Border Counties - 5 Apr 08

Jonny Greer borders report

Posted: April 7, 2008 10:33 PM

Saturday 5th April saw 12 crews gather in Jedburgh, Scotland for the second round of the Mitsubishi evolution challenge the border counties rally. The rally using the notoriously tricky kielder forest to make up a portion of the stages brought a whole new challenge to the championship. The large ditches and ever changing surface tested crews to their limits.

Jonathan Greer who is contesting the two premier British championships the BRC and Pirelli Gravel is in his debut season in the competitive championship. The teenager from Carryduff, Northern Ireland in January was selected for the MSA British rally elite a program aimed at arming young drivers with the necessary skills to make it to the World Rally championship. He will attend workshops throughout the year hosted by a variety of professionals lending their skills and knowledge to the program.

The crew and machine were in top form being noticeably closer to the leading crews and holding third place in the challenge at first service halt, with a third place time on the second stage within seconds of the fastest car and more notably just six seconds adrift of triple British champion Mark Higgins in his Super2000 specification MG.

However all was not to go Jonathan’s way and on stage four of the event on a muddy square left the car ran wide and was slowly dragged in to a ditch were it was to stay ending their rally.

“It was disappointing not to finish, especially given the nature of our retirement; the rear wheel just slipped off the road and dragged us with it leaving me completely helpless. The car had no damage but we were stuck and unable to get back on the road”

“The first two rounds have not gone our way but that is rallying sometimes, we have come with the aim of learning the car and competition and left with a few harsh lessons”

The third round of the Mitsubishi evolution challenge sees crews switch from gravel to tarmac and leave mainland UK for some of the most renowned tarmac stages in Europe on the Isle of Man, the rally gets under way on Friday 9th may with five night stages and continues on the Saturday with nine more stages.

Jonathan’s next outing is on the Pirelli International rally, the opening round of the British rally championship on the 18th/19th April. Which he will contest in the Mitsubishi Evolution 9 he has been using so far this season. Jonny would like to thank Carryduff Forklift LTD for their continued support as well as DGM who run and prepare his car.

In Car with Richard Cathcart & Martin Brady

Posted: April 7, 2008 3:30 PM

Barry leads Mitsubishi championship following another top result

Posted: April 7, 2008 3:29 PM

Enniskerry rally driver Daniel Barry, together with his co-driver Mark Bowens from Castlemartr, finished a hard-fought second place in round two of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, which took place this weekend on the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally.

With this being the second time Daniel and Mark have claimed the runners-up spot this season, it mean that they now lead the one make championship for Group N (production specification) Mitsubishis, two points ahead of their closest rivals Richard Cathcart and co-driver Martin Brady.

After an excellent performance in round one, the Bournemouth based Rallye Sunseeker, Daniel was raring to go this weekend, but with all of the stages taking place in Kielder Forest, which is renowned for its arduous and un-forgiving nature, the 23-year old knew he had a tough task ahead.

As well as the Evolution Challenge, the rally also hosted a round of the Pirelli MSA National Gravel and the County Saab Scottish Rally Championships, which meant that the entry list saw over 140 cars taking part.

Starting from the Borders town of Jedburgh, Daniel set-off to start the first of seven stages - and sixty competitive miles - with a cautious approach. Following a controlled run he was pleased to find himself third in the Mitsubishi standings and eighth overall.

Then, on stage two, the two Evolution Challenge drivers ahead of him, round one winner David Bogie and Icelandic Rally Champion Daniel Sigurdarson, both went off the road in the slippery conditions. Cathcart, on the other hand, was on a charge and edged ahead of Daniel in stage two – albeit by just two seconds.

In the next two stages Daniel fought back, but he too was caught out by the lack of grip on the gravel forest roads and in both stages the car spun, which dropped him 27 seconds behind the leader.

With the surprise onset of un-seasonal snow falls during the remaining stages, try as he might, Daniel could not catch Cathcart, even though he recorded a fastest Evo Challenge time on stage six.

