Paul Bird won the event in 2009 with co-driver Ian Windress

Paul Bird claimed his second consecutive Manx Telecom Rally on Saturday after leading the two-day event from start to finish.

Bird and co-driver Kirsty Riddick set a blistering pace in their Ford Focus world rally car to win by three minutes and 21 seconds.

The Cumbrian driver said: "I love this rally and I am chuffed to win."

Manx pair Steve Quine and Richard Skinner finished second in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI.

Damian Cole and Craig Drew completed the podium.

Bird continued: "I felt really good throughout the rally and I think I could have pushed even harder."

Riddick added: "We did have a slight clutch problem on Saturday morning but apart from that it went perfectly."

Reigning British Rally Champions Keith Cronin and Barry McNulty were pushing for the lead until an accident on the penultimate stage saw them join a long list of retirements.

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