2025 Manx Rally underway

Teams from across the world on Island for two days of racing

The Isle of Man is coming alive with the sound of action-packed four-wheeled racing across today and tomorrow for the 2025 Manx Rally.

Throughout Friday and Saturday, scores of crews will take on 18 special stages on closed Manx roads with competitors hailing from all across the world.

A field of around 150 cars is expected to be involved in a meeting that will also form rounds of three different championships.

Event Director Mark Ellison explains why he believes it has such a big draw for teams and spectators alike:

One of the teams taking on this year's racing is the all-female squad Mini Girls Rally.

Competing in a classic Mini they'll be raising funds for Manx Breast Cancer Support Group.

Driver Louise Thomas lost her mum to the disease and is currently in remission herself.

She says it's a cause that's really close to her heart:

The action begins this morning (11 April) at 8.30am with a shakedown session from Baldrine to the Creg-ny-Baa.

The first official stage at Keristal is then scheduled to run between 10.30am and 3pm today.

Multiple road closures will be in place across the Island during the two-day event - details of those can be found via the Manx Auto Sport website.

This time around, the rally will also form rounds of the ProTyre Asphalt Rally Championship, ANWCC Stage Rally Championship and the Manx Rally Championship.

Since it first ran in 1963 it's been won by some major names in the sport in previous years including Colin McRae, Ari Vatanen, Henri Toivonen and Roger Clark.

Away from the racing, the Manx Rally is also aiming to raise money for Manx Breast Cancer Support Group, Foodbank Isle of Man and Rebecca House.

All proceeds from the sales of event programmes will be going to those three organisations.