As Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge teams regroup after a seven-week break, it’s back to Wales for the second time in as many events for round five, the Swansea Bay Rally on 21st July.
15 Evo Challenge competitors make up 25% of the 60-car National event entry, which starts and finishes at Swansea’s recently developed SA1 waterfront complex. The rally route includes 65 competitive miles split into six timed special stages featuring many of the forests used for the Wales Rally GB.
Having won this event outright in 2005 driving a WRC car, Julian Reynolds is the top Mitsubishi seed on this occasion and will be looking to put his challenge for the title back on track following a problematic round four. Reynolds currently lies fourth in the championship, but now armed with an ex-works Evo IX, he is definitely in with a chance of lifting Mitsubishi honours in what is his most local event.
He is followed by current series leader and three-times Evo Challenge winner this year Phillip Morrow, who knows he can’t relax just yet but is pleased to be starting the second half of the season at the top of the table.
Morrow likes the Swansea stages and is destined to go well, but he is the meat in a South Wales sandwich, with second in the series Seb Ling starting just behind him. Having been runner-up three times this season Ling is also out to score his first win and is another potential candidate for the Mitsubishi podium.
Fourth to leave the start will be David Bogie, who has shown he has the pace and is now keen to turn his stage times into a good result. Next up is round three winner Neil McCance, who may well just do it again if he can avoid the problems which have plagued him since his victory in the Isle of Man.
Others likely to score well in the Evo Challenge points are Nik Elsmore, third in the championship Stephen Petch, Wayne Sisson and Daniel Barry. Thomas Naughton, Jonathan Sparks and Alan Carmichael are also likely to feature highly if conditions prevail, whilst making a welcome return to the UK are two of the championship’s overseas competitors, Alex Sabater from Spain and Daniel Sigurdsson from Iceland.
If the Swansea Bay Rally lives up to its usual reputation of being dry, then the fast forest roads will suit the characteristics of the top-spec production class Lancers. With this and Evo Challenge points at stake, the pace is likely to be fierce and it would not be a surprise to see the leading Mitsubishi contenders high in the overall places at the end of the event.
To compensate for potential problems which could be caused by dust from the gravel forest tracks, organisers have elected to start cars every two minutes, rather than with one minute intervals, as is the norm in other events.
Also included in this year’s Mitsubishi championship is the Evolution Cup, for closer to standard Group N Mitsubishis. This is currently being led by Miles Johnston who will be aiming for his fourth win of the season in Swansea.
The Evolution Challenge offers drivers what is widely regarded as the best prize in British rallying – the chance to become a Mitsubishi works driver in the 2008 British Rally Championship. It also features prizes for the Pirelli and Performance Friction Brakes Cups and the PIAA Junior Award for under 25 year old drivers.
The series is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli, PIAA, Speedline Corse, Sparco, Performance Friction Brakes, Shell Helix and Tesco 99 Octane - suppliers of the controlled fuel for the championship.
5 Julian Reynolds (Narberth)/Patrick Walsh (Aberystwyth)
6 Phillip Morrow (Lisburn)/Daniel Barritt (Burnley) (J)
7 Sebastian Ling (Llandysul)/Aled Rees (Crymych)
10 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Rob Fagg (Kirkmichael) (J)
11 Neil McCance (Coomber)/Ian Windress (Northallerton)
15 Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Vicky Allen (Denbigh)
18 Stephen Petch (Richmond)/Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) (J)
20 Wayne Sisson (Carnforth)/Daniel Stone (Chesterfield)
25 Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowen (Cork) (J)
29 Miles Johnston (York)/Ian Bevan (Wrexham)
30 Thomas Naughton (Bury)/Horace Saville (Bury)
31 Alex Sabater (Spain)/Miquel Amblas (Spain)
43 Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Bradley Magnus (Downham Market)
45 Alan Carmichael (Ballymena)/Ivor Lamont (Ballymena)
TBC Daniel Sigurdsson (Iceland)/Isak Gudjonsson (Iceland)
Evolution Challenge
Drivers
1 Phillip Morrow 41
2 Seb Ling 37
3 Stephen Petch 25
4 Julian Reynolds 24
5 Wayne Sisson 17
6 Nik Elsmore 16
7 Neil McCance 15
8 Daniel Barry 13
9 Jonny Milner 10
10 David Bogie 9
Evolution Cup
1 Miles Johnston 36
2 Wayne Radford 30
3 Mark I’Anson 18
4 Ferran Font 10
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