Evo Challenge makes Irish debut

For the first time since the series began in 2001, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge heads to Northern Ireland for the Philip White Tyres Ulster Rally, which takes place next Friday and Saturday, 1st & 2nd September.

Of the seven Evo Challenge crews entered, four will not be flying or sailing to the event, Neil McCance, Philip Morrow, Connor McCloskey and Shaun Gallagher, all living within an hours drive from the rally’s host town of Armagh.

The event also represents round four of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, the Mitsubishi series contributing 23% of the overall BRC entry. Numbers are swelled by the rally also being a round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, this all-asphalt series joining the British and Mitsubishi Championships for the third time in as many events.

After winning round three - the Rally Isle of Man, Jonny Milner and his co-driver Nicky Beech start next weekend’s Ulster Rally, round four of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, as series leaders

Currently heading the Evolution Challenge driver’s table is Jonny Milner, who topped the charts by winning the previous round on the Isle of Man. The twice former British Champion has admitted that he aims to keep out of trouble next weekend and is gunning for another haul of Evolution Challenge points in order to keep his quest to be the next Mitsubishi works driver well and truly on target.

However, having competed in this event more times than he can remember, albeit not in its current format, Gwyndaf Evans is likely to put Milner’s plan under pressure. Having won the opening round of the Mitsubishi series, Evans is hoping for better luck than he has had in the previous two, when he retired on both occasions with mechanical issues.

Evans’ team-mate, Stuart Jones will certainly be looking for a change in fortunes after a dramatic accident on the Isle of Man which almost destroyed his Evo IX. Jones has also taken an Evo Challenge victory this season by winning round two and has proved that he has the pace to do it again.

Leading the Irish contingent by being second in the series standings is Neil McCance. Now on home turf, the spirited Ulsterman may surprise his competitors more than he has done in the last two events and could well be on for his first Evo Challenge victory.

Also in with a good shout of the spoils is another highly popular local driver, Phillip Morrow. The 23-year old always shows excellent pace, but on the past two rallies has also shown that just the smallest of misjudgements can have the most dramatic of consequences.

However, salvation has come in the form of SuperRally on both occasions and he now lies 3rd in the Mitsubishi tables. With his regular co-driver Daniel Barritt competing in Japan, Morrow is still yet to confirm who will be calling the notes to him next weekend.

Connor McCloskey is another Ulsterman who is delighted not to have to travel miles to an event and has said that although he has never done this rally before he will certainly feel at home on the stages. He is hoping that his consistent form will again pay dividends and admits he will push a bit harder with this being his most local event.

Fourth Irishman Shaun Gallagher is also expected to go well this time out. Gallagher is yet to show his full potential in the Evolution Challenge and, having missed the Manx event, will be looking to make up for lost ground on territory with is destined to be more familiar.

The only Evo Challenger not entered for Ulster is Stephen Petch. Having crashed his Lancer heavily on the Isle of Man his car’s front-end is still being repaired and he is now looking towards his home event, round five - the Rally Yorkshire.

Crews will leave Armagh City Centre at 3.00pm on Friday to contest five stages and 40 competitive miles. The rally re-starts on Saturday at 7.30am for a further 12 stages and 85 miles before returning to Armagh for the finish. All stages take place on closed public roads in Co. Armagh and Co. Tyrone.

The Evolution Challenge offers driver the best prize in British motorsport – the chance to become a Mitsubishi works driver in the British Rally Championship. The series is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart and sees the continued support of its associate sponsors: Walon, Pirelli, PIAA, Speedline Corse, Shell and Mintex.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge entries (in start number order)
20. Gwyndaf Evans (Dinas Mawddwy)/Huw Lewis (Machynlleth)
23. Jonny Milner (Huggate)/Nick Beech (Lewknor)
22. Stuart Jones (Welshpool)/Craig Parry (Llanymynech) (J)
30. Phillip Morrow (Lisburn)/TBC (J)
34. Shaun Gallagher (Letterkenny)/TBC
35. Neil McCance (Comber)/ Sean Ferris (Drumquin)
36. Connor McCloskey (Kilrea)/Robbie Durant (Bicester) (J)
(J) = Junior driver.

Championship Positions
Drivers
1st Jonny Milner - 32 points
2nd Neil McCance - 26 points
3rd Phillip Morrow - 24 points
4th= Stuart Jones - 23 points
4th= Connor McCloskey - 23 points
6th Gwyndaf Evans - 21 points
7th Shaun Gallagher - 13 points
7h= Stephen Petch - 13 points

Co-drivers
1st Nick Beech - 35 points
2nd Daniel Barritt - 27 points
3rd= Craig Parry - 22 points
3rd= Sean Moriarty – 22 points
5th Huw Lewis - 21 points
6th= Charlie McGinty - 15 points
6th= Michael Wilkinson - 15 points
8th Robbie Durant – 8 points
9th Damien Connelly - 6 points
10th Sean Ferris - 4 points

More at: http://evo-challenge.com