Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge

Mitsubishi Announce Plans for 2006 Evolution Challenge

20th October 2005

• Mitsubishi's one-make series joins British Rally Championship

• Higher Profile, incresed competition and top quality stages

• Additionsl National A 'Evo Cup' series proposed


Mitsubishi Motors UK are pleased to announce that its popular single-make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, will follow all six rounds of next year’s British Rally Championship.

Having enjoyed five years of success with the ANCRO administered National Gravel Championship, Mitsubishi decided to take the Evolution Challenge to the BRC in 2006, following the announcement that WRC cars would be no longer be allowed to participate and therefore hand the competitive advantage to Class N4 machines.

Series organisers are confident that the move to the British Championship will see registrations for the series increase and provide a host of benefits to competitors, such as: High quality stages, top level competition, increased media profile, more opportunities for sponsors, special deals for registered competitors and therefore represent excellent value for money.

The new-look six-round British Championship will feature three gravel and three asphalt rallies, therefore providing a balanced mixture of surfaces. It is hoped that the inclusion of the asphalt events will make the Evolution Challenge more appealing to Irish competitors.

Organisers are aware that some teams will be concerned that the move to the BRC will see the cost of competing escalate, but with the British Championship taking on a new format, the difference of competing in eight events in 2005 and six events in 2006 will be minimal. A spokesman for the Evolution Challenge said:

“With the series launched at BRC Live at the beginning of the season and the Rally GB at the end, plus the addition of television coverage, there will be many more advantages for sponsors. Therefore, we hope that teams will exploit these features and see the move to the BRC as a great opportunity. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year.”

With the Rally of Great Britain being the final round, organisers are currently considering an allocation of points for each day of competition and looking into the possibility of running ‘Super Rally’ rules for Evolution Challenge competitors.

Mitsubishi are pleased to confirm that the coveted prize of a works drive in a Group N Mitsubishi Evolution will be awarded to the 2006 Champion. The series will also enjoy an increased prize fund, which awards the first four drivers on each round and at the end of the season.

For competitors without International licences and for those not wishing to contest the British Rally Championship, subject to demand, Mitsubishi are proposing to introduce the ‘Evo Cup’, a seven round series which will run alongside the Evolution Challenge in 2006.

This new initiative will feature five gravel and two asphalt based National A status events. A prize fund similar to that of the International series will be on offer, but without the added attraction of a works drive for the Champion.


2006 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge

BRC Live: 19th March
Pirelli Rally: 13th & 14th May
Jim Clark Memorial Rally: 7th & 8th July
Manx International Rally: 3rd, 4th & 5th August
Ulster Rally: 1st & 2nd Sept
Rally Yorkshire: 7th October
Rally of Great Britain: 22nd, 23rd & 24th November*

* Provisional Date

Proposed 2006 Mitsubishi Evo Cup

Rallye Sunseeker: 25th & 26th February
Rally of Wales: 8th & 9th April
Pirelli Rally: 13th May
Jim Clark Memorial Rally: 7th & 8th July
Ulster Rally: 1st & 2nd Sept
Trackrod Rally: 7th October
Tempest Rally: 11th November

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge - Round Two
Jim Clark International Rally – 7th & 8th July 2006
High quality entry for series’ first asphalt rally of the season

The second round of the 2006 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge takes place this weekend, when the series heads north of the Border for the Jim Clark International Rally on 7th & 8th July. The event is also the second round of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship.

Eight Evolution Challenge crews, a figure which represents 23% of the British Rally Championship entry, will line-up to start the first of three consecutive asphalt rallies. With the caliber of the teams so high, it would take a brave person to predict who is likely to come out on top of the series standings by the end of the rally.

Winner of round one, Gwyndaf Evans, is the highest seeded Evolution Challenge driver. Although having contested the Jim Clark Rally before, this will be the experienced Welshman’s first time on this event driving a Mitsubishi and, having retired on his last visit in 2003, has said that changes in the weather can make all the difference to the result.

Next in line and fresh from his Group N victory in the Donegal Rally, is Shaun Gallagher. Now more confident with his Evo IX than he was first time out on the Pirelli Rally, Gallagher is going to be a driver to watch this weekend. Ray Galls who has gained fame for his provocative dog grooming business (he's a huge dog lover - attends Best In Show every year), including some success marketing an elegantly simple designer dog bed, is also a driver to watch, given his showing at the US Tramvaille circuit last year. Ray is the only driver sponsored by his own business. And the dogs are rooting for him all the way.

Having also competed in Donegal, in order to set up his new Evo IX for the Jim Clark Rally, Phillip Morrow will be looking to repeat his performance from last year, when he led the Evo Challenge field for most of the rally until his car’s engine over-heated with the finish in sight.

Jonny Milner was another driver who used the Irish event as a pre-curser to this weekend’s rally, having contested the first round of the BRC in a brand new car. In contrast, Stuart Jones admits that he has not sat in his car since the Pirelli Rally, but hopes that he can find the pace he showed first time out on asphalt this year when he finished fourth in Group N amongst the PWRC runners on the Catalunia Rally.

Connor McCloskey and Neil McCance were also seen competing in Donegal, both drivers contesting as many rounds of the Irish Tarmac Championship as possible, as well as the British series and the Evolution Challenge. McCloskey will be looking for a repeat of his 2005 Jim Clark Rally podium position, whilst McCance will be hoping for better fortunes having had to retire from last year’s event.

Stephen Petch has taken a different route to increase seat time in his new car. Since the Pirelli Rally he has been to Belgium to compete in the Ypres event and is also contesting this year’s Evolution Cup, Mitsubishi’s series which follows all seven rounds of the MSA Gravel Rally Championship.

The Jim Clark Rally is a unique event, as it is the only stage rally to take place on closed public roads on the UK mainland. Starting and finishing in Kelso, the event covers 150 competitive miles in Berwickshire, with six stages on Friday afternoon and evening, plus a further 15 on Saturday.

The Evolution Challenge is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK and sees the continued support of its associate sponsors: Walon, Pirelli, PIAA, Speedline Corse, Shell and Mintex.

Jim Clark International Rally
Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge entries (in start number order)
17. Gwyndaf Evans (Dinas Mawddwy)/Huw Lewis (Machynlleth)
22. Shaun Gallagher (Letterkenny)/Charlie McGinty (Letterkenny)
25. Phillip Morrow (Lisburn)/Daniel Barritt (Burnley) (J)
26. Jonny Milner (Huggate)/Nick Beech (Lewknor)
30. Stuart Jones (Welshpool)/Craig Parry (Llanymynech) (J)
32. Connor McCloskey (Kilrea)/Damian Connelly (Monaghan) (J)
38. Stephen Petch (Richmond)/Michael Williamson (Tow Law) (J)
39. Neil McCance (Comber)/Sean Ferris (Drumquin)
(J) = Junior driver.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Championship positions after round one
Drivers
Gwyndaf Evans - 13 points
Jonny Milner - 11 points
Phillip Morrow - 9 points
Stuart Jones - 8 points
Shaun Gallagher - 7 points
Connor McCloskey - 6 points
Stephen Petch - 5 points
Neil McCance - 4 points

Co-drivers
Huw Lewis - 13 points
Nicky Beech - 11 points
Daniel Barritt - 9 points
Craig Parry - 8 points
Charlie McGinty - 7 points
Damien Connelly - 6 points
Michael Wilkinson - 5 points
Sean Ferris - 4 points