[KA]

Graham Middleton's attempt to use one of the MIL Motorsport BTCC Supras as a tarmac rallycar on the 1988 Manx International has been mentioned a couple of times in the thread, but I've finally tracked down the relevant issue of Autosport

From their Manx Rally report, in the issue for 22/9/88

'Securicor, Shell Oils & Dunlop backed the striking red Toyota Supra of Graham Middleton, bringing Toyota GB's name back into British motorsport with a vengenance. The MIL Motorsport-run car was one of their pair of circuit racing Supras, and even with extensive modifications, was boasting well over the imaginary 300bhp power limit in Group A, something around 340bhp being quoted. Suspension had come from TTE at Cologne, and with spring rates around 1200lbs at the front, 800lbs at the rear, the car would undoubtedly be somewhat firm! It was heavy also, figures of around 1500kg being mentioned, but most agreed it was good to see something a little different on the island'

and
'The biggest car on the rally was surely Graham Middleton's big red Toyota Supra, the striking car also being one of the most powerful on the island. It was a handful, the super stiff suspension making it very bouncy at the back and causing heart failure after every landing, but as lunchtime approached, the car was still going and had lasted longer than the sceptics would have believed.
However, early promise was not turned into long-term success, and spectators at Abbeylands crossroads were to witness the last moments of the car's rally. The sound of distant scraping heralded the car's approach, the rear offside corner dragging on the ground as the suspension had failed. Stronger hubs had been built up, but the locating pins had now proved the weak point, and retiement was the only sensible option once the car reached the TT Grandstand at the end of the first loop of stages.'

Middleton completed 8 stages before retiring. Co-driver was Paul Watkins, who I think was his regular codriver at the time- Graham's usual rally mount being a white Group A AE86.

There's a pic of the Supra in the report, which shows the car is still in MIL's red BTCC livery with the usual large Shell logos on the doors, plus the addition of sponsorship from 'Securicor Communications'. It looks every inch the BTCC car it was, right down to the use of what look like the same single-stud 5-spoke wheels normally used on race duty, and it still appears to have the onboard airjacks fitted

Middleton was at no14 on the entry list, and the car carried the registration 'D331FUV' for the occasion.