Manx Rally 1988 – Video Clip

With Patrick Snijers set to return to the Isle of Man this year for some demonstration runs around the Castletown spectator stage in a Prodrive owned BMW M3, this Barrie Hinchliffe Productions film tells the story of the Belgian's famous Manx Rally victory in 1988.

There were three drivers in with a shout of winning the 1988 Shell Oils RAC Open Rally Championship heading into the final round on the Isle of Man. Jimmy McRae (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth), Malcolm Wilson (Vauxhall Astra GTE) and Pentti Airikkala (Mitsubishi Starion Turbo) were the championship contenders.

Meanwhile, the '88 Manx Rally also saw the leading European Rally Championship drivers contest the event, with Patrick Snijers (BMW M3 E30), Fabrizio Tabaton (Lancia Delta HF Integrale 8v) and Robert Droogmans (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth) all present.

It was Mark Lovell, driving a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, who set the early pace, but he retired with engine failure after only a handful of stages. Pentti Airikkala's challenge for the championship floundered after he got a pucture and suffered an off on day one, which left him having to claw his way back up the leaderboard for the rest of the event. Malcolm Wilson finished in fifth place with the underpowered Astra, but it wasn't enough for him to claim the BRC crown. Jimmy McRae though, stayed out of trouble to finish second overall and cruise to a record fifth British title success.

With Droogmans and Tabaton unable to adapt to the bumpy, high speed, narrow and twisty Manx lanes, it was left to Patrick Snijers to star as he went on to dominate the event with great panache. The Belgian's performance that year still ranks as one of the greatest drives ever seen on the island.

Commenting on Snijers mesmerising drive, during the BBC Grandstand Manx Rally 1988 highlights programme, Steve Rider famously said: "Just watch this for a breathtaking display of forceful driving."

The video clip also features a young Colin McRae having a a bit of a moment in a Vauxhall Nova.

video uploaded by dgr64