Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup
Round 7 - Bulldog Rally - 21st October 2006
Maiden Mitsubishi Victory for James

Paul James, together with his co-driver Derek Davies, recorded their first ever Mitsubishi series victory this weekend, when they won the seventh and final round of this year’s Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup, on the Bulldog Rally.

Starting and finishing in Oswestry, Saturday’s event also hosted the final round of the MSA National Gravel Championship. It featured six stages in classic rallying country, the route of 70 competitive miles taking crews to forests that were used regularly for the old RAC Rally.

However, conditions in the forests were more challenging than usual, as persistent rain had made the gravel roads extremely slippery.

Having secured victory on the previous round, by virtue of amassing enough points not to be caught, Anthony Willmington and his co-driver Andy White had chosen not to enter this event. Therefore, first seeded Evo Cup crew and second place in the championship, Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson, were first to leave the start, but also first to hit problems, when a shaft broke in the centre diff as they left the start of the first stage!

At the end of SS1 it was Emma McKinstry and Kenny Hull who headed the Mitsubishi Cup, with James/Davies second and Jonathan Sparks/Bradley Magnus in third. Disappointingly for McKinstry/Hull, their car began to suffer mysterious electrical problems during SS2 and they retired at the following service halt.

This left James/Davies out in front, although they thought they might not make it on the penultimate stage, a 14-miler through Dyfi, when the clutch pedal went to the floor! After managing to get the car through and, only loosing a few seconds, they found that the fault was a loss of fluid and after a hasty repair they were on their way again.

A clean run through the final stage – a second pass through Dyfnant Forest, was enough to see them retain their Evo Cup lead and provide James/Davies with their first ever Mitsubishi series win.

“Although the conditions were wet and slippery I really enjoyed it”, said James at the finish. “I’m very pleased to have finally won a round of the Evolution Cup and to have finished third in the series.”

James’ result sees him tie on points with Petch, who takes second place having also won a round this season, but has finished second on two occasions, which gives the young Yorkshireman the advantage.

Series organizers are currently making plans for the 2007 Evolution Cup and intend to announce details in November.

Results
1st: Paul James (Taunton)/Derek Davies (Swansea) Evo XI: 1:16.33
2nd: Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Bradley Magnus (Downham Market) Evo VII: 1:20:41.2

Retirements
Service A: Stephen Petch (Richmond)/Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) Evo VII:
Service A: Emma McKinstry (Banbridge)/Kenny Hull (Banbridge) Evo XI:

Final Series Standings: Driver / Co-driver
1st Anthony Willmington / Andy White 32
2nd Stephen Petch / Michael Wilkinson 21
3rd Paul James / Derek Davies 21
4th Tony Thompson / Jon Dunning 16
5th Emma McKinstry / Kenny Hull 11
6th Jonathan Sparks / Bradley Magnus 11
7th Wayne Radford / Craig Drew 5
8th Simon Close / Jason Hunt 4
9th Tim Pearcey / Paul McGuire 4
10th Gareth Bevan / Neil Bevan 3

ENDS