STELLAR LINE-UP ALMOST COMPLETE FOR 2008 MANX CLASSIC

Excitement is mounting ahead of the 2008 Manx Classic as, with weeks to go, the entry list is almost full.

The Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander-backed event is once again using the Three Hillclimbs format that proved so popular last year and, already, the entry lists for two of the three ‘08 competitions are complete.

Remarkably, more than 70 of the 90-strong field are from outside the Isle of Man, ensuring the Manx Classic will, once again, prove a boost to tourism in the Island.

The line-up features an amazing mix of road and sports cars with something for fans of all periods of motoring, from a 1926 Frazer Nash Boulogne Vitesse to a 2007 Lotus Exige.

There are sufficient fantastic cars travelling to the Isle of Man for the April 17-20, 2008, Manx Classic to confirm full entries for all three climbs – but some of the classic and race-prepared vehicles don’t have the necessary lights to contest the opening event. That means there are just a handful of places left to join the action and atmosphere.

Bob Riding, chairman of organiser the Manx Motor Racing Club, said:
‘We are delighted that, with a few weeks to go, the entry lists are almost absolutely full.’

‘There are some spaces left for the Bray Hill event, so there are a few slots available for performance car owners.’

The 2008 Manx Classic bursts into life on Thursday, April 17, with the Bray Hillclimb in Douglas. From 6.30pm the cars will run from the bottom of Bray Hill along part of the world-famous Isle of Man TT Circuit – the wrong way – to the finish line outside the TT Grandstand.

The following day the action moves to the Sloc in the south of the Isle of Man. From 9.15am there will be timed runs up the awesome Sloc, one of the most challenging hillclimbs in the British Isles and set in spectacular scenery.

The final event, on Saturday, April 20, is also on the TT course, but this time in Ramsey. The Lhergy Frissel Hillclimb, starting from 9.15am, will take cars from Whitegates to the Gooseneck via the challenging Ramsey Hairpin.

As well as a small collection of Frazer Nash models from the 1920s, the entry list also features more than a dozen road and race-prepared Lotus cars, ranging from a 1961 20/22 FJ to a 2008 2-11.

There’s also an impressive gathering of Morgans, from two 1952 Plus 4s to a 2004 Roadster, some amazing GTD-40s, a pair of Dodge Vipers, a Toyota Celica GT-4, Minis, MGs, Caterhams and many more.

With such an impressive line-up, and demand for places so high, the 2008 Manx Classic is set to be one of the best yet!

Aidan Doherty, Managing Director of Manx Classic sponsor Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, said:
‘When the Manx Classic was reborn in 2006, we jumped at the opportunity to get involved and the fantastic response so far to this year’s event is justification of our commitment to support what is without doubt one of the most colourful spectacles in the Manx motorsport calendar.’
‘The Manx Classic continues to go from strength to strength, which is down to the continued efforts of the Manx Motor Racing Club and the hard work its members put in.’

For more information about the 2008 Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander Manx Classic visit www.manxmotorracing.com.

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