After a hard day’s rallying Daniel, Mark and the Barry Motorsport team were delighted to finish second in the Mitsubishi standings, third in Group N and sixth overall:
“To come away from a day’s rallying in Kielder Forest without a scratch on the car, no mechanical problems and leading a championship can’t be bad”, said Daniel at the finish. “We fought as hard as we could in the conditions and of course, would like to have been the first Evo Challenge competitor home, but we’re battling for the championship and it’s more important to score a good haul of points rather than perhaps not finish at all.”

Daniel and his team now prepare for another tough test of man an machine, the RBSI Manx Rally, which takes place on 9th & 10th May and sees 140 competitive miles and the first all asphalt event of the season.

Daniel’s 2007 campaign is supported by: Tech-Plus, Irish Transport & Shipping, BPI Telecom, Henco under-floor heating and SC Signs.

Cathcart Claims first Evo Challenge Win

Posted: April 7, 2008 3:28 PM

Richard Cathcart and co-driver Martin Brady scored their first Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge victory this weekend, following an impressive performance in round two of the one-make series for Group N (production specification) Mitsubishi Lancers, the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally. Their performance also netted them an impressive third place in the rally’s overall positions.

After David Bogie and Daniel Sigurdarson both visited the same ditch in stage two, Cathcart took the lead and succeeded in establishing a final margin of 41 seconds ahead of Daniel Barry, who finished in the runners-up spot for the second time this season and now leads the Evolution Challenge standings.

Based from the Borders town of Jedburgh, the rally featured 60 competitive miles in the infamous Kielder Forest, the event comprising seven stages, with a service interval after every two.

Right from the word go, Kielder lived up to its reputation, especially in the slippery conditions, with Sebastian Ling the first to suffer when he went off the road and into retirement less than a mile into the first stage. Next to go was Keith Cronin, when towards the end of the stage he dropped a wheel into a ditch and, before he knew it, the rest of the car followed.

Initially heading the Mitsubishi field was round one winner David Bogie, albeit just 0.6 second ahead of Icelandic Rally Champion Daniel Sigurdarson in second. Barry was just four seconds behind in third, with Cathcart hot on his heels just 0.5 second later.

However, things were to change in SS2 when Bogie and Sigurdarson were both caught out by the same deceptive brow, followed by a square right: Bogie left the road, went into the ditch on the outside of the bend and rolled, whilst Sigurdarson got away with just plunging into the ditch. With the help of spectators both extracted their cars, Bogie taking a stage maximum and losing eight minutes and Sigurdarson getting going again following a two-minute delay.

At the first service halt on the Otterburn Military ranges, the time sheets showed Cathcart 2.2 seconds ahead of Barry, who was in-turn 12.7 seconds ahead of Jonny Greer, who was gathering pace despite a stone puncturing a brake pipe at the end of stage two. Nik Elsmore was just 0.2 behind, followed by McCance - both drivers reporting punctures during the first two stages.

Cathcart was now in ‘the zone’ and extended his lead to 26 seconds in the next pair of stages, Barry slowed by spins on SS3 and SS4 as he battled for the lead. Elsmore was frustrated to have collected another puncture on stage four, whilst Jonathan Sparks had a worrying moment when he lost his brakes on the approach to a chicane and scattered the cones, luckily without any damage or loss of time. But for Greer it was a different story and his excellent run came to an end when he slid wide on a right-hander, beaching his Mitsubishi half-in and half-out of yet another Northumberland ditch.

As crews lined-up to start stage five, Pope’s Hill in the heart of Kielder Forest, in keeping with the tradition of the region the weather changed and un-seasonal snow started falling. But that didn’t stop Cathcart, who again went quickest, but was becoming concerned when his car’s clutch started slipping intermittently.

With the wintry conditions worsening for SS6 the forestry roads were becoming even more treacherous and many of the Mitsubishi crews opted for a cautious approach, including Cathcart - which allowed Barry to set a fastest stage time. The stage also saw McCance overhaul Elsmore to take third place, albeit by just 1.3 second.

