2006 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION CHALLENGE

Posted: October 13, 2006 12:02 PM

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13/10/06
Championship Positions after Round 5

Drivers
1st Jonny Milner - 54 points
2nd Gwyndaf Evans - 45 points
3rd = Phillip Morrow - 40 points
3rd= Neil McCance - 40 points
5th Connor McCloskey - 38 points
6th Stuart Jones - 35 points
7th= Stephen Petch - 14 points
8th= Shaun Gallagher - 13 points

Co-drivers
1st Nicky Beech - 57 points
2nd Huw Lewis - 45 points
3rd Daniel Barritt - 36 points
4th Craig Parry - 34 points
5th Sean Moriarty – 22 points
6th Michael Wilkinson - 16 points
7th Charlie McGinty - 15 points
8th Damien Connelly - 13 points
9th Sean Ferris – 11 points
10th= Jonathan McGrath – 8 points
10th= Robbie Durant – 8 points

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18/01/06
2006 sees the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge enter a new era, the high profile series for Group N Lancer Evolutions set for its first season with the British Rally Championship.

With the BRC excluding WRC cars in 2006 Group N4 cars, such as the Mitsubishi Evolution, will feature at the head of the field and therefore Evo Challenge competitors will have an opportunity to battle for overall British title, as well as series honours.

Organisers are confident that the 2006 Evo Challenge will offer its competitors the best ever value for money, with events boasting high-quality stages, an increased media profile and top-level competition. In addition, with the Championship's launch event, BRC Live, at the start of the season and the Wales Rally GB featured as the grand finale, there will be more opportunities for team sponsors and media coverage.

Evo Challenge competitors will be able to score on each of the Rally GB's three days and able to re-enter the event on a 'Super-Rally' style basis.

The Evolution Challenge follows all six rounds of the new-look BRC which features three asphalt and three gravel rallies. This balanced mixture of events has led series organisers to introduce a prize for the top driver on each surface alongside the top prize of a fully-funded works drive, which is now widely regarded as 'the best prize in British Motorsport'.

"We are pleased to continue our offer of a works drive to the winner of this year's Evolution Challenge," said Paul Brigden, General Manager for Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart. "We are excited about the prospect of our first year with the British Championship and are confident that the 2006 season will prove to be the series most competitive and high profile yet."

2005 saw the season-long battle for the Evolution Challenge title go down to the eighth and final round, with Yorkshireman Ryan Champion coming out on top. Welshman Stuart Jones finished second and won the PIAA junior award in the process, whilst Ulsterman Phillip Morrow ended his spectacular season in third place.

Organisers report that the series' reputation, together with its new format has sparked a high number of enquiries, some coming from overseas competitors, including Scandinavia.

"We are very excited about the year ahead," said Evo Challenge Coordinator, Simon Slade. "The series is gaining in status year-on-year and from the enquiries we have received so far we hope to attract a number of leading competitors from both the UK and abroad."

The Evolution Challenge is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK and will enjoy the continued support of its associate sponsors: Walon, Pirelli, PIAA, Speedline Corse, Shell and Mintex.

The series offers a substantial prize fund, which includes the awarding of prize-money vouchers for the top four competitors on each round and at the end of the season.

For competitors without International licences and for those not wishing to contest the British Rally Championship, subject to demand, Mitsubishi is introducing the Evolution Cup. This new initiative will feature two series which will run a class in both the MSA National Gravel Championship and the UK Rallymasters Championship Championship Rounds

2006 Evolution Challenge Calendar
• 2006 British Rally Championship

2006 Evolution Cup Calendars

MSA National Gravel Rally Championship
• 2006 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship

UK Rallymasters Championship
1. 1st April: Astra Stages - Llangollen, North Wales (Gravel)
2. 13th May: Pirelli National Rally - Carlisle, Cumbria (Gravel)
3. 8th July: Jim Clark National Rally - Kelso, Berwickshire (Asphalt)
4. 2nd September: Ulster National Rally - Armagh, Northern Ireland (Asphalt)
5. 7th October: Trackrod Rally - Pickering, North Yorkshire (Gravel)
6. 11th November: Tempest Rally - Aldershot, Hampshire (Mixed)
   Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge

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   EVOLUTION CHALLENGE GETS SET FOR SIXTH SEASON
   Series to follow all six rounds of the British Rally Championship.
   Mitsubishi continues to offer prize drive in 2007.
   Competitors to benefit from increased profile and improved value for money.
   Introduction of Evolution Cup for National competitors

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   29/11/05
   MITSUBISHI ANNOUNCE SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL COMPETITORS
   Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup
   Two new National series' for Group N Evolutions
   Prize fund and awards for Mitsubishi competitors
   Feeder series for Evolution Challenge
   
   Mitsubishi Motors UK are pleased to announce the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Cup which will run as a Class for homologated Group N Lancer Evolutions in both the MSA National Gravel Rally and the Rallymasters Championships.
   
