Rally Isle of Man 2009: Day 1 Results – Mark Higgins leads

MSA%20British%20Rally%20Championship%202009%20(BRC) Rally Isle of Man 2009: Day 1 Results Mark Higgins leads

As the British Rally Championship front runners arrived at the end of day one of Rally Isle of Man, Pirelli TEG Sport’s Mark Higgins and Bryan Thomas are on track to not only take their fifth victory, but level the points in the BRC.

But the route to the overnight lead has not been without its troubles; a spin on stage three while under pressure from title rivals Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors and a return of the centre differential problem from the Jim Clark Rally.

Cronin in turn, has had a difficult day after his rear differential exploded, dropping just over a minute to Higgins. The time loss put paid to the prospect of an epic battle between the pair on the stages today, but it is certainly not over as the weather forecast for tomorrow is mixed.

Alastair Fisher and multiple British Rally Champion, Rory Kennedy, hold onto third by the slenderest of margins from reigning Pirelli Star Driver Adam Gould and Seb Marshall. Higgins’ Pirelli TEG Sport team-mate Gould has been reeling in the young Irishman all afternoon, but there is still a scant one second gap as they go to the overnight halt.

Tom Walster and Craig Parry hold the lead in Rally 3 in their awesome Clio ahead of Craig Breen and Gareth Roberts. Breen has won the Fiesta SportTrophy in his 2.0 litre Group N Fiesta but is only third two wheel drive, as Marty McCormack not only leads Rally 2 and the C2R2 Cup, but splits the pair of R3 cars.

Luke Pinder/Peter Scott lead Rally 1 and the Swift Sport Cup from Manxman David Harrison ably co-driven by Glynn Thomas, but Fin McCaul/Huw Mathias have crashed on stage 12, the last of the day, relinquishing the Diesel Cup lead to Steve and Tony Graham.

Tomorrow sees another 80 stages miles and with the prospect of rain, there is no telling what further dramas may unfold on this thrilling Rally Isle of Man. Cars will re-start tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 09.00 from the TT Grandstand.

Rally Isle of Man 2009 Results after Day 1

1st (1) Mark HIggins/Bryan Thomas (Impreza N) 1.26.19.2
2nd (2) Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors (Lancer N) 1.27.21.6
3rd (3) Alastair Fisher/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 1.30.08.1
4th (4) Adam Gould/Sebastian Marshal (Impreza N) 1.30.09.1
5th (11) Steven Quine/Paul McCann (Lancer) 1.32.01.9
6th (7) Euan Thorburn/Campbell Roy (Impreza N) 1.33.10.2
7th (8) Dave Weston Jnr/Aled Davies (Impreza N) 1.33.47.2
8th (15) Tom Walster/Craig Parry (Clio) 1.34.32.2
9th (25) Marty McCormack/Phil Clarke (C2R2 Max) 1.34.46.5
10th ((16) Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts (Fiesta) 1.34.51.5

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