Fréttatilkynning Mitsubishi UK - Ralliart. Manx rally 2008

Press Information

Cronin claims Manx Mitsubishi victory
Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge – Round Three Report RBS International Man Rally – 9th & 10th May 2008 Keith Cronin takes maiden Evolution Challenge win Richard Cathcart sets the pace before puncture on penultimate stage Neil McCance scores solid second place Daniel Barry overcomes incident-packed weekend to finish third and retain championship lead Championship sees three different winners from three events	Preview image High resolution image
12th May 2008	Printer Version

Keith Cronin recorded his very first Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge victory on this weekend’s RBS International Manx Rally when, with co-driver Greg Shinnors, he took the lead after Richard Cathcart/Martin Brady suffered a puncture and then mechanical problems on the penultimate stage.

After winning last year’s Evolution Challenge on the island, Neil McCance delivered another top-class performance to finish second, whilst Daniel Barry managed to cling onto his championship lead after surviving a host of incidents throughout the event to claim third place and his 100% podium position finish record this season.

The Isle of Man’s demanding tarmac roads lived up to their reputation of providing competitors with one of the toughest tests of the season, when 12 Evolution Challenge crews met up with teams contesting the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship, the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship and others just entering the 120-mile rally on an individual basis, to provide a total entry of 124 cars.

The first of the rally’s five stages on Friday evening got underway with a run through the South West coast town of Port Erin, Nik Elsmore setting the fastest time just 0.3 seconds ahead of Cathcart, with Miles Johnston 0.2 seconds further back in third.

Albeit the highest Evo Challenge seed, McCance was the slowest Mitsubishi through the stage, having been caught out on cold tyres causing him to spin on the second corner. However, the Ulsterman redeemed himself on SS2, when he climbed back up to third place, behind Cronin and Cathcart - who were now the pace-setters.

After a further three stages, competitors arrived at the Douglas TT grandstand for the overnight halt, where the time sheets showed Cathcart in charge with a healthy 25 second advantage over Cronin, who was a further 25 seconds ahead of McCance.

Outside the Evo Challenge top three, others reported their Friday night out in the Manx lanes was not as successful: Although in fourth, round one winner David Bogie was struggling to find the right set-up for his brand new ‘tarmac-spec’ Evo, whilst just behind, championship leader Barry had suffered a broken rear shock absorber on SS2 and then rear differential problems on SS4. Elsmore’s had also dropped back, his early advantage eradicated following a spin on SS3 and a puncture on SS5.

Manx debutants included Simon Harraway, who lost time with a spin during the evening and David Meredith, whose run of bad luck continued when a driveshaft broke as he left the line on SS4. For Daniel Sigurdarson, the event was proving to be a real education, as this was the first time the Icelandic rally champion had ever competed on tarmac, and if it was not for clipping a road-side rock on the first stage, it would have been a perfect start to his asphalt debut.

Saturday featured a further nine stages, the first loop of three providing drivers with challenge, the rapidly drying overnight rain causing unpredictable levels of grip. Worst affected was SS7, a point proved first by Bogie, who spun, clipped a bank and removed his car’s rear spoiler. Next to fall foul of the slippery conditions was Barry, who demolished the rear of his car – luckily without sustaining any mechanical damage.

Harraway was another who succumbed to the perils of stage seven, spoiling a chance of a good result when he got stuck in a ditch, lost nearly six minutes and then had to continue with bent suspension.

However, for Sigurdarson his promising start suddenly turned into a dramatic finish on SS8, when his car stepped out of line on a fast and bumpy narrow section of road, impact with a tree sending his car into a series of spins and rolls between the solid Manx banks. With his Evo IX in ruins, both he and his co-driver Isak Gudjonsson were taken to the local hospital for a check-up, where thankfully both were discharged later that day with nothing worse than bruises and a suspected fracture in Sigurdarson’s hand.

