Rally Isle of Man 2009 – BRC Video Highlights Clip

Rally Isle of Man 2009 BRC Video Highlights Clip

Mark Higgins receives help from the Keith Cronin fan club during Rally Isle of Man 2009.

Photo: Roy Dempster (www.roydempster.com)

BRC Media video highlights of the 2009 International Rally Isle of Man, uploaded to Youtube.

The battle for the lead turned out to be one of the most thrilling and dramatic in Manx history, with the duel between Mark Higgins and Keith Cronin permanently on a knife-edge throughout the two day event.

Extract from www.rallybrc.co.uk:

Differential problems for both triple BRC Champion and the 22 year pretender to the crown meant that with three stages remaining, just 5.7 seconds split the pair. Higgins team was forced to remove the gearbox twice within four stages to fix the differential and a broken clutch. But despite the fierce battle, rallying camaraderie shone through when some of Cronin’s army of followers pushed Higgins off a bank after struggling round a tight hairpin with no clutch.

Rally Isle of Man winner Mark Higgins commented at the finish:

It has been the most difficult and hard fought event I can remember. 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. Keith is a great opponent and I’ve been amazed at his pace on my Island!

Cronin and co-driver 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. The whole event had held its breath until the problem, with the lead changing several times and each driver taking ten stages wins apiece.

BRC Rally Isle of Man 2009 video highlights