Saltash driver Alan Cookson and London co-driver Julian Wilkinson are looking forward to returning to action in the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship when they contest next weekend’s (9-10 May) RBS International Manx Rally.

Cookson and Wilkinson will be back behind the wheel of their SparDevon.com, Robert Wiseman Dairies, VK Vodka Kick, Kumho, Riverside Property Services, Blue International Property, Natural Wood Floor Company and Castle Flooring Services supported Subaru Impreza World Rally Car (WRC) in round three of the national championship after claiming their first points of the season in last month’s Border Counties Rally.

The crew return to the tarmac for the 120-mile Isle of Man event after enduring a tough time across the gravel on the Border Counties, which was hampered by a problem with the front diff amongst other issues.

The pair’s aim is to get maximum performance out of the car as well as a solid finish on the two-day rally staged on the infamous tight and twisty Manx roads and more importantly some points on the Pirelli MSA Gravel Championship leaderboard.

“We want to have a go right from the off, even though we were very happy to finish the Border Counties we felt we did not get the best out of the car or the crew by just adopting the ‘lets get a finish approach’, so we’ll be pushing to extract everything out of the car on the tarmac lanes particularly on the dark stages Friday night, as we’ve always enjoyed the dark,” Cookson said.

“Last year I felt it was the best event we’ve ever competed on and I’m sure we will not be disappointed, but to really get the pleasure out of the weekend we will be striving to come away with a good finish and a good points haul, and to help us achieve that, we have employed the services of TEG Sport.

“We’re really looking forward to the lanes on the Manx and feel the car should be at home there. We really want to make the best out of the cars tremendous braking performance on tarmac, coupled with that we have purchased the best possible progressive springs for the job, so we are confident the car will be quick enough.”

Cookson and Wilkinson also have a new sponsor on board as a one-off for the RBS International Manx Rally in the form of Isle of Man-based firm Montpelier Financial Specialists.

“It’s great that we’ve secured backing from Montpelier Financial Specialists for their home event and we’re grateful to them for their support and pleased to have them on board,” Cookson added.

The RBS International Manx Rally gets underway on Friday 9 May at 7pm and finishes on Saturday 10 May at the TT Grandstand in Douglas at 3.20pm. Cookson and Wilkinson start at number 26.