Irishman Keith Cronin led 138.com Rally Isle of Man after eight stages on Friday morning.

He and Mikie Galvin were fastest on four of Thursday’s opening five stages in the Msport Ford Fiesta R5 to lead Matt Edwards/Darren Garrod (Ford Fiesta) by 7.5 seconds.

The latter crew set excellent times to pull 16s clear of Prestone MSA British Rally Championship leaders Fredrik Ahlin/Torstein Eriksen (Skoda Fabia R5).

Leading local competitor is Kirk Michael’s Rob Fagg, co-driving for Hugh Hunter in a Ford. They held sixth place overnight, 1m 36s off the lead after a wrong tyre choice cost them dearly in changeable conditions.

Historic category leaders, Manx born Ulsterman Ryan Barrett and resident Ulsterman Paul McCann (Ford Escort MkII) punctured in Glen Roy on the final stage of the evening, losing five minutes.

Many times Manx National Rally winners Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke assumed a 17.2s lead to take into the second day over former winners Rob Smith/Alun Cook, with Mintex MSA British Historic Championship leaders Nick Elliott/Dave Price third, all in Ford Escorts.

Reigning Motor Mall Manx Rally Champions Daniel Harper/Chris Campbell (Mini WRC) led the National category, seventh overall on the event, by 29.7s from the leading Manx drivers.

Ramsey’s Andrew Dudgeon and Joseph Dooley were second, half-a-second ahead of Stu Bainborough/Jan Nicol after a real push in the pouring rain on SS5 Baldhoon, with multiple former Manx champion Nigel Cannell, who has daughter Kayleigh on the pace notes, fourth.

Martyn Jones went out, crashing the Vauxhall Nova at the end of SS4, King Edward Bay, the crew reported to be ok.

Friday, the longest day of the British rallying year, started shortly before 10am with Little London 1, followed in rapid succession by Kella 1 and Tholt-y-Will 1.

Today’s 11 stages is headlined by the traditional double run through the streets of Castletown this evening, with spectators urged to arrive early and park sensibly. The Friday night leg includes five stages without service, so any issue will be magnified.

Roads close at 6pm, with the first cars expected around 7pm.