DAVID Stokes and co-driver Guy Weaver followed up their result on the recent Mid Wales Stages with another strong finish on the Manx Historic Rally last weekend, writes Paul Willetts.
The three-day event offered Historic competitors 125 miles of bumpy Manx lanes, and changeable weather conditions made the event extremely difficult with fog and heavy rain thrown at the competitors.
The short Thursday evening loop of four stages included Stokes’ favourite Castletown spectator stage. Each year the Dursley driver power slides the Escort RS 1600 across the harbour bridge much to the delight of the huge mass of spectators, but this time he got very close to hitting the bridge.
“That bridge was as slippery as usual but David insists on entertaining the spectators, but we got a little bit close for comfort this year,” laughed Guy Weaver.
The rest of the loop went well and Stokes arrived back in Douglas fourth overnight and second in class.
On day two, fog and rain again made conditions extremely slippery on the changeable Manx lanes, but the duo set consistent times all day to still lie fourth overall and second in class, and they also closed the gap on the those ahead.
The long third leg consisted of eight special stages.
The opening test on Saturday morning was extremely slippery and they had a big moment on a deceptive kink on the Cringle test so decided to settle for fourth and second Post Historic at the end, and pick up another useful haul of Championship points.
For Stokes this event was the 40th anniversary of his first time on the island having done the event way back in 1968 in a Ford Anglia when the rally was a Motoring News Road Rally Championship round.
“I am pleased where we finished given the conditions,” said a delighted Stokes.
“It was a difficult event but the Porsches of Jimmy McRae and Steve Smith have far more traction in the wet conditions and would always be difficult to get close to.
“The Manx is an event I always enjoy every year, we can now look forward to going to Belgium in September for the Tour of Flanders.”
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