At the first service halt of the day, the scoreboard showed Catchcart now leading by 38 seconds, with Cronin 31 ahead of McCance. Plagued by a season of bad luck so far, David Meredith had no choice but to retire at this point, when his car’s clutch stopped working due to a sheared hydraulic coupling.

With roads drying out and teams now getting to grips with suspension settings, speeds for Saturday’s second batch of three stages continued to rise. But the improved conditions didn’t seem to help Bogie, who clipped a bank on stage 10, which flipped his car onto its roof and, although continuing, the consequent delay caused him to exceed his maximum lateness.

Johnston reported a lucky escape on SS11, when contact with a kerb caused a wheel to remove itself from the car and disappear over the side of a cliff, a swift change in the stage allowing him to make it back to the second service halt.

With just three stages left to go, Cathcart’s lead in the Evolution Challenge looked unassailable, but when he unknowingly clipped something at the side of the road in SS13 and punctured the nearside front wheel, his chances of a dominant victory rapidly dropped away. Then, with further damage sustained to the front hub and surrounding components before the end of the stage, it was Cronin who arrived in Douglas ahead of the Evo Challenge field. After an agonising wait, it was revealed that Cathcart’s 11th hour problems had caused him to exceed his maximum lateness and was therefore un-classified in the results, a bitter blow to what was an outstanding display of driving.

His retirement elevated McCance to second, whilst Barry not only had to overcome his SS7 dramas, but also managed to climb back up to third – even after having to replace the bolts in his car’s propshaft between the stages – the fight to the finish enabling him to retain his championship lead.

His strategy for keeping out of trouble saw a solid drive from Jonny Greer reward him with fourth place and his first haul of Evo Challenge points this season. Having adopted a similar stance, Elsmore finished fifth and was pleased to complete the event unscathed, following his well-publicised accident in 2007.

For Jonathan Sparks there was a final sting in the tail, when a certain points finish was denied after transmission troubles brought his rally to a standstill on the very last stage.

At the finish a delighted Keith Cronin said: “It’s great to take my first Evolution Challenge win. This weekend was a case of learning the car on tarmac and building up the speed as the rally went on. We just kept plugging away and had almost accepted we were going to finish second, but in rallying, it’s not over until it’s over and, although I feel for Richard (Cathcart), this result has really made a difference to our championship hopes.”

Evo Challenge competitors now have just three weeks to prepare for round four, the Severn Valley National Rally on 31st May, when the championship switches back to a gravel surface and the forests of mid-Wales - and, with a different winner on each of the three rounds so far, the title chase is still wide open.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK and Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli tyres, Speedline Corse wheels, Sparco racewear, Performance Friction Brakes, Sunoco Race Fuels, ADR Motorsport, Walkinshaw Performance and PIAA lights, who sponsor the junior award for under 25 year old drivers.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge - Round Three Results
1 Keith Cronin (Cork)/Greg Shinnors (Limerick) 1:45:11.6
2 Neil McCance (Comber)/Graham Hopewell (Worcester) 1:45:58.9
3 Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowens (Cork) 1:47:36.7
4 Jonathan Greer (Carryduff)/Jonny Hart (Moneyrea) 1:47:55.8
5 Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Paul Wakeley (Llanelli) 1:49:05.7
6 Miles Johnston (York)/Louise Sutherland (Hawick) 1:56:05.3
7 Simon Harraway (Weston-super-Mare)/Craig Drew (Bream) 2:02:36.3

Retirements
SS8 Daniel Siguardarson (Iceland)/Isak Gudjonsson (Iceland) - Accident
SS9 David Meredith (Dolgellau)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen) - Clutch
SS10 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) – Accident/OTL
SS13 Richard Cathcart (Enniskillen)/Martin Brady (Navan) - Puncture/OTL
SS14 Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Chris Davies (Abergavenny) - Driveshaft

Spirit Awards

Strákarnir okkur hlutu Spirit Awards fyrir keppnina núna um helgina, það var haft eftir Danna að hann væri hamingjusamasti maðurinn á eyjunni, þótt hann væri handleggsbrotinn og búinn að velta bílnum sínum.