Bogie was bouncing back from his earlier excursion and now setting respectable times, even though his efforts were unlikely to help his Evo Challenge position having lost so much ground and then finding he had no brakes towards the end of SS6.

Following the third service halt, the seventh and final stage provided the longest test of the event, the 15-mile run through Harwood Forest a re-run of stages three and four combined, By this time, Cathcart was un stoppable and topped the time sheets again to secure his very first Evo Challenge victory.

“I am really happy to have won a round of the Evolution Challenge for the first time”, said Cathcart at the finish. “Having set a string of fastest times on round one but suffered a few mechanical problems, it’s good to be able to convert an almost trouble-free run into a win, as I needed this result to put my title hopes on track.” Barry kept his head and drove a calculated final stage to collect second-place and now top the Evo Challenge standings. After feeling he could have driven quicker in places, McCance was delighted to claim third, whilst in contrast, Elsmore was disappointed to be denied a podium position in the closing stages of the rally.

Sigurdarson had showed his potential by driving back up- to fifth position, ahead of David Meredith, who was getting quicker as his confidence in his car and the conditions grew. Jon Sparks collected a sound seventh place, whilst a philosophical Bogie ended his day in eighth.

However, the award for the most unlucky crew of the day was reserved for Miles Johnston and Ian Bevan, when their intercom failed in the final stage just before the corner which claimed Greer - and they too became a casualty of Kielder.

The third round of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge sees the surface change to asphalt, when crews head to the Isle of Man for the RBSI Manx Rally on 9th & 10th May.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK and Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli tyres, Speedline Corse wheels, Sparco racewear, Performance Friction Brakes, Sunoco Race Fuels, ADR Motorsport, Walkinshaw Performance and PIAA lights, who sponsor the junior award for under 25-year old drivers.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge - Round Two results
1st Richard Cathcart (Enniskillen)/Martin Brady (Navan) 1:00:30.4
2nd Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowens (Cork) 1:01:11.5
3rd Neil McCance (Comber)/Anthony O’Connaill (Ballymakeera) 1:01:58.6
4th Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Paul Wakeley (Llanelli) 1:02:13.5
5th Daniel Siguardarson (Iceland)/Isak Gudjonsson (Iceland) 1:03:48.1
6th David Meredith (Dolgellau)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen) 1:06:56.8
7th Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Chris Davies (Abergavenny) 1:08:31.8
8th David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) 1:10:20.6

Retirements
SS1 Sebastian Ling (Llandysul)/Aled Rees (Crymych) Accident
SS1 Keith Cronin (Cork)/Greg Shinnors (Limerick) Accident
SS4 Jonathan Greer (Carryduff)/Jonny Hart (Moneyrea) Accident
SS7 Miles Johnston (York)/Ian Bevan (Holywell) Accident

JOHNSON/MERRY WIN BORDER COUNTIES RALLY

Posted: April 6, 2008 11:00 PM

Driving the Andreas Mikkelsen Ford Focus WRC, two times Scottish champion, Barry Johnson, claimed victory on the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally.

County Durham driver Johnson and co-driver Stewart Merry finished 5.6 seconds ahead of the Subaru Impreza WRC of Cheshire driver Jon Ingram and Ian Allsop on the Jedburgh-based event after they edged into the lead on stage six and maintained it to the finish.

Ingram and Allsop took the honours in the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship ahead of Richard Cathcart and Martin Brady, who were third overall in their Mitsubishi Evo 9, winning the Mistubishi Evo Challenge and Group N as a capacity entry of 150 cars started the Whickham and District Motor Club and Hawick and Border Car Club event.

"I'm very pleased to finish first on the Border Counties Rally," Johnson, who has won the event before, said. "It's a long time since I've been out in a car so it's great to get the win."

Changeable weather conditions of sunshine and snow hit the event as Jimmy Girvan and John Bennie finished fourth overall in their Subaru Impreza and took maximum points in round two of the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship whilst three-time British champion Mark Higgins and Rory Kennedy were fifth in the new MG S2000 Sport car as they used the event for a shakedown ahead of the forthcoming Pirelli International Rally in two weeks time.

