2007 Mitsubishi Evolution Challenge

Posted: September 3, 2007 3:59 PM

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23/07/07
Championship Points after Round 6

Drivers
1 Phillip Morrow 65
2 Seb Ling 47
3 Julian Reynolds 39
4 Nik Elsmore 33
5 Stephen Petch 28
6 Wayne Sisson 20
7 David Bogie 20
8 Daniel Barry 17
9 Neil McCance 15
10 Alan Carmichael 10

Co-drivers
1 Simon Morrow 48
2 Aled Rees 47
3 Patrick Walsh 39
4 Michael Wilkinson 28
5 Vicky Allen 26
6 Ian Windress 22
7 Robert Fagg 21
8 Daniel Stone 20
9 Mark Bowens 18
10 Daniel Barritt 17

Evolution Cup

Drivers
1 Miles Johnston 48
2 Wayne Radford 42
3 Mark I’Anson 18
4 Ferran Font 10

Co-drivers
1 Ian Bevan 48
2 Paul Drew 32
3 Graeme Walker 18
4 Nick Cadwallader 10
5 Miquel Amblas 10

PIAA Junior Award
1 Phillip Morrow 28
2 Stephen Petch 18
3 David Bogie 12
4 Danny Barry 12
5 Connor McCloskey 8
6 Errol Clarke 2

Performance Friction Brakes Cup
1 Stephen Petch 21
2 Nik Elsmore 21
3 Daniel Barry 12
4 Julian Reynolds 14
5 Connor McCloskey 7
6 Alan Carmichael 7
7 Mark I’Anson 3

Pirelli Cup
1 Phillip Morrow 15
2 Jonny Milner 9
3 Connor McCloskey 9
4 Daniel Barry 4
5 Mark I’Anson 3

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22/02/07
Morrow makes the most of PIAA Junior Award

Having won the PIAA Junior Award in last year’s Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, 24-year old rally driver Phillip Morrow made the most of his prize by arranging a test day in Wales, mentored by none other than Alistair McRae.

Each year PIAA UK, suppliers of high-performance automotive and motorsport lighting, present an award to the top under 25 year-old driver in the Evolution Challenge. In keeping with PIAA’s ethos of nurturing young talent in rallying, the first prize is £1000 towards a test with an experienced top-class driver.

With a full season in the British Rally Championship and another assault on the Mitsubishi series ahead of him in 2007, the young Ulsterman opted for a day on UK soil with a driver who knows his way around the British forests.

Also in attendance was Gordon Birtwhisle from Proflex suspension who made sure that the set-up on Phillip’s Mitsubishi Evolution was a good as it possibly could be.

Following the test at the Sweet Lamb forest complex in mid-Wales, Phillip said: “I have learnt a great deal today, not just about driving the car, but also how to make it handle better. I am very grateful to PIAA for providing me with the opportunity for a test like this before the start of the season. It will be good to hit the ground running this year, rather than using the events themselves to get used to the car.”

Managing Director of PIAA UK Chris Hutchings has a history of spotting and then supporting young British rallying talent and was pleased that the test day had been so valuable:

“I’m pleased that Phillip got so much out of the day with Alistair and Gordon. If the PIAA Junior Award can make a difference and help a driver progress to the next level, then that’s what it’s all about. I wish Phillip every success with his 2007 campaign.”

The 2007 PIAA Junior Award gets underway this week (23rd & 24th February), when the first round of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge takes place on the Bournemouth-based Rallye Sunseeker – the event also the opening round of the Hankook MSA National Gravel Championship.

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11/01/07
2007 Evolution Challenge gets set for seventh successive season
Entering its seventh consecutive season, the scene is set for another bumper year for the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.

As has already been announced, following feedback from Mitsubishi crews and teams, the high profile one-make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions makes a return to the MSA National Gravel Championship for its six published events. However, after a successful season with the British Rally Championship in 2006, the Evo Challenge will continue its links with the UK’s premier series by visiting two BRC rounds.

With the MSA increasing its vigilance on the use of fuels in 2007, Evo Challenge organisers have chosen to introduce a controlled fuel - Tesco 99 Octane MSA Plus. Championship Coordinator Simon Slade explains why the series has opted for this arrangement:

“We have a history of not using controlled components in the Evo Challenge. However, with increased policing of the fuel regulations and the banning of anything over 100 Octane used in national events, we felt that a one-make fuel would eliminate any ambiguity. We will therefore be able to offer our competitors a good fuel of consistent grade at a sensible price, which is delivered and dispensed at each event.”

Evo Challenge organisers are pleased to report that they have received an increased number of enquiries for this season. Along with considerable interest from UK and Ireland, there have also been requests for information from France, Spain and Scandinavia.

