‘can he hold off for that elusive victory this time?’
For the past six years, the winners’ enclosure has been monopolised by just two
drivers - Welshman Melvyn Evans (Subaru Impreza WRC) in 2008/2011/2012 and
Paul Bird (Ford Focus WRC) in 2009/2010/2013 - and it is likely that this rivalry
will be renewed in 2014.
For his part, Cole has finished 3rd on three occasions in the past four years and
would dearly love to join the impressive list of Manx National Rally winners
which stretches back to 1980 when the late Tony Pond was victorious in his
factory-entered Triumph TR7 V8.
A GRANDSTAND VIEW!...
Posted: February 25, 2014 8:40 PM
The famous TT Grandstand, in Douglas, will once again play host to the Manx
National Rally on 9th/10th May. The event welcomes competitors with National ‘A’
licences, as opposed to the Chris Kelly Memorial Rally, run concurrently and
over exactly the same route, which caters for those with National ‘B’ licences.
The rally retains its popular two-leg format, with cars leaving the start from
7.00pm on Friday 9th May for the first of a total of fourteen special stages,
totalling 130 miles, over the closed public roads on the Isle of Man. Following an
overnight halt, competitors will be joined by those contesting the one-day Manx
Challenge Rally for the remaining 80 miles of stages prior to the finish, back at
the Grandstand, at 4.00pm on the Saturday afternoon.
The event is a qualifying round of the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship,
the Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship and the ANWCC Stage Rally
Championship.
The weekend’s activities are then rounded off in fine style by the Awards
Presentation on the Saturday evening.
The Manx National Rally first took place in 1980 and, since then, it has only
missed one year - 2001, when the UK was in the grip of the ‘Foot & Mouth’ crisis.
In the intervening years several drivers have won it more than once, but no-one
has actually scored a hat-trick of consecutive victories. Having been successful
in both 2011 and 2012, Welshman Melvyn Evans was on course to break that
record last year until his Subaru Impreza suffered gearbox failure during the
Saturday stages. So, it’s all back to Square One again in 2014!
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