Það sýnir sig að jákvætt hugarfar og keppnisgleði skilar sér.

Til hamingju strákar

Laugardagur

Þeir veltu á leið 7 og eru úr leik, bíllinn er viðgerðarhæfur. Danni er kominn í gifs en er handleggsbrotinn. Ísak er kvalinn í öxlinni.

Þeir senda bestu kveðjur til Íslands.

Föstudagskvöld

Leið 1

Þeir eru með rásnúmer 41 og kláruðu fyrstu leið á tímanum 2:00.1 rúmum 12 sek á eftir fyrsta bíl og eru í 12. sæti í evo-challenge. 

Leið 2

Þeir kláruðu leið 2 á tímanum 13:04.6

Leið 3

Kláruðu á tímanum 4:39.9

Leið 4

Voru 10:07.6  

Leið 5

Voru á tímanum 4:53.1 

Eru í 14. sæti í evo-challenge eftir leið 5 og í 37. sæti í heildina.

Á leið 1 var steinn á veginum sem þeir keyrðu á og eyðilögðu 3 felgur. Þannig að þeir keyrðu varlega á regndekkjum í þurru veðri hinar leiðarnar. Það var rosalega mikið myrkur, sérstaklega síðustu tvær leiðarnar. 

Þeir kláruðu með bros á vor og bíllinn er heill.

 

 

Manx rallid = 4,5 klst i raesingu. Allt klart ad verda og vid byrjadir ad brenna okkur

Godan daginn.

 

Nu erum vid ad gera okkur klara fyrir raesingu i kvold = forum inn a fyrstu leid klukkan 18.47 ad islenskum tima held eg. Ekki er laust vid ad nettur fidringur se farinn ad gera vart vid sig i mallakut enda ekkert sma erfidi framundan.

 

Mer synist thetta vera eins og ad ganga a everest = = bara thad ad komast upp er fullnadarsigur burtsed hvad thad tekur langan tima. Svona er thetta rall, , eg tel helmingslikur a ad vid naum ad klara thetta vandraedalaust.. En thad skal gerast.

 

Ljost er ad i kvold verdum vid sorglega langt fra theim fyrstu en orvaentid ekki, verdlaunin eru eftir sidustu serleid og thad verdum vid ad einbeita okkur ad!

Hitti David Bogie adan = hann var voda stoltur med "hinn" nyja evo 9 bilinn sinn,,, ekki thann sem hann leidarskodar a, nei, thetta er annar rallibill, splunkunyr adeins smidadur fyrir malbiksroll.. Einmitt,, aha,, Best ad skreppa og fara ad keppa vid hina empty wallet gaurana haha. Snilld,, ,otrulegt hvad thessir kappar geta lagt i thetta.

En ad leidunum = thid hafid heyrt ad thetta rall se erfitt og allt thad... en Scheisse, vegirnir eru ekki bilbreidd, bakkarnir og fallid ut i sjo handan theirra er rugl og reyndar er allt rallid rugl.. Eg hef aldrei sed annad eins og hlakka geysilega til ad takast a vid thessa askorun..

 

Sma synishorn af klikkunninni,, tharna er 60m fall nidur i sjo.

Forum ad profa bilinn adeins adan og eins og vid var ad buast rigndi eld og brennistein i service en thegar vid komum thangad sem prufuvegurinn var var allt skraufathurrt... Lesson learned eins og heimamenn segja >)

Adeins fleirri "vegamyndir" fra Manx

Vonast til ad naesta skeyti verdi jakvaett lika = skrifa inn i kvold.

 

Knus til allra.

 

Danni

Isle of Man = Manx rallid um helgina.

Halllo.

 

Eftir langt og strangt ferdalag erum vid komnir til paradisar. Her skin solin og hitinn vel yfir tuttugu stig. .. . Verdskuldud verdlaun eftir ferdalagid og alag sidustu daga.

