This weekend’s Manx Rally has attracted an incredible, oversubscribed entry with event organisers receiving applications from more than 200 crews all eager to contest one of the most iconic asphalt rallies in Europe. 

That field has now been whittled down and 150 cars will be lining up in Douglas on Friday ahead of two challenging days of top quality, against-the-clock competition on the challenging closed roads of the Isle of Man. 

Building on the Island’s long and proud rallying history, the 2024 Manx Rally will feature contenders from two major championships, attracting eager crews from throughout the British Isles.  

With more than 130 miles of spectacular special stages, the high-speed sealed-surface action extends from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon and includes timed sections running into the darkness on Friday evening. 

Further fuelling the excitement, the stellar entry boasts outstanding quality as well as maximum quantity. Topping the roster are last year’s winners Callum Black and Jack Morton in their Ford Fiesta Rally2. “The Manx is one of my favourite rallies with great stages,” enthused Black. “It’ll be good competition and we’ve just got to be on it from the get-go.” 

Leading the chase of Black will be Probite British Rally Championship regulars James Williams and Ross Whittock in their Hyundai i20 Rally2 – they won the opening round the 2024 Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship and will be looking to extend their lead on what’s a double-header round. Other strong contenders are Neil Roskell, Mark Kelly and Steve Wood while Steve Ormond-Smith is the top seeded- local driver in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX.  

Another local hero is five-time Manx Rally winner Mark Higgins – he’s stirring up memories behind the wheel of a Triumph TR7 V8 and among an equally strong contingent contesting a round of the Fuchs British Historic Championship. “I remember Tony Pond doing the rally in TR7 V8, so it’s quite an iconic car on the Isle of Man,” said Higgins. “I love these stages but doing them in a car of the 1980s is going to be very different.” 

Ranged against the mighty Triumph are the Porsche 911 of Steve Perez and a gaggle of rapid Ford Escorts, notably those of Will Rowlands, Adrian Hetherington, Will Onions and Rob Smith. 

With such a star-studded and packed entry, it promises to be a very special weekend on the Isle of Man. Coverage will be streamed on the Special Stage TV Facebook and YouTube channels. Further information is available on manxautosport.org