Torrential rain and treacherous conditions failed to dampen the spirit of competitors and spectators at this year’s Island Stages Rally, although severe weather ultimately forced organisers to cancel half of the planned competitive action.
A total of 52 crews took to the start line early yesterday morning (Sunday), to tackle a total of 8 special stages on closed roads through Firestone Copse and Rowlands Lane.
Despite the weather, in stark contrast to Saturday’s blue skies, spectators still turned out in large numbers, lining the stages to watch competitors battle extremely slippery conditions.
But the weather quickly began to take its toll…
In the morning, Paul Bonner and Callum Dickinson rolled their Citroen C2 just 5 corners from the flying finish of Special Stage 1. The incident caused delays while the car was recovered.
Local competitor Heidi Peck, alongside co-driver Paul Whittington, was also forced to retire earlier in the day after their Ford Fiesta struck a bank through Firestone on SS3.
As the afternoon progressed, torrential downpours intensified. At Rowlands Lane, water flowed across the road like a river and a lifted drain cover created additional safety concerns.
Damien Cole and Ian Allsop spun their Citroen C3 Rally2 early into Stage 5. The stage was temporarily halted, with Cole eventually resuming. However, further along the stage, the crew encountered Russell Davies and Richard Suter’s Darrian GTR+, which was damaged and blocking the road.
SS5 also claimed Matthew Rowland and Josh Baker in their Renault Clio, with Scott Stutchbury and Darren Stutchbury in their Renault Clio RS3 also retiring. It would ultimately be the final competitive stage of the rally.
With delays mounting and conditions deteriorating, organisers took the decision to cancel the remaining stages.
In total, only 4 of the scheduled 8 special stages ran competitively, with a non-competitive convoy passing through the stage on 2 occasions before the event was formally curtailed.
Rob Swann and Steve McNulty claimed victory for the second time in their Ford Fiesta WRC ahead of Will Nicholls and Nick Broom, who secured 2nd place in their Ford Fiesta Rally2 after a close battle with Sean Quigley and Colin Quigley, also in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, who finished 3rd.
Darrell Taylor and Greg Halfpenny brought their Ford Fiesta Rally2 home 4th, while local competitors Dean Long and Robbie Sandford rounded out the top 5 in their Subaru Impreza.
Island Echo sponsored the Shanklin father-and-son duo of Simon and Matt Verstraeten, who finished a respectable 16th place, just 2 seconds behind a Top 15 finish – keeping their Talbot Sunbeam on the straight and narrow despite the tricky conditions.
Although only half of the competitive stages were completed, the 2026 Island Stages Rally once again delivered high drama in extremely challenging conditions.
PHOTOS – by Jack Downer Photography
Such events encourage speeding on the island
not to mention frightening wild life and polluting
the island.
NOT TO MENTION CLOSING MORE ROADS UNNESSECCARILY
What makes me laugh about this hypocritical council
is they play the climate card with over 30 new electric
buses and many electric council vehicles
“YET THEY ALLOW SUCH AN EVENT TO TAKE PLACE”
Not Isle of Joke for nothing!
Makes one wonder what Greta and Ed think would
think about it!
No one cares mate, same as no one cares what you think
100%
1% you mean
They will when the island gets with climate
agenda.
Boooooooorinnnnnggggggg
The rain saved the climate and wildlife from
such torture.
If numpties want to race go to a race track.
ONLY AN IDIOT COUNCIL WOULD ALLOW
SUCH SH*T TOO HAPPEN
IW COUNCIL need to get with the green
climate agenda.
Are you for real?
Have you not heard of race tracks!!
There are plenty of them in the country where
people can drive fast.
Fancy driving on narrow roads in wet weather
ONLY NUMPTIES WOULD DO SUCH A THING
Bless them