Michael Rutter won the Okell's 35ဣ0cc Classic TT by more than two minute💮s after a host of leading contenders retired.

The race wa꧂s reduced to three laps after being delayed by more than three hours due to a serious problem with the race communications system.

Rutter took the victory for Ripley Land Racing on a Drixton Honda, crossing the line to win by 2m 14.5 seconds from Phil McGurk with t♕hird place going to Doug Snow.

Nigel Moore had been holding third place on ಌAndy Mitchell's Honda but was cruelly robbed of a pod💙ium, retiring after Cronk-ny-Mona on the final lap.

Last year's win꧅ner Lee Johnston retired on the Black Eagle Racing MV Agusta at Ballaugh on the first lap with William Dunlop - who had been holding second place at Ballaugh on the Davies Mo☂torsport Honda behind Rutter - pulling in at Parliament Square.

Rutter's lﷺead at Ramsey on lap one was 2.5 seconds from Dan Cooper, with Jamie Cowa🍌rd a further five seconds behind in third.

The veteran racer posted a first lap of 100.988mph but Cooper upped the pace on lap two and moved ahead by 1.7 seconds at Ballaugh with Chris Swallow hauling himself up to third despite incurring a 30-second penalty for a technical infringement for having prohibited i🙈tems in pit lan🌞e.

Maria Costello, William Dunlop and Alan Oversby also picked up 30-second penalties ꦕfor the same🦄 breach of regulations.

Cooper's lead had increased to three seconds at Ramsey but Rutter had reduced the gap to 1.3 seconds by the end of🐼 the lap.

However, Cooper was late at Glen Helen on the third a𒉰nd final lap and it soon emerged t♍hat he had retired at Ballacraine, with Rutter taking the a commanding lead of 53.693 seconds over Swallow.

More drama was to come as Swallow stopped at Graham Memorial on the Mountain, promoting McGurk🌊 to second with Doug Snow gaining the final pla🔜ce on the rostrum.

Dave Madsen-🌱Mygdal (Honda), James Hillier (Honda) and Mark Herbಌertson (AJS) completed the top six.

Alan🌜 Oversb🔯y, Danny Webb and Jamie Coward were also among the retirements.

Olie Linsdell came off at Signpost Corner on the opening lap but es🍌caped unhurt.

Six-time TT winner Jim Redman, who claimed four consecutive 350cc World Championship titles from 1962 to 1965, presented race winner﷽ Rutter with the trophy.