Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup
Round 1 - Rallye Sunseeker 24th & 25th February 2006

Willmington wins first round of new Evolution Cup

Anthony Willmington and his co-driver Andy White won the first ever round of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup on the Rallye Sunseeker. They finished the Bournemouth based event a conclusive 2 minutes 9 seconds ahead of second placed Tony Thompson/Jon Dunning who were in-turn 47 seconds in front of Simon Close/Jason Hunt.

The Evolution Cup is a category of the MSA Gravel Rally Championship exclusively for homologated Group N Lancer Evolutions. With the Evolution Challenge moving to the British Rally Championship this season, the Evo Cup has been introduced to provide competition for Mitsubishi teams at National level.

10 Evo Cup crews lined up to start the rally, which featured 15 stages mainly in Wareham and Ringwood Forests. The first two tests took place in front of 1000s of spectators on Friday evening, with a blast through the host town's botanical gardens and along the sea-front.

Both Tony Thompson and Paul Jones suffered problems with their cars during these opening tests, respectively - a broken driveshaft and an under-performing turbo-charger slowing the two potential front-runners.

Evo newcomer, Stephen Petch, initially headed the Evo runners, but when the rally moved into the forests on Saturday Willmington moved into the lead. Petch remained in contention, but on SS8 something went decidedly wrong with his car's transmission and he decided to retire.

Paul Jones was on a charge having lost time the night before and climbed up to the take runners-up spot, only to have his engine expire in spectacular style on SS11. Tim Pearcey then inherited second place, albeit for one stage only, a broken driveshaft forcing him to retire on SS12.

This meant Simon Close claimed the position, but Thompson was scything his way through the field and on the penultimate stage snatched second place from Close.

Willmington was untroubled by all the action behind him and crossed the finish line not only the winner of the Evolution Cup, but first Group N runner and in eighth place overall.

"This is exactly what I needed", said Willmington. "We have had a lot of bad luck in the past year or so, but it all came together today. I wasn't going to do a full season this year, but this result might just make me change my mind."

The second round of the ANCRO-based Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup takes place on 18th March, with the Border Counties Rally.

Results
1st: Anthony Willmington (Dorchester)/Andy White (Weymouth) Evo XI: 1.13.18.8
2nd: Tony Thompson (Northallerton)/Jon Dunning (York) Evo VIII: 1.15.27.1
3rd: Simon Close (Stamford)/Jason Hunt (Wellingore) Evo XI: 1.16.13.9
4th: Paul James (Taunton)/Derek Davies (Swansea) Evo XI: 1.17.08.8
5th: Wayne Radford (Dinnington)/Craig Drew (Lydney) Evo XI: 1.17.27.4
6th: Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Bradley Magnus (Downham Market) Evo VII: 1.22.44.3

Retirements
SS4: Emma McKinstry (Banbridge)/Simon Mooney (Banbridge) Evo XI – Transmission
SS11: Stephen Petch (Richmond)/Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) Evo VII - Transmission
SS11: Paul Jones (Higham)/Bob Stokoe (Croyden) Evo VII - Engine
SS12: Tim Pearcey (Harrowgate)/Paul McGuire Evo XI - Driveshaft

ENDS