BRC co-drivers go driving on the Manx

Frontrunning British Rally Championship co-drivers Dale Furniss and Dai Roberts will both drive on this weekend’s Pokerstars Rally on the Isle of Man, with Furniss making his full stage rally driving debut.

Furniss – who partners Osian Pryce in the BRC and World Championship – is a multiple road rally winner in his VW Golf. He has adapted the car ready for the November 10/11 event and it was expected to be logbooked this week. He will be co-driven by respected young navigator Keaton Williams.

“I’m excited but it’s going to be a hell of a challenge,” said Furniss. “It’s quite a long rally. I’m going to make notes from scratch. It might help me listen more. It’s going to be weird taking instructions instead of giving them.”

Roberts is a regular class winner on his sporadic outings in his Peugeot 205 GTI. He will be joined on this event by Nathan Davies.

Reigning Manx champion Dan Harper is the first seeded entry in his Mini John Cooper Works WRC. He’ll be followed by Paul Bird (Ford Focus WRC07) and regular winner on the island, Nigel Cannell in his Mitsubishi.