4 umferð Bresku meistarakeppninnar - Fréttatilkynning Ralliart

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Evo Challenge heads to the valleys
Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge – Round Four Preview Severn Valley National Rally 31st May 2008 Evolution Challenge goes back into the forests three weeks after asphalt round. Sigurdarson races against time to rebuild car after Isle of Man accident. Barry eager to extend championship lead. Cathcart looking for points following Manx misfortunes. Three winners in three events sees championship wide open.	Preview image High resolution image
25th May 2008	Printer Version

It’s back to gravel forests roads, just three weeks after the first of two asphalt rallies, for the fourth round of the 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, when the championship for production specification Mitsubishi’s heads to mid-Wales for the Severn Valley National Rally.

The event also hosts round four of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship and sees a total entry of 44 cars, 11 of which are Evolution Challenge competitors, a figure which represents 25% of the National field.

Top Evolution Challenge seed is round-one winner David Bogie, who will certainly be looking for a return to his early season fortunes, having rolled his gravel spec Lancer on round two and his tarmac spec Lancer on round three. Even so, with others around him also suffering misfortune, his title hopes are far from over.

Next to take the green light is round-two winner Richard Cathcart and, if his pace so far this season is anything to go by, he will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend – especially as he is likely to be on a mission following his no-points finish on the Isle of Man, when a penultimate stage puncture saw him exceed his maximum lateness.

Championship leader Daniel Barry starts third and, after scoring three podium finishes in three events, will be out to defend his position. He will also be hoping for a less eventful rally than that of the Manx, when his car ended-up looking decidedly second-hand.

Fourth Mitsubishi seed is Nik Elsmore, who hopes to get some of his old pace back with the series returning to the forests of Wales. Behind him starts Northern Irish youngster Jonny Greer, who’s season finally got off the mark on the Isle of Man, when he finished a strong fourth and collected his first haul of points.

Greer is followed by fellow Ulsterman Neil McCance, who’s current form may well see him fronting the Evo Challenge charge at some point during the event.

Another who fell-foul of the Manx lanes is Daniel Sigurdarson, who almost destroyed his Lancer on what was his first ever tarmac surface rally. Such is the Icelandic Rally Champion’s commitment to the Evolution Challenge, he and his team have worked solidly for the past three weeks to get his car ready for this weekend’s event.

Next in line is another driver who is yet to show his full potential this year, Simon Harraway, who’s first full season in a Mitsubishi is seeing him contest the British Rally Championship as well as the Evolution Challenge.

In contrast, Keith Cronin has shown his potential, the young Irishman scoring his first Mitsubishi series victory on the Isle of Man, so this weekend, eyes will be upon him to see if he can repeat his winning performance on gravel.

Rounding off the Evo Challenge field are Miles Johnston, who is gathering pace as the season progresses and Jon Sparks, who recorded a very uncharacteristic non-finish in round three and therefore intends to get back to his more usual consistent form this weekend.

The Severn Valley National Rally is based in Builth Wells, starting and finishing at the Royal Welsh Showground. The event features eight stages during Saturday, totalling 65 competitive miles, in forests acknowledged to provide some of the best rallying in the UK.

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 Four
Entries in start number order
9 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) J
10 Richard Cathcart (Enniskillen)/Martin Brady (Navan)
12 Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowens (Cork) J
16 Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Paul Wakeley (Llanelli)
18 Jonathan Greer (Carryduff)/Jonny Hart (Moneyrea) J
19 Neil McCance (Comber)/Graham Hopewell (Worcester)
20 Daniel Siguardarson (Iceland)/Asta Sigurdardottir (Iceland)
23 Simon Harraway (Weston-super-Mare)/Craig Drew (Bream)
26 Keith Cronin (Cork)/Greg Shinnors (Limerick) J
29 Miles Johnston (York)/Ian Bevan (Holywell)
35 Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Chris Davies (Abergavenny)

Photo Caption
Icelandic Rally driver Daniel Sigurdarson has been racing against time to get his car ready in three weeks for this weekend’s round four of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the Severn Valley National Rally, after crashing heavily in round three on the Isle of Man (copyright free image).