2014 winners Nigel and Jade Cannell will lead a high-quality, over-subscribed entry of 70 crews into the PokerStars Rally on Saturday.
Heading into the Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship decider, the father and daughter crew top the standings on 132 points to Steve Colley and Andrew Cowley’s 123.
The latter pair start right behind the Cannells in a similar Evo IX, buoyed by their brilliant outright victory on Rally Isle of Man in late September.
With dropped scores to be taken into account, a Colley victory would secure him and Cowley their first Manx title, while a Cannell-Colley 1-2 would land Nigel a fourth crown.
And that’s just the tip of the permutations!
A brilliant top-10 line-up includes Rally Isle of Man podium pair Stu Bainborough and Charlotte Shimmin (Evo III) plus a scutch of top UK crews.
Lancashire’s Daniel Harper and Chris Campbell (BMW Mini) have some unfinished business after disappointment in September. Multiple National Asphalt champion Damian Cole brings his potent MkII Escort, while former Mull Rally winner Paul MacKinnon makes his Manx debut in the stunning ex-Calum Duffy MkII.
Add in Simon Bowen in a Subaru WRC S11, John Stone in a new MSport Ford Fiesta R5, Timmy and Cliona Collins’s Evo X and Michael Dunlop back for another go at the Manx roads after his stunning drive in September with Rob Fagg (Escort MkII).
Then there’s George Collister and Kex Walker in a brace of BMWs, and the quality becomes apparent.