Mitsubishis compete for Island honours
Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Round Three Preview RBSI Manx Rally – 9th & 10th May 2008 First asphalt rally of the season for Mitsubishi Championship Change of surface may see change of leaderboard 12 Evo Challenge teams get set for classic Manx stages	Preview image High resolution image
1st May 2008	Printer Version

The RBS International Manx Rally has traditionally become the first all-asphalt event in the UK Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge calendar and this year is no exception. Taking place on 9th & 10th May, the championship’s annual visit to the Isle of Man means a change of surface from that of the gravel forestry rounds in rounds one and two, a factor which may well reveal a different winner – as it did last year.

2007 saw Neil McCance take his very first Evo Challenge victory on the island and in the light of his former victory, the Ulsterman starts as first Mitsubishi seed next weekend.

He is followed by this year’s round one winner David Bogie, who will be looking to put his round two and 2007 Manx memories behind him, both events seeing the talented young Scot experience off-road excursions. He will therefore be looking for a good points haul to ensure he keeps his championship hopes in tact.

Next Evo Challenger to leave the start line will be the current series leader Daniel Barry, who’s scored two second places so far this season. He is followed by round two winner and a man that is likely to go well whatever the surface, Richard Cathcart.

He is followed by Nik Elsmore, another driver who is still trying to put the experience of last year’s Manx Rally behind him, but with the video footage used in the opening sequence of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Championship’s television programmes, he is unlikely to forget his spectacular accident too easily.

Young Ulsterman Jonny Greer is next to take the green light and hopes that this time he can finally get some points on the board, having had to endure a series of frustrating mechanical issues in the first two rounds.

Simon Harraway is another looking for better fortune and his first points score, whilst just behind him is the very quick Daniel Sigurdarson. This will be the Icelandic Champion’s first ever 100% tarmac rally and he is relishing his maiden visit to the Isle of Man – a baptism of fire if ever there was one!

Next in line is another driver relatively unfamiliar with asphalt, Keith Cronin, who is yet to show his true colours this season and will certainly want to go further than he did in round two, having left the road on the very first stage. Behind him is a man who says he enjoys the challenge of the Manx roads, Miles Johnston, who could well achieve his best Evo Challenge result so far next weekend.

Rounding up the list of 12 Evo Challenge runners are Jonathan Sparks and David Meredith, both drivers in with an excellent chance of claiming a good points in this event and certainly looking to improve on their seeding.

However, notable by his absence is 2007 championship runner-up and second on the Isle of Man last year, Seb Ling, who is taking a sabbatical following his stage one accident and subsequent zero points score in round two.

The RBS International Manx Rally is a round of the Richard Egger Insurance MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, as well as the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship. These, together with a number of individually entered crews, adds up to a total start list of 124 cars, 12 of which are the Evolution Challenge entries.

The event gets underway at 7.00pm on Friday evening and features five stages before the overnight halt and then a further nine stages on Saturday, the total of which provides a competitive distance of 120 miles.

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 entries (in start number order)
17 Neil McCance (Comber)/Graham Hopewell (Worcester)
18 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) (J)
23 Richard Cathcart (Enniskillen)/Martin Brady (Navan)
24 Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowens (Cork) (J)
29 Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Paul Wakeley (Llanelli)
30 Jonathan Greer (Carryduff)/Jonny Hart (Moneyrea) (J)
40 Simon Harraway (Weston-super-Mare)/Craig Drew (Bream)
41 Daniel Siguardarson (Iceland)/Isak Gudjonsson (Iceland)
45 Keith Cronin (Bantry)/Greg Shinnors (Limerick) (J)
46 Miles Johnston (York)/Ian Bevan (Holywell)
53 Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Chris Davies (Abergavenny)
54 David Meredith (Dolgellau)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen)
(J) = Junior driver

Championship Positions after round 2

Drivers
1 Daniel Barry 20
2 Richard Cathcart 18
3 David Bogie 15
4 Nik Elsmore 14
5 Neil McCance 13
6 Seb Ling 8
7 Jonathan Sparks 6
8 Daniel Sigurdarson 6
9 David Meredith 5
10 Keith Cronin 4
11 Miles Johnston 3

Co-drivers
1 Mark Bowens 20
2 Martin Brady 18
3 Kevin Rae 15
4 Paul Wakely 14
5 Anthony O’Connail 12
6 Aled Rees 8
7 Chris Davies 6
8 Isak Guojonsson 6
9 Graham Hopewell 5
10 David Roberts 5
11 Ian Bevan 3

ENDS

Photo Caption
Last year’s Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge winner on the Isle of Man was Neil McCance, who will be aiming to repeat the performance when he takes part in next weekend’s RBS International Manx Rally (copyright free image).