It may not be Christmas yet, never mind New Year, but the excitement is already building for the MANN Construction sponsored Chris Kelly Memorial Stages, the first chance for rally crews in 2012 to hit the famous Manx stages!

Mark off February 17^th and 18^th in your e-calendar now….

…because with deals available from just £652 including entry fees, ferry and hotel costs, it has to be the ultimate way to start your rallying year! (*)

Entries open today with the publication of regulations by the organisers, Manx Auto Sport, for whom it also starts their 50^th Anniversary celebrations.

They confirm that their event forms a qualifying round of two championships:

• Eurocars Motorsport Manx Rally Championship (**)
• AWNCC Stage Rally Championship

In addition to championship contenders from on and off island, many UK crews use the event as an extended test given its multiple use of stages, including last year winner Dave Patterson in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 and John Stone in the fearsome Skoda WRC.

The event retains its traditional Friday night and Saturday daytime schedule, making for a real challenge. The opening evening is set to feature six tests, two runs over each of three stages. Saturday has a further eight, three runs on two tests and two attempts on another. There are some classics and new roads alike, keep watching for news on them in the next few weeks!

In total the rally features over 105 stage miles on just six separate stages, helping to keep reconnaissance to a minimum. Each day will feature centralised service, at St Johns for the opening night before relocating to Jurby motordrome on Saturday.

To help further to keep competitors costs to a minimum, there are two recce options available to crews, either the weekend before, 11^th & 12^th February, or the Thursday/Friday 16^th & 17^thFebruary.

Scrutineering and documentation is also on Thursday evening (16^th) with officials sign-up the night before.

The social aspect of Isle of Man rallying is always an important element, and the after-rally party and prize presentation will take place at the Villa Marina Arcade in the middle of Douglas promenade.

The event offers an ideal testing opportunity for crews preparing for their years programme, not least the REIS Get Connected MSA Asphalt Rally Championship that begins just three weeks later and returns to the island for the Manx National Rally in May.  

Similarly for crews who have long wanted to take the plunge and compete on the island but haven’t yet done so, do it, you won’t regret it!

Throw in television coverage on Motors TV’s Special Stage programme, filmed by MC-Video, and what else do you need for a complete rally weekend?

For all the information you need to be a part of the action head to manxautosport.org where the regulations and entry form await you. 

Overseas crews seeking further information can also contact Rob Fagg on 07624 480101 or e-mail robert@robertfagg.com.

The message is loud and clear – come and join us for some of the best tarmac rallying in the world!