Former Evolution Challenge competitors who have indicated they will return for 2007 include: Jonny Milner, Phillip Morrow, Connor McCloskey, Neil McCance, Stephen Petch , Nik Elsmore, Alex Sabater, James Edwards, Wayne Radford and Jonathan Sparks. Other drivers expressing an interest in signing-up include: Seb Ling, Roger Chilman, Miles Johnson, Tom Naughton, Paul Curphey, Errol Clarke and Wayne Sisson – to name but a few.

“We are very pleased with the quantity and quality of enquiries we have received so far.” said Paul Brigden, General Manager for Ralliart and MMUK Motorsport Principal. “If the trend continues then I am confident we will see more than 20 cars out for round one – the Rallye Sunseeker – at the end of February.”

The new-style Evolution Cup has also sparked considerable interest, with some crews praising the initiative to introduce a category for ‘standard’ specification cars and thereby create a more affordable feeder-series for the Evolution Challenge.

Regulations have now been published and will be available at the Autosport Show. They can be obtained by visiting the Mitsubishi stand or by contacting the Coordination Office: Tel: 01935 424873, email: evo@rpmpromo.com, or by logging on to: www.evo-challenge.com.

The Championship welcomes a number of new sponsors in 2007: Tesco 99 Octane fuel, Performance Friction Brakes and Sparco. Support will continue to be received from the series’ long-standing sponsors: Pirelli, PIAA and Speedline Corse.

All are contributing to the prize fund, which includes the Pirelli and Performance Friction Cups, the Speedline Grand Attack Award, the Tesco Spirit Award, the Sparco Best Improvement Award and the PIAA Junior Award for drivers under the age of 25.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge

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23/12/06
Mitsubishi announce 2007 Evolution Challenge details
Mitsubishi Motors UK is pleased to announce details for the 2007 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the one-make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions all set for a seventh consecutive season.

Organisers are delighted to confirm that the top prize of a fully funded works drive with the MMUK rally team will again be offered to the winner – the award described as “the best prize in rallying”, by recently crowned 2006 Evo Challenge Champion Gwyndaf Evans.

The Championship will continue to feature prize-money vouchers for the leading drivers on each round and at the end of the season, plus the usual host of additional awards and benefits.

Following a year running alongside the British Rally Championship, series organisers have chosen a calendar based around the MSA Gravel Championship for 2007, with two BRC rounds retained, the Ulster Rally and International Rally Yorkshire. The decision was made after speaking to many current and potential Mitsubishi competitors, as Challenge Coordinator Simon Slade explains:

“We had a great season with the BRC – it was definitely the right way to go in 2006. However, we have to provide a Championship that works for our competitors and for Mitsubishi on a commercial level. Therefore, we have taken the decision to feature more National events in 2007. This will also mean that the series becomes more aspirational, with the winning driver moving up from a season of National to International rallies.”

Simon continues:
“We are pleased to be able to include the two BRC events. Both fit into the calendar well and the Ulster Rally provides us with our second asphalt event of the season – plus it will help us continue to attract Irish competitors.”

The Evolution Cup, which ran with the MSA Gravel Championship in 2006, will return in 2007. It will again be open to drivers of homologated Group N Lancers, but this time will form a class within the Evolution Challenge for standard specification Evos, ie; cars without dog-gearboxes, big brakes and other VO (variant option) homologated parts.

The Evo Cup will offer a prize fund valued at £9,000, with vouchers awarded to for the top drivers in each round and at the end of year.

Challenge organisers have reported a high number of enquires so far, with interest received from both UK and overseas drivers and anticipate in excess of 20 crews registered before the first round.

The Challenge will continue to enjoy the full backing of Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart and receive support from Pirelli, PIAA and Speedline Corse, with other sponsors and supply partners soon to be announced.

Each will be contributing to the prize fund, with Pirelli offering a Cup for the best finisher on its tyres and PIAA continuing to support the Junior category.

Organisers are keen to point out that there are no controlled components featured for 2007, although a fuel supplier is currently being investigated.

Regulations will be available early in the New Year.

1. Rallye Sunseeker - 23-24 Feb 07
2. Border Counties - 24 Mar 07
3. Manx National Rally - 11-12 May 07
4. Severn Valley - 2 Jun 07
5. Swansea Bay - 21 Jul 07
6. Ulster Rally - 31 Aug-1 Sep 07
7. Rally Yorkshire (Trackrod) - (Sat) 6 Oct 07
8. Bulldog - 20 Oct 07

The Championship organisers reserve the right to amend the series calendar in the event of a rally being cancelled or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge