AS Roger Matthews’ BDA-engined Escort RS1600 exited the final hairpin and accelerated hard over the finish line of the final stage in Douglas on Saturday afternoon, he and co-driver Tom Marrott were crowned the 2016 RAC MSA Fuchs Asphalt National Rally Champions in front of a packed TT Grandstand.

This is his third championship success but surely the sweetest in a long career for the St Weonards driver.

Rally Isle of Man was also the final round of the British Rally Championship and penultimate round of the British Historic and Asphalt series,and attracted a superb 170 car entry for three tough days on the fast closed roads totalling some 167 competitive miles on the beautiful island.

The duo knew that if things went their way they could wrap up the title, but had rivals Roger Moran in the RS1800 and Stanley Orr in the RS1600 breathing down their necks.

The opening leg offered three tests in darkness on the Thursday evening, where Matthews struggled in the darkness and a stall cost a few seconds on the superspecial stage but the duo arrived back in Douglas 82nd and fourth in class.

“We struggled a bit tonight, Roger needs to eat more carrots,” laughed Marrott.

Friday’s leg was a long one, offering over 12 hours of competition. The duo’s only real scares came on stage six with a high speed trip through a ditch, with a huge moment further into the test over a jump, but news filtered through before day two’s final loop in darkness that both Moran and Orr had retired so the title was theirs to lose.

“We had a few squeaks in stage six which could have ended our rally as we were committed a lot more today, so we had to settle down a bit, and with Roger and Stanley gone we just need to keep a reasonable pace now tomorrow,” said Marrott.

Day three was a shorter day, albeit no less demanding, but the duo did what they needed to do to secure the prestigious title with one round to go finishing 60th overall and second in class.

“It’s fantastic to wrap up the title here,” stated Marrott.

“It’s been a brilliant year, thanks to Roger for driving really well all year, Mark, Kevin and Pat for looking after the car, it has run faultlessly.”    

As one local crew celebrated their title, for Simon Tysoe and Paul Morris the end of the event held a cruel sting in the tail.         

They came into the event still chasing the British Historic title and everything started well with the Jondel Engines RS1600 holding second in class at the end of the first leg. On day two the duo soon hit the front in the class battle which they held throughout the day and extended it as the event wore on.

Saturday’s final leg started well, but the penultimate stage proved their undoing when they slid into a ditch. 14 minutes were lost and with it went any hopes of both the class win and historic title, although they recovered to finish 62nd and third in class. The result was however enough to secure the Historic Category Two championship win.  

“A very cruel way to end our title aspirations for this year, Simon’s driven brilliantly all year but we’ve won category two overall,” said Morris.

For Matt Edwards and Will Rogers, having stepped up from their Lancer Evo 9 to the Fiesta R5 for the last BRC round in Ulster, the plan was to finish the year off with a solid finish on the Manx and gain more experience and data in readiness for next year.

The Swift Group/DMACK backed Fiesta made a steady start holding a creditable seventh after leg one.

Friday’s long day allowed them to push harder and play with the set up as they went setting some top four times on some stages against a very strong field, and moved up to fifth overnight.

“It’s been a good day, we’re still playing with set up, we’ve gained on some stages lost out on others but learned a lot, important now to consolidate our fifth place tomorrow,” said Rogers.      

Saturday’s final leg went without dramas, the duo pushed hard and set some respectable times on their way to fifth overall - a good way to finish a terrific year.

“Very pleased with fifth, this was our aim at the start ,” said a delighted Rogers.

“It’s been a fantastic year for us, thanks to Matt who’s adapted really well and not put a scratch on the cars all year, also to Peter Smith and the Swift Group who without them none of this would have been possible, also Dick Cormack and DMACK Tyres. Now the hard work starts getting ready for 2017.”

The event was won by the newly crowned British Rally Champions Elfyn Evans and Craig Parry in the Fiesta R5.

2016 has seen the British Rally championship back with a bang, with the event a total success so roll on 2017 for more of the same.