The two long dark Friday night stages were always going to play a significant role in this year’s Proflex Manx Rally – and so it proved, as Jason Pritchard came from third to lead the Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship category at the end of Leg 2 in his Pirelli-shod North Road Garage/Guttercrest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Ironically, a slight problem with his lights slowed him and co-driver Phil Clarke, but their affinity with the Isle of Man stages shone through as they entered the overnight halt with a 3.2 second BTRDA series lead.
Sam Touzel/Max Freeman are still in with a strong shout of maximum points, despite dropping to second in their Smart Scaffolding/Express Auto Parts Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Neil Roskell/Rob Fagg had a big moment on SS6, the opening stage of Leg 2, but settled into a good rhythm to return to the TT Grandstand in third in their Michelin-shod ND Civils/Burdens/Witham Motorsport Fiesta Rally2.
Cal McCarthy/Eric Calnan are a very impressive fourth in the Protyre Asphalt standings in their Citroën C3 Rally2 – the Irish crew enjoying their first visit to the Isle of Man.
Mark Kelly/Will Atkins remain a strong fifth in their Kelmore Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 and have opened a slight gap to sixth-placed Gareth Mimnagh/Barry McCarney (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
Night-time brought a fair amount of carnage – so much so that several crews did not start the cancelled SS9 and 10 and were instead awarded a nominal time.
Arwel Parry/Iestyn Williams stopped in their Subaru Impreza for a second time with mechanical issues, Mal Boyd/Dannii Matthews hit a kerb with a rear wheel and retired their Escort Mk2, Gareth Humphreys/Aaron Mallin rolled their Stratos Motorsport Cooper S, Philip Hopkins/Sammy Allen were reportedly off the road in their Hopkins Race Transporters Mitsubishi Evo 6, as too were Darrell Taylor/Cat Lund (Fiesta Rally2), Damian Cole/Rhodri Evans stopped in their Get Connected Citroën C3 Rally2 and having hit a rock and retired on Leg 1, Nathan Bolton/Phil Kenny also failed to finish Leg 2 in their Monza Installs Fiesta Rally2.
After a well-earned rest, the third and final leg takes place tomorrow (Saturday 12 April) with a further eight stages totalling 60.22 miles before the finish at TT Grandstand in Douglas.
Proflex Manx Rally – Protyre Asphalt top 10 after Leg 2 (SS10):
1. Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)….49mins 02.1secs
2. Sam Touzel/Max Freeman (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….49mins 05.3secs
3. Neil Roskell/Rob Fagg (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….49mins 05.8secs
4. Cal McCarthy/Eric Calnan (Citroën C3 Rally2)….49mins 23.2secs
5. Mark Kelly/Will Atkins (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)….49mins 35.3secs
6. Gareth Mimnagh/Barry McCarney (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….49mins 53.3secs
7. David Wright/Jane Nicol (Ford Fiesta R5)….49mins 53.8secs
8. Hugh Brunton/Richard Crozier (Škoda Fabia Rally2)….51mins 19.1secs
9. Steve Wood/Kenny Hull (Citroën C3 Rally2)….51mins 20.2secs
10. Stephen Simpson/Mark Glennerster (Ford Fiesta Rally2)….53mins 14.0secs
Bad luck Damian and Weaver Motosport