VRS Motorsport Drivers Collect Top Awards

Posted: December 22, 2004 9:12 AM

First to be presented was winner of the PIAA Junior Category for under 25 year old drivers, Ed Stallard, the 20 year old from Cheltenham winning a trophy and a day (and night’s) one-to-one tuition from current British Rally Champion David Higgins.

“It’s been a fantastic year”, commented Stallard. “All season I was aiming to win this award and I am so pleased to have done it. I was delighted to be presented with the trophy on Saturday, especially in front of so many people from the UK rallying fraternity.”

However, the loudest applause of the evening was reserved for Irishman Rory Galligan, from County Meath, who, together with his co-driver Jonty Bolsover from Brampton, collected the 2004 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Champions trophy.

Having won four of the season’s eight rounds and regularly being the quickest Mitsubishi driver in the Championship, Galligan and Bolsover secured the title on the final round in October. Their spectacular Evolution Challenge victory secures them a prize drive in a works Mitsubishi Evolution in next year’s British Rally championship.

“I couldn’t have wished for a better season”, said Galligan. “VRS Motorsport provided me with a great car and excellent support throughout the season, which allowed me to chance to win the Evolution Challenge and become a Mitsubishi works driver in 2005.”

Managing Director of Chesterfield based VRS Motorsport, Geoff Lennox, was also delighted with the outcome of his team’s efforts in 2004:
“For VRS Motorsport to win both the Evolution Challenge Overall and Junior Categories in its first year is a great achievement for the team and testimony to the hard work and commitment shown throughout the season. I also congratulate both Ed and Rory for their successes an wish them the best of luck for 2005.”

Whilst Galligan will leave the team to drive for Mitsubishi next year, Stallard will stay with VRS Motorsport and contest the Evolution Challenge once again, this time driving the Evolution VIII which was used by Galligan to become 2004 Champion.

Photo Caption
Rory Galligan (left) and co-driver Jonty Bolsover (right) being presented with their awards by Paul Brigden, General Manager for Mitsubishi Ralliart, for winning the 2004 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge. The presentation took place on Saturday at the National Rally Championship prizegiving ceremony in Daventry
(Photo: www.cmwi.net).