Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)

Pirelli TEG Sport’s Mark Higgins and Bryan Thomas have taken an historic victory on the 46^th Rally Isle of Man, the fourth round of the MSA British Rally Championship.

Higgins’ win makes him not only the most successful driver in the event’s history, the only person to have won here five times, but it puts him and Keith Cronin level at points at the head of the British Rally Championship points standings.

“It has been the most difficult and hard fought event I can remember,” he said at the Douglas TT Grandstand finish. “It was great to win here last year and add Rory (Kennedy’s) name to the trophy, but this is fantastic, especially as Bryan now has four wins, equal to Derek Ringer.”

Mark Higgins 1st Overall

Photo: Roy Dempster

Higgins helped by the Cronin fanclub when his Subaru experiences clutch trouble at the Glascoe hairpins

Photo: Roy Dempster

Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors were second after one of the tensest events in the rally’s history, eventually finishing nearly a minute and a half adrift after a late puncture took the pressure off Higgins.

Keith Cronin 2nd Overall

Photo: Roy Dempster

Alastair Fisher and last year’s winning co-driver Rory Kennedy were third, the young Irishman not succumbing to pressure from Adam Gould who crashed out in his Pirelli Star Driver prize car on stage 17 of 20. It was Fisher who took the nomination for the 2009 Pirelli award shootout after his excellent first BRC podium place.

Alastair Fisher Pirelli Star Driver award winner

Photo: Roy Dempster

Alastair Fisher 3rd Overall

Photo: Roy Dempster

Despite Gould’s accident, Higgins’ result is enough to extend Pirelli TEG Sport’s lead in the MSA British Teams’ Rally Championship. They now lead by 31 points over Team JRM Lico with Revolution Wheels a further 19 points adrift.

Heading the Rally 3 class was Tom Walster with new co-driver Craig Parry, their fantastic sounding Clio R3 keeping the crowds entertained on their way to eighth place in the British Rally Championship classified finishers.

Taking Rally 2 and the C2R2 Cup were Martin McCormack and Phil Clarke in their immaculate Citroën C2, also winning the two wheel drive category, top placed Junior driver and a cheque for €4,000. The prize fund, which is awarded for the Citroën Racing Trophy, comprises €2,000 for the Citroën win, doubled up for being quickest front wheel drive.

Marty McCormack Citroen Racing Trophy winner

Photo: Roy Dempster

In Rally 1 it was the Suzukis which dominated, Luke Pinder and Peter Scott taking the Swift Sport Cup by force too. They held a two minute gap to David Harrison until the final stage, where they took it very easy, still managing to finish over a minute clear and with it a cheque for £500.

The Diesel Cup went to Steve and Tony Graham in their “Boom Box” Astra. They had fitted a speaker under the bonnet of the ultra-quiet car in an attempt to warn spectators of their arrival, playing a range of classical and house music on the stages.

Craig Breen FST winner

Photo: Roy Dempster

Gwyndaf Evans Historic winner

Photo: Roy Dempster

Rally Isle of Man 2009 Results

1. Mark Higgins Subaru Impreza N11 2hrs 37mins 47.2secs R4
2. Keith Cronin Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 +1min 26.4secs R4
3. Alistair Fisher Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 +6mins 25.3secs R4
4. Steven Quine Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 +9mins 56.8secs R4
5. Euan Thorburn Subaru Impreza +10mins 31.7secs R4
6. Dave Weston_Jnr Subaru Impreza N14 14mins 22.8secs R4
7. Martin McCormack Citroen C2 R2 Max 15mins 20.2secs R2
8. Jason Pritchard Citroen C2 R2 Max 16mins 28.2secs R2
9. Tom Walster Renault Clio R3 16mins 43.3secs R3
10. Andrew Leece Ford Fiesta ST 20mins 00.6secs R3
11. Kris Hall Ford Fiesta ST 22mins 13.7secs R3
12. Luke Pinder Suzuki Swift Sport 27mins 17.8secs R1
13. David Harrison Suzuki Swift Sport 28mins 35.8secs R1
14. Rory Byrne Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 28mins 52.6secs R4
15. Harry Hunt Ford Fiesta ST 29mins 05.8secs R3
16. Joseph McGonigle Honda Civic SiR R1 29mins 32.3secs R1
17. Gordon Nichol Suzuki Swift Sport 31mins 11.8secs R1
18. Nick Everard Suzuki Swift Sport 34mins 32.3secs R1
19. Rob Callin Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 34mins 37.9secs A8
20. David Bogie Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X +34mins 53.2secs R4
21. Steve Graham Vauxhall Astra Rally D 37mins 59.7secs R3
22. Fin McCaul BMW120D 41mins 26.9secs R3
23. Renaud Bronkart Nissan Micra 45mins 44.4secs R1
24. Richard Kneen MG ZR 54mins 41.5secs R1
25. Nigel Cannell Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 1hr 08mins 11.2secs R4
26. Daragh O'Riordan Opel Corsa S1600 2hrs 32mins 40.6secs R1

Retirements:

SS3. Stefan Davis Ford Fiesta ST Went off R3
SS8. Jonathan Greer Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Rolled R4
SS10. Chris Firth Subaru Impreza N10 Accident R4
SS13. Mark Donnelly Ford Fiesta ST Stopped R3
SS13. Andrew Hockridge Citroen C2 R2 Max Engine misfire R2
SS13. Richard Sykes Suzuki Swift Sport Shaft R1
SS13. Molly Taylor Suzuki Swift Sport Rolled R1
SS15. Mark Gamble Citroen C2 R2 Max Stopped R2
SS16. Craig Breen Ford Fiesta ST Stopped R3
SS17. Adam Gould Subaru Impreza N14 Rolled R4
SS18. Matti Rantanen Renault Clio Ragnotti Accident R3
SS18. Thomas Watson Ford Fiesta ST Stopped R3

BRC Standings: http://www.rallybrc.co.uk/NewsPDFs/2009%20MSA%20British%20Rally%20Championship%20tables%20-%20post%20round%204.pdf

Source: rallybrc.co.uk

Similar Posts:

• Rally Isle of Man 2009: Day 1 Results – Mark Higgins leads
• Higgins wins record fifth Rally Isle of Man title after a dramatic two days rallying
• Rally Isle of Man 2009 – BRC Video Highlights Clip

About the Author

Scott Coursey is the editor-in-chief of RallyBuzz.com and can be found on Twitter or on Facebook