CHRIS BOYDE J

MN’S MAN ON THE MANX “Manxmen hope for better 2019 rally season”

ust two of five intended stage rallies took place on the Isle of Man in 2018, making it the leanest calendar for over 40 years, foot and mouth aside.

In 2017 the island clubs restarted forest rallying with two successful events, a much-needed return to the gravel stages that helped launch Mark Higgins and Martin Rowe, among others. Both were scrapped this year due to a lack of entries and, worryingly, neither is even on the calendar for 2019. All the impetus has been lost.

Then in the summer came the cancellation of Rally Isle of Man, a heritage event not just for the island but for British rallying. The fact that it fell because of disagreement between the organisers and the authorising bodies of the Government remains a sore point of contention for all entrants and spectators.

RIOM organisers, battered by the bruising aftermath of their decision, have shown little appetite to move forward. Almost four months have drifted by since the event was axed and, although they say they hope to run a 2019 rally, in reality planning appears slowed and there is no date confirmed.

Most importantly, the stalemate means that any significant and vital rebuilding of relations with the IOM Government has yet to begin.

Beyond that is the question of where the future of this once folklore event lies.

Pokerstars Rally winner Jamie Jukes, as big a fan of Manx rallying as there is, rightly reminded me in November, “we all watch the Patrick Snijers videos in awe, but that was 30 years ago. We need an updated reason to marvel. What would RIOM be coming back as? It needs to be something special.”

Yet in 2017 the event was a round of no fewer than nine championships and had over 170 entries. The demand is there, but the sense of deja vu is too, back to 2012 and the last ‘start from zero’ project. It will be more difficult now.

However, there are chinks of light. Manx Auto Sport will introduce the Junior Rally concept on an event in February, the Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship return to the Manx National Rally was a great success to be built on, and the Pokerstars Rally profile continues to rise, albeit linked to the absence of the Mull Rally in the short-term.

All of the issues facing Manx rallying are serious, but they also pale into insignificance in the wake of the loss of driver Mark James following his incident on the Pokerstars Rally. Mark’s family and friendship circle are in the thoughts of the island’s rallying community, and it is a stark reminder of the need to pull together and the privilege we have to enjoy our sport.

A New Year offers an opportunity to turn the page.