Mann takes ANCRO title
SUBARU Impreza driver David Mann sealed the Kumho Tyres National Rally with a cautious run to sixth place on Saturday’s season ending Bulldog Rally.
Mann, now in his 21st year in the championship, needed to finish only ninth to seal the title, even if runner- up Roger Duckworth had been able to overhaul rally winner Mark Perrott’s Ford Escort WRC.
Mann said: “The car has been very reliable all season. Bill Gwynne Motorsport built such a strong car. We won the Manx and had a couple of thirds and a fifth. That all helped to build the points tally.
“We wanted to go reasonably hard today but not silly, and it’s worked out well. 1 suppose I’m happy to have won but it hasn’t really sunk in yet. “This has been one of the most hotly- contested championships for years. At the beginning of the season, I felt that any one of about 12 drivers were capable of winning the title.”
The ANCRO Clubmans title was also resolved on the Bulldog, with underpowered Ford Escort driver Ieuan Rowlands outpacing rival James Potter’s Escort to sew up the title with a third-place finish.
Rowlands said: “I’m so pleased to take this victory, but I will have to use the same car next season because I don’t have the money to build or buy myself another.”