A morgun fimtudag faum vid ad leidarskoda thessa gedveikisleidir sem vid eigum ad keyra um helgina. Eins og stadan er nuna spair skurum a fostudag en thurru a laugardag = en heimamenn segja ad ekkert se ad marka slikt , thvi thad se algengt ad sol skini odrum megin a eyjunni medan rignir hinu megin.

Thetta thydir ad dekkjaval er gridarlega erfitt fyrir keppnina = ekkert sem gerir thessa keppni audvelda.

Fyrstu fimm leidirnar (75km) verda keyrdar i myrkri a fostudagskvold og svo verda naestu 9 leidir eknar a laugardag yfir daginn. Heildarlengd rallsins er 220km a serleidum thannig ad mikil yfirferd er i vaendum.

 

Mark Higgins ekur hondu og lysir leidinni fyrir ahorfendu

Vid erum vel stemmdir og med hoflegar vaentingar fyrir keppnina = Thad vaeri ekki donalegt ad klara thessa jomfruarferd okkar hingad med thvi ad na i endamarkid.. Amk stefnum vid adeins a thad.

Kaerar kvedjur ur paradis

Danni og Isak

Manx National rally - Alvara ársins

Við erum farnir út - leiðarskoðanir næstu daga á hinni fögru eyju á Írlandshafi.

Reynt verður að koma öllum upplýsingum til ykkar, myndum og texta.. Keppnin fer fram á föstudag og laugardag.

 

Danni & Ísak

Manx International rally - Fréttatilkynning RALLIART

Mitsubishis compete for Island honours
Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Round Three Preview RBSI Manx Rally – 9th & 10th May 2008 First asphalt rally of the season for Mitsubishi Championship Change of surface may see change of leaderboard 12 Evo Challenge teams get set for classic Manx stages	Preview image High resolution image
1st May 2008	Printer Version

The RBS International Manx Rally has traditionally become the first all-asphalt event in the UK Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge calendar and this year is no exception. Taking place on 9th & 10th May, the championship’s annual visit to the Isle of Man means a change of surface from that of the gravel forestry rounds in rounds one and two, a factor which may well reveal a different winner – as it did last year.

2007 saw Neil McCance take his very first Evo Challenge victory on the island and in the light of his former victory, the Ulsterman starts as first Mitsubishi seed next weekend.

He is followed by this year’s round one winner David Bogie, who will be looking to put his round two and 2007 Manx memories behind him, both events seeing the talented young Scot experience off-road excursions. He will therefore be looking for a good points haul to ensure he keeps his championship hopes in tact.

Next Evo Challenger to leave the start line will be the current series leader Daniel Barry, who’s scored two second places so far this season. He is followed by round two winner and a man that is likely to go well whatever the surface, Richard Cathcart.

He is followed by Nik Elsmore, another driver who is still trying to put the experience of last year’s Manx Rally behind him, but with the video footage used in the opening sequence of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Championship’s television programmes, he is unlikely to forget his spectacular accident too easily.

Young Ulsterman Jonny Greer is next to take the green light and hopes that this time he can finally get some points on the board, having had to endure a series of frustrating mechanical issues in the first two rounds.

Simon Harraway is another looking for better fortune and his first points score, whilst just behind him is the very quick Daniel Sigurdarson. This will be the Icelandic Champion’s first ever 100% tarmac rally and he is relishing his maiden visit to the Isle of Man – a baptism of fire if ever there was one!

Next in line is another driver relatively unfamiliar with asphalt, Keith Cronin, who is yet to show his true colours this season and will certainly want to go further than he did in round two, having left the road on the very first stage. Behind him is a man who says he enjoys the challenge of the Manx roads, Miles Johnston, who could well achieve his best Evo Challenge result so far next weekend.

