John Devlin had contested the Masterpixel Media Manx National Rally twice as a co-driver, but his first appearance on the event as a driver was simply fantastic – taking the highly competitive B11 class honours on both Friday and Saturday.
The Banbridge driver said he was going steady and was just out to enjoy himself, but the stage times suggested ‘steady’ might have been a little modest – you certainly don’t swap times with the likes of Phil Turner/Ryan Griffiths (Escort Mk2), Geoff Glover/Keith Barker (RWD Astra) and Paul and Julian Doroszczuk (Escort Mk2) unless you’re foot is firmly planted to the floor!
Devlin started well, setting the 17th overall fastest time on the opening Druidale stage and ending Friday night in 16th. His consistent stage times continued on Saturday. He was as high as 14th overall after the penultimate stage, and finished the event in 15th.
Devlin has jumped up to second in the B11 drivers’ standings, just one point behind Glover. Ashley Trimble holds a healthy lead in the B11 co-drivers’ points table, having navigated Devlin to a double class win on the Isle of Man and guided Graham Hollis to second place on the Rallynuts National Tour of Epynt.
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