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High Quality Roush Entry 27 April 2005 The entry list for the Roush Manx Rally (6/7th May) is of such a high quality
that it is, quite literally, anyone's guess as to the identity of the eventual
winners! Obviously, one of the favourites has to be the Subaru Impreza WRC of
Kenny McKinstry & Noel Orr who have won the rally three times already and are
back to defend their 2004 victory.
However, it is fair to say that any one of the top twenty starters is of a
proven ability at this level of competition and spectators on the Isle of Man
over the weekend are assured of a fascinating time as the battle for supremacy
unfolds.
Starting behind McKinstry/Orr from Port Erin at
7.00pm on the Friday evening will be former British Champion – and Manx
resident! – Mark Higgins (Ford Focus WRC) and Irish Tarmac Champion Derek
McGarrity (Subaru Impreza WRC).
Current MSA National Gravel Championship leader Paul Bird (Ford Focus WRC) is at
No.5 and finds himself in amongst four former winners of the title – Mark
Perrott (Ford Escort WRC), Marcus Dodd (Hyundai Accent WRC), Steve Perez (Ford
Focus WRC) & Roger Duckworth (Subaru Impreza WRC).
The Roush Manx Rally is also in the GPR MSA National Asphalt Rally Championship
calendar and, having been forced to miss the first round, Tony Davies (Subaru
Impreza WRC) sets out on his quest for the title. Right behind him is the
similar car of Steve Fleck, while former Asphalt Champions Steve Hendy (Ford
Escort WRC) & John Price (MG Metro 6R4) are also in close attendance. In the
face of such strong opposition, current Championship leader Dave Appleby (Subaru
Impreza WRC) will be looking to press home his advantage, but knows he will have
his work cut out!
The Mitsubishi Evolution Challenge returns to the Isle of Man once again and,
after two rounds, the front-runners in the race to secure a works-supported
drive in the 2006 British Rally Championship are Englishmen Nik Elsmore and
Anthony Willmington. The Welsh and Irish are also well represented, with Stuart
Jones and Philip Morrow within striking distance of the leaders!
The Peugeot 206 Super Cup is responsible for a dozen of the 125 entries, with
Jonnie Wigmore and Trevor Martin relishing the opportunity to move further ahead
in the points table.
A full Entry List is attached to this Press Release.
The Friday-night leg of the Roush Manx Rally starts from Port Erin and takes in five special stages, prior to an
overnight halt. On Saturday, the rally is based at the TT Grandstand, Douglas,
from where the first car leaves at 8.30am for the first of eleven more stages.
The podium finish and traditional champagne-spraying are back there at 3.30pm
that afternoon. More stories >>>
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