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 DOMINANT
FIRST VICTORY FOR KUMHO
Kumho National
Rally Championship - Round three |
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David Mann became the first driver to win a Kumho National Rally
Championship round outright on Kumho tyres at last weekend's Roush
Manx Rally.
Second place went to last year's winner, Melvyn Evans, also running
on Kumho tyres; a result which rewarded him with maximum points in
both the National Tarmacadam and Get Connected Rally Championships,
the event hosting the third round of both these series alongside the
Kumho National Rally Championship.
The past few weeks have brought a string of successes for Kumho with a number of major rallies being won by competitors using its tyres. However, no victory is more significant than that of David Mann's this weekend, his achievement further endorsing the ability of Kumho's range of tarmac competition tyres.
Notorious for its technically demanding and undulating asphalt roads, the Isle of Man based event comprised 120 competitive miles with five special stages on Friday evening and a further eight on Saturday.
Initially it was Poole's Marcus Dodd who went fastest on the first stage driving his WRC Subaru, but as darkness fell, it was Irishman Kenny McKinstry, in his WRC Subaru, who led as the cars returned to Douglas for the overnight halt. McKinstry was followed by a Kumho shod Evans in a similar car, with 23 year old Gareth Jones, another Kumho runner, third in his Subaru Impreza. At this point Mann was in sixth place, less than a minute behind, in his Subaru Impreza.
Saturday dawned dry and bright and the first test of the day, the tight and twisty Glen Roy stage, revealed Jones to be the fastest, with Mann now on a charge and gaining two places. The next stage saw him overhaul Jones for third place, but it was still McKinstry and Evans who held the top two positions.- until SS9, the 20 mile Lhergy Cripperty stage, the longest in the event.
Now supremely confident in his tyres, Mann passed Evans, but not so fortunate was Jones, who broke a wheel and punctured, dropping him out of contention with the leaders. As cars came into the final service halt of the day, McKinstry reported a problem with his Subaru's transmission. His team worked hard to repair the car, but it was all to no avail and he retired on the next stage. Mann was now in front and, having finished second on no less than nine occasions in National Rally Championship events, he was determined to hold on to his lead.
As cars came into the finish in front of the famous TT Grandstand, Mann had achieved a long term ambition and was the happiest man on the island as he sprayed the champagne: "I can't believe it! This win is something I've wanted for a long time and I'm so pleased it's happened on the Isle of Man, as it is such a competitive event," he said. " It's also an excellent result for Kumho and I'm delighted I've been able to give them their first ever victory in a Kumho Championship event."
Commenting on the ability of the tyres Mann said: "This is my first asphalt event on Kumho tyres and once I got used to how much grip there was I was able to push harder and harder - they did everything I wanted them to do."
Second placed Melvyn Evans also praised his Kumho tyres: "Just brilliant! I chose a too hard a compound for the opening stages, but when the right tyres were on the car they inspired me with confidence, even in the changing conditions of Friday evening. I'm very pleased with the result as this has given me the lead in both the National Tarmacadam and Get Connected Championships."
Mann, who lives in Bungay, is now second in the Kumho National Rally Championship as the series heads back to the forests with the Llandrindod Wells based Mutiny Rally on 31st May.
| Kumho National Rally Championship Round Three
- Results: |
| 1st |
David Mann/Alun Cook |
Subaru Impreza |
1:45.37.7 |
| 2nd |
Melvyn Evans/Marc Jones |
Subaru WRC |
1: 46.04.3 |
| 3rd |
Tony Davies/Wyn Thomas |
Metro 6R4 |
1:47.54.8 |
| 4th |
Steve Hendy/Aled Davies |
Escort Cosworth |
1:48.12.0 |
| 5th |
John Price/Caroline Price |
Metro 6R4 |
1:49.03.9 |
| 6th |
Steve Petch/John Richardson |
Hyundai Accent WRC |
1:49.11.6 |
| 7th |
Robert Watson/Sean Crellin |
Vauxhall Nova Kit Car |
1:49.43.1 |
| 8th |
Phil Collins/Howard Davies |
Escort RS |
1:49.53.7 |
| 9th |
Martyn Harrison/Stewart Merry |
Metro 6R4 |
1:50.06.2 |
| 10th |
Cahal Arthurs/Llinos Jones-Edwards |
Toyota Celica |
1:50.53.6 |
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