TOP RESULT FOR MORROW IN YORKSHIRE

Lisburn driver Phillip Morrow recorded his best result of the season so far when he and co-driver Daniel Barritt from Burnley finished this weekend’s round five of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, the International Rally Yorkshire, in fifth place overall and third in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.

The event is one of the most competitive in the British Championship’s six-round calendar, with the route featuring a series of high-speed gravel roads in the forests over the North Yorkshire Moors, demanding big commitment from driver and co-driver.

Starting and finishing in Pickering, the event began with a short spectator stage around the town’s agricultural showground, followed by a further five stages in the forests before a lunchtime service halt. Competitors then contested the same six stages again to complete 12 tests and 108 competitive miles before returning to the host town for the finish.

Having had incidents on the previous three rallies, all asphalt-based events, Phillip and his team were looking for a trouble-free run this time around. With this in mind, the 23-year old Ulsterman set-off on the first stage looking to stay in touch with the leaders, but not take any risks.

The first loop of six stages went without drama for Phillip, even though the pace at the front of the field was frantic and stage times were split by just a few seconds. He returned to Pickering Showground for the main service halt pleased to be holding fifth overall and third in the Evolution Challenge, but admitted he had perhaps been taking it too cautiously at times, albeit only a minute and seven seconds behind the leader after 54 stage miles.

With a few adjustments made to the car, Phillip and Daniel embarked on the afternoon’s six tests, determined to get to the finish unscathed and, at the very least, hold station. And that’s just what they did - although the team did get a scare at the auxiliary service halt near Whitby when the car coasted into the service area, poor Daniel having to push the powerless Mitsubishi the final few yards.

Luckily the cause was no worse than a shortage of fuel and once the car’s tank was replenished, Phillip steered his way back to Pickering to record his best result of the season.

“I’m both pleased and relieved”, said Phillip at the finish. “It’s great to get the car home without a scratch, both for me and the team, who I have to thank for giving me such a good car this weekend.  To have finished fifth overall and third in the Evo Challenge means we still have a chance of winning the Mitsubishi series, which is really what we set out to do this season – but it’s all down to the last event.”

The final BRC and Evo Challenge round, to which Phillip refers, is none other than the Wales Rally of Great Britian, which takes place on December 1st – 3rd. It is also the final round of the World Rally Championship, which means Phillip will be competing against the best drivers on the planet!

Phillip’s 2006 campaign is supported by Pirelli, Morrow Fuels, Fitzsamuel Insurance, Lyons European Haulage, Lagan Motor Factors, DGM Motorsport, Kelly’s Toyota, Proflex, PIAA, Speedline Corse, AMS gear kits, BADMC and RPM Promotions.