Three Legs of Mann 2026 – Leg Three Rally Report
Sunshine greeted the cars as they assembled for the final leg of the Three Legs of Mann 2026. There were just 101 miles left to make a difference, though with 16 competitive sections shoehorned into the distance, it was going to be as intense a leg as any other had been.
Out front the Escort of Blacker and Frost looked untouchable, the lead of nearly five minutes would surely be unassailable, save for a mechanical issue, and nobody wants to win like that. There had been a rejigging of the results overnight, and the leg would begin with a slightly altered top three, with the Pulleys now heading out into the leg in second place. Navigator Andy Pullan was measured in his estimations of how long they would be able to keep the Astra of Taylor and Savage at bay, but the Father and Son pairing were certainly going to try.
The scramble for the remaining slots on the podium looked like it would be where the days sorting out would take place, and the competitive Class 6, that the Pullen’s were competing in on the tests looked to be helping the cause of the Astra. The Peugeot was struggling to match the speed against the rest of the class, and they were dropping time against the Vauxhall. It was somewhat tit for tat though, with the Pulley Patrol clawing time back on the regularities that were spread across the morning.
Out front the Escort was also dropping time, much more so than those behind it, but with plenty in hand the boys could afford a few more dropped seconds, and the exchange rate was still very much in their favour, despite picking up 1:24 seconds of penalty across the morning. The tests were where they were particularly excelling though, and Bevans flamboyance behind the wheel had killed another set of tyres, not that he seemed to care, with both him and Niall relaxed as they headed into the afternoon.
Elsewhere, the Days were going well again on the tests in the Mini, after a tough night section on Leg 2 and Nigel and Sally Woof were having an excellent morning in the Volvo, picking up just 28 seconds of penalty. This was helping to consolidate the chunky lead they had at the head of Class 2, thought Manxmen Noel Kelly and Andrew Holmes who were second in the class in Noel’s Amazon had only dropped 33 seconds themselves.
It was mostly a case of as you were at lunchtime though, with no movement in the top 14, and those not in the top three seemed destined to be battling for class honours, including Andy Lane and Iain Tullie in 4th, heading up Class 1 and Darrel Staniforth and Pete Johnson in 5th, and winning class 4 in the Corolla, positions that they would maintain for the remainder of the rally.
Martyn Taylor and Phil Savage had the best of the first half of the day overall though, with 25 seconds of penalty and closing the gap to the Pullan Senior and Junior to 10 seconds as the cars headed into the final afternoon. Two regularities and four tests remained, including three at Jurby that were a repeat of the morning’s fun at the airfield, so the deck was perhaps stacked in favour of the big Red Astra.
That car had suffered brake failure the previous evening, and as Martyn Taylor hit the anchors to slow for a 360 around a cone on one of the Jurby Tests, it almost appeared as though it may have happened again, as the car sailed on past the ideal turn in point by a fair few metres. It seemed though this was more driver than machine error, corrected by liberal application of the throttle, with minimal damage done.
The final regularity of the day was one of the most stunning the event had seen, with bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds casting shadows on the Islands spectacular scenery. As the cars climbed up towards Snaefell the Irish Sea was visible on the horizon, calm and azure blue. It was a serene scene, and one nobody could have expected in the build-up to the event, the drama of the ferry crossings now seemed a distant memory.
It was serene inside the leading Escort as well, despite the bark of the engine, and with no big mistakes the car and crew were heading for an historic win. It was well deserved, as they had been imperious over the weekend, and while other challengers fell, the newly rebuilt machine – the work all completed by driver Bevan – ran flawlessly. To finish first, first you must finish, but even without some of their main rivals suffering the scorn of the rally Gods, I daresay they would still have been in with a good shout of a triumph on this famous old rock. After the champagne was sprayed, both Bevan and Niall were effusive about their weekend.
Niall, “It’s been amazing, a really good event, top quality. Good craic in the car and really good fun.”
Bevan, “We’ve just had a good laugh, it’s all we came to do. If you can manage that then the results follow, though we never thought we’d be sat here. After the rebuild of the car and all the effort to get here with the weather, to spray that [champagne] has been brilliant.”
A triumphant victory, but what of the battle for the final podium spots? That was less clear, but after some number crunching by the results team the cars had switched and second belonged to Martyn Taylor and Phil Savage by a margin of 13 seconds. It was a top effort, but third place for Nick and Andy Pullan in the less fancied Peugeot 205 was also a fabulous result, and both crews should be extremely proud.
Martyn Taylor, “Considering we finished last night with no brakes and ripped the exhaust off in the last regularity, it’s a miracle we are even here. We’ve had a weekend of up and down emotions, but we are over the moon.”
Nick Pullan, “Really good result and we have had a fantastic time. Andrew has been a top navigator as ever, just telling me what to do, and that’s fine!”
Elsewhere the final class victories went to Paul O’Kane and Richard Crozier in Class 3, David Crooks and Tim Sawyer in Class 6, Rikki Proffitt and Graham Wild in Class 5, Nigel and Sally Woof in Class 2 and Thomas Koerner and Udo Schauss in Class 7.
To the victors then, the spoils, and no doubt a few pints of Bushy’s Bitter in the bar this evening to celebrate. After a hectic and uncertain start, the rally has reached its finish and we have been treated to a wonderful weekend on the Isle of Man. The Island of Speed has delivered once more, and another chapter has been written into its history, as a new pair of winners got to spray the champagne in the famous old TT Pitlane – the scene of so many past triumphs. We may have been standing on the shoulders of giants this weekend, but the performances of the crews have certainly cemented their place in the pantheon of greats that have competed on the Manx roads. Well done to them all.