DAVID Mann and Alun Cook helped Kumho Tyres to a memorable clean sweep in the Circuit of Ireland National Rally on the closed public roads of South Down and South Armagh over Easter.

DAVID Mann and Alun Cook helped Kumho Tyres to a memorable clean sweep in the Circuit of Ireland National Rally on the closed public roads of South Down and South Armagh over Easter.

Flixton farmer Mann's Kumho Subaru Impreza finished a superb second overall, behind series leader Melvyn Evans' much newer Impreza S11 WRC but over three minutes clear of defending champion David Kynaston's Audi A3 Quattro, in the two-day event which forms the second round of the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Championship.

Mann and Welsh co-driver Cook were joint fastest with Evans on the 10th stage and clear second-fastest on no fewer than 10 of the other 13 'timed to a fraction of a second' tests.

The former national gravel rally champions were metronomic in their pace and never outside of the top four fastest, even when the Nortech Motorsport-prepared Subaru's turbo pipe was temporarily dislodged on stage six at Shinn Bridge.

“David Kynaston dropped three minutes on stage two which gave us a cushion and we had a terrific battle on times with him for the rest of the rally.

“Our only problems were when our turbo pipe came off, when we lost maybe 30 seconds, and when it poured with rain whilst we were out on the last stage on Saturday, which made it very slippery and meant we were caught on slick tyres, yet even then managed to get the car home safely.

“The stages Sunday were narrow, bumpy, twisty and still slippery whereas the previous day they probably a bit faster and more enjoyable.

“When the roads are so narrow and bumpy you have to concentrate so hard to avoid hitting a bank and a lot of cars were forced to retire on the first day. But it was a great result and moved us up to third in the championship, although we are all going to have a job catching Melvyn (Evans) in the car he has this season.”

After the Ulster Automobile Club's 140-stage mile addition to this year's Asphalt Championship, Mann returns to the tried and tested scene of one of his finest hours - the Manx National Rally on the Isle of Man for round three.

It was there, on the Douglas-based event, that Mann, the well-known mushroom grower, and Cook celebrated outright victory in stunning style on the way to the ANCRO National title in 2003.

Larsen Circuit of Ireland National Rally: 1 Melvyn Evans/Sean Mullally, Subaru Impreza S11 WRC 2-03:53.0; 2 David Mann/Alun Cook, Subaru Impreza WRC 2-06:51.3; 3 David Kynaston/Andy Russell, Audi A3 Quattro 2-09:59.6. Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship (after round two): 1 Melvyn Evans, Subaru Impreza S11 50; 2 David Kynaston, Audi Quattro A3 42; 3 David Mann/Alun Cook 41.