   With the Evolution Challenge moving to the British Rally Championship in 2006, series organisers are aware that some Mitsubishi competitors may not wish to compete at International level and therefore now offer support for those who choose to enter National status events.
   
   There will be two separate series': One which will follow all seven rounds of the MSA National Gravel Championship and another which will follow all six rounds of the Rallymasters Championship.
   
   Vouchers, which can be exchanged for Mitsubishi parts, will be awarded to the first three competitors on each round and at the end of the year, the total prize fund value being in excess of £12,000.
   
   Paul Brigden, General Manager for Ralliart, said:
   "We are pleased to offer continued support for Mitsubishi competitors at National level. We see this initiative as a way of providing feeder series' for the Evolution Challenge and trust it will give teams an incentive to compete in Lancers in both the MSA National Gravel and Rallymasters Championships".
   
   Organisers are keen to point out that that these two series' are designed to support the Evolution Challenge, where again in 2006, registered competitors will be able to battle for the best prize in British rallying: The chance to become a Mitsubishi works driver in 2007.
   
   2006 Evolution Cup - Calendar of Events
   
   MSA National Gravel Rally Championship
   24th & 25th February - Rallye Sunseeker
   18th March - Border Counties Rally
   5th & 6th May - Manx National Rally
   3rd June - Mutiny Rally
   22nd July - Swansea Bay Rally
   9th September - Park Systems Stages
   21st October - Bulldog Rally
   Rallymasters Championship
   8th April - Rally of Wales
   13th May - Pirelli National Rally
   7th & 8th July - Jim Clark National Rally
   1st & 2nd September - Ulster National Rally
   7th October - Trackrod National Rally
   11th November - Tempest National Rally
   Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge

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   20/10/05
   MITSUBISHI ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR 2006 EVOLUTION CHALLENGE
   Mitsubishi Motors UK is pleased to announce that its popular single-make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, will follow all six rounds of next year's British Rally Championship.
   
   Having enjoyed five years of success with the ANCRO administered National Gravel Championship, Mitsubishi decided to take the Evolution Challenge to the BRC in 2006, following the announcement that WRC cars would be no longer be allowed to participate and therefore hand the competitive advantage to Class N4 machines.
   
   Series organisers are confident that the move to the British Championship will see registrations for the series increase and provide a host of benefits to competitors, such as: High quality stages, top level competition, increased media profile, more opportunities for sponsors, special deals for registered competitors and therefore represent excellent value for money.
   
   The new-look six-round British Championship will feature three gravel and three asphalt rallies, therefore providing a balanced mixture of surfaces. It is hoped that the inclusion of the asphalt events will make the Evolution Challenge more appealing to Irish competitors.
   
   Organisers are aware that some teams will be concerned that the move to the BRC will see the cost of competing escalate, but with the British Championship taking on a new format, the difference of competing in eight events in 2005 and six events in 2006 will be minimal. A spokesman for the Evolution Challenge said:
   
   "With the series launched at BRC Live at the beginning of the season and the Rally GB at the end, plus the addition of television coverage, there will be many more advantages for sponsors. Therefore, we hope that teams will exploit these features and see the move to the BRC as a great opportunity. It's shaping up to be a fantastic year."
   
   With the Rally of Great Britain being the final round, organisers are currently considering an allocation of points for each day of competition and looking into the possibility of running 'Super Rally' rules for Evolution Challenge competitors.
   
   Mitsubishi are pleased to confirm that the coveted prize of a works drive in a Group N Mitsubishi Evolution will be awarded to the 2006 Champion. The series will also enjoy an increased prize fund, which awards the first four drivers on each round and at the end of the season.
   
   For competitors without International licences and for those not wishing to contest the British Rally Championship, subject to demand, Mitsubishi are proposing to introduce the 'Evo Cup', a seven round series which will run alongside the Evolution Challenge in 2006.
   
   This new initiative will feature five gravel and two asphalt based National A status events. A prize fund similar to that of the International series will be on offer, but without the added attraction of a works drive for the Champion.
   
   2006 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge
   BRC Live: 19th March
   Pirelli Rally: 13th & 14th May
   Jim Clark Memorial Rally: 7th & 8th July
   Manx International Rally: 3rd, 4th & 5th August
   Ulster Rally: 1st & 2nd Sept
   Rally Yorkshire: 7th October
   Rally of Great Britain: 22nd, 23rd & 24th November*
   * Provisional Date
   
   Proposed 2006 Mitsubishi Evo Cup
   Rallye Sunseeker: 25th & 26th February
   Rally of Wales: 8th & 9th April
   Pirelli Rally: 13th May
   Jim Clark Memorial Rally: 7th & 8th July
   Ulster Rally: 1st & 2nd Sept
   Trackrod Rally: 7th October
   Tempest Rally: 11th November
   Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge