Mitsubishi challenge

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Mitsubishis prepare for battle on the borders
Preview Image High Resolution Image	Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge - Round Two Border Counties Rally – 24th March 2007 Evolution Challenge entries make up nearly half the National field More overseas drivers sign up for the series
19th March 2007

Round two of the 2007 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge takes place this weekend, when 23 crews competing in the one-make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions head to Kielder Forest for the Border Counties Rally.

The event also hosts round two of the Hankook MSA Gravel Rally Championship and round two of the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship which, when combined, sees an overall entry for the National A event of 48 cars – the Evolution Challenge accounting for 48% of the field!

If round one is anything to go by then this weekend’s rally is going to be another exciting battle between the Mitsubishi runners, all striving for the holy grail of a Mitsubishi works drive for next season. Such was the competition, no less that 12 Evolution Challenge teams finished in the top 20 overall on the Rallye Sunseeker and, with the fast flowing stages of Kielder more suited to production specification machinery, the results could well reflect a similar pattern this weekend.

Following his outstanding performance in round one, Phillip Morrow currently tops the Evolution Challenge table and will be all set to do battle against second-placed Jonny Milner. The twice British Champion starts as number one seed this weekend with Morrow second and - fourth placed on round one - Sebastian Ling starting third. A notable late entry is Julian Reynolds, who finished third of the Mitsubishis in the opening event and is back to see if he can improve on his result this time round.

Word of the Evolution Challenge is now spreading far and wide, as registering for the championship for this event are three overseas drivers: Ferran Font from Andorra, Daniel Siguroarson from Iceland and Jonas Ericsson from Sweden. They join Spainiard Alex Sabater who registered earlier this year and admits to be a big fan of the Mitsubishi series.

The Evolution Challenge has also attracted a number of up-and-coming youngsters this season, each competing for the PIAA Junior Award for under 25 year old drivers. These include current series leader Phillip Morrow and most local of the Challenge competitors to this event, Stephen Petch.

Mitsubishi newcomer David Bogie is quickly getting used to four-wheel-drive having recorded some impressive performances recently, whilst Connor McCloskey is another young driver getting quicker each time out and could well finish in the top placings. Other Junior recruits for this season Daniel Barry and Errol Clark both intend to build on their performances from round one, having finished in 10th and 11th places respectively.

Running within this year’s Evolution Challenge is the Evolution Cup, a class for nearer-to-standard Group N Lancers. Clear winner on the opening round was Miles Johnston, whos main competition for the category on this round will come from Mark I’Anson.

The rally starts and finishes in Jedburgh and features eight timed special stages, totaling 60 competitive miles, in Kielder Forest.

The Evolution Challenge offers drivers what is widely regarded as the best prize in British rallying – the chance to become a Mitsubishi works driver in the 2008 British Rally Championship.
Also included in this year’s Mitsubishi championship are the Pirelli and Performance Friction Brakes Cups.

The series is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli, PIAA, Speedline Corse, Sparco, Performance Friction Brakes, Shell Helix and Tesco 99 Octane - suppliers of the controlled fuel for the championship.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge entries
5 Jonny Milner (Huggate)/Ian Windress (Northallerton)
8 Phillip Morrow (Lisburn)/Simon Morrow (Lisburn) (J)
15 Sebastian Ling (Llandysul)/Aled Rees (Crymych)
18 Stephen Petch (Richmond)/Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) (J)
19 Wayne Sisson (Carnforth)/Daniel Stone (Chesterfield)
21 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Rob Fagg (Isle of Man) (J)
22 Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Vicky Allen (Denbigh)
27 Richard Hill (Chesterfield)/Aled Davis (Llanelli)
31 Gordon Cunningham (Galston)/Stuart McManus (Kilmarnock)
32 Connor McCloskey (Lirea)/Craig Thorley (Pocklington) (J)
36 Ferran Font (Andorra)/Miquel Amblas (Spain)
38 Daniel Siguroarson (Iceland)/Isak Guojonsson (Iceland)
39 Neil McCance (Coomber)/Sean Moriarty (Kerry)
40 Miles Johnston (York)/Ian Bevan (Wrexham)*
42 Errol Clark (Irvinestown)/Craig Parry (Llanymynech) (J)
46 Alex Sabater (Barcelona)/Chris Thirling (Wickham)
51 Mark I’Anson (Haydon Bridge)/Graeme Walker (Henley)*
52 Thomas Naughton (Bury)/Horace Saville (Bury)
58 Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Bradley Magnus (Downham Market)
74 Alan Carmichael (Ballymena)/Ivor Lamont (Ballymena)
84 Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowen (Cork) (J)
TBC Julian Reynolds (Narberth)/Patrick Walsh (Aberystwyth)
TBC Jonas Ericsson (Sweden)/TBC

For the latest Evolution Challenge news, visit: www.evo-challenge.com