Rounding up the list of 12 Evo Challenge runners are Jonathan Sparks and David Meredith, both drivers in with an excellent chance of claiming a good points in this event and certainly looking to improve on their seeding.

However, notable by his absence is 2007 championship runner-up and second on the Isle of Man last year, Seb Ling, who is taking a sabbatical following his stage one accident and subsequent zero points score in round two.

The RBS International Manx Rally is a round of the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, as well as the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship. These, together with a number of individually entered crews, adds up to a total start list of 124 cars, 12 of which are the Evolution Challenge entries.

The event gets underway at 7.00pm on Friday evening and features five stages before the overnight halt and then a further nine stages on Saturday, the total of which provides a competitive distance of 120 miles.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK and Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli tyres, Speedline Corse wheels, Sparco racewear, Performance Friction Brakes, Sunoco Race Fuels, ADR Motorsport, Walkinshaw Performance and PIAA lights, who sponsor the junior award for under 25 year old drivers.

Championship Positions after round 2

Drivers
1 Daniel Barry 20
2 Richard Cathcart 18
3 David Bogie 15
4 Nik Elsmore 14
5 Neil McCance 13
6 Seb Ling 8
7 Jonathan Sparks 6
8 Daniel Sigurdarson 6
9 David Meredith 5
10 Keith Cronin 4
11 Miles Johnston 3

Co-drivers
1 Mark Bowens 20
2 Martin Brady 18
3 Kevin Rae 15
4 Paul Wakely 14
5 Anthony O’Connail 12
6 Aled Rees 8
7 Chris Davies 6
8 Isak Guojonsson 6
9 Graham Hopewell 5
10 David Roberts 5
11 Ian Bevan 3

Það er vor í lofti á Íslandi - Spennan magnast á öllum vígstöðvum.

Góða kvöldið kæru lesendur.

 

Góður tími liðinn frá síðustu fréttum - en þrátt fyrir þögnina hefur geysilega mikið verið í gangi enda styttist óðum í hvern stórviðburðin á fætur öðrum í mótorsportheiminum.

Næstkomandi helgi verður haldin mikil bílasýning á vegum Bílar&Sport tímaritsins - þessar sýningar hafa verið árviss viðburður undanfarið og sífellt stækkar sýningarsvæðið og verður glæsilegra.

Íslenskir rallkappar hafa því verið í óðaönn að gera tækin sín klár og lofa ég þeim sem leggja leið sína í kópavoginn um helgina að þeir verði ekki sviknir af tækjaflotanum sem frumsýndur verður þar.

Aðra helgi er svo komið að erfiðasta ralli ársins hjá okkur flóðhestunum - MANX international rallið verður þá haldið á eyjunni Isle of Man sem er á Írlandshafi. Þetta er tveggja daga rall á malbiki  og þykir óendanlega erfið keppni. Í fyrra náðu rétt rúmur helmingur keppanda að klára þessa keppni sem segir meira en mörg orð um erfiðleikastig hennar.

Ekki er hægt að segja að undirbúningur okkar sé í samræmi við fyrri keppnir á árinu - en hefðbundnar líkams og tækniæfingar hafa þó verið miklar. Þó varð Ísak fyrir slæmri byltu á æfingu í síðustu viku og að læknisráði var honum ráðlagt að hafa sig hægan í fjórar vikur. Hann sýndi sitt víkingagen í verki með að blása á þetta og ætlar ekki að láta neinn bilbug á sér finna.

Svona fór fyrir vini okkar Nik Elsmore fyrra... Hann var einn þeirra 49 bíla sem duttu út.

 

Strákarnir bara svolítið tæpir á því - vídeó

Góðan daginn.

 Enn hefur verið bætt myndum í albúmin okkar og einnig er komið eitt myndband í viðbót.

http://hipporace.blog.is/blog/hipporace/video/3978/

Á youtube má finna neðangreinda klippu þar sem Íslensku strákarnir fara nokkuð tæpt á 1:45 mín.

 

 

Vona að þið njótið vel.