Irish crew Daniel Barry and Mark Bowens came sixth in their Mitsubishi Evo 9, ahead of the Subaru Impreza WRC of Julian Reynolds and Patrick Walsh, who lost time on stage four with a spin due to a puncture.

Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson finished eighth in their Hyundai Accent WRC, they suffered a problem with the throttle sticking earlier in the day and a spin on stage five lost them some time.

Neil McCance and Anthony O'Connell finished ninth in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 whilst Andy Burton and Shelley Rogerson finished tenth in their Peugeot Cosworth. The pair had taken the lead on stage two before Johnson and Merry edged ahead on stage six, but they suffered an engine problem on the final stage and lost around two minutes.

"It's been a fantastic event, it's gone really well," Clerk of the Course Paul Hughes said. "It's been really challenging for the crews, which is what we hoped and the weather has also made it difficult at times."

In the National B Rally Ali Thorburn and Paul McGuire took the honours in their Subaru Impreza, finishing 23.9 seconds ahead of Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy in their Mitsubishi Evo 6.

In the Mini Rally Ian Haining and Phil Shortt came out on top in their Vauxhall Nova.

MAXIMUM POINTS FOR INGRAM ON BORDER COUNTIES RALLY

Posted: April 6, 2008 10:58 PM

Cheshire driver Jon Ingram took his maiden victory in the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship as he finished second behind event winner Barry Johnson on the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally

In their Subaru Impreza WRC, Ingram, and co-driver Ian Allsop came home 5.6 seconds behind the Ford Focus WRC of Johnson and Stewart Merry on the Jedburgh-based event following a trouble-free run to claim maximum points in the ANCRO championship on the second round of the series.

Richard Cathcart and Martin Brady finished second of the registered crews, and third overall, as well as taking honours in the Production Cup and the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 with Daniel Barry and Mark Bowens next up in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 behind Jimmy Girvan/John Bennie and Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy.

Ingram and Allsop set the pace over stages five and six and heading into the final stage, just two seconds separated them from Johnson/Merry.

"I'm pleased to win the MSA Gravel Rally Championship round but disappointed not to win the event outright," Ingram said. "It's great to get my first win in the series, it's one of the hardest one-day rallies I've ever done."

The Subaru Impreza WRC of Julian Reynolds and Patrick Walsh took fourth in the championship and seventh overall, after losing time on stage four following a spin due to a puncture, whilst Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson finished fifth points scorers and eighth overall in their Hyundai Accent WRC after earlier suffering with a problem with the throttle sticking and a spin on stage five also lost them some time.

Neil McCance and Anthony O'Connell finished ninth registered crew in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 whilst Andy Burton and Shelley Rogerson suffered disappointment in their Peugeot Cosworth. The crew had taken the lead of the rally on stage two before Johnson/Merry edged ahead on stage six, but they suffered with an engine problem on the final stage, losing around two minutes to ultimately finish sixth in the championship and tenth overall.

Round one winners Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery went out on stage one when they spun backwards into a bank and damaged the exhaust on their Hyundai Accent WRC.

As a result, Ingram moved to the lead of the series going into the RBS Manx International Rally on 9/10 May.

Round three of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship will take place on Friday 9 - Saturday 10 May with the Douglas-based RBS International Manx Rally.

Results & More Photos

Posted: April 6, 2008 10:55 PM

Final Classification
1 Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Ford Focus WRC) 59:32.8
2 Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop (Subaru Impreza WRC) 59:38.4
3 Richard Cathcart/Martin Brady (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1:00:30.4
4 Jimmy Girvan/John Bennie (Subaru Impreza) 1:00:47.1
5 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (MG S2000 Sport) 1:01:11.2
6 Daniel Barry/Mark Bowens (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1:01:11.5
7 Julian Reynolds/Patrick Walsh (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1:01.15.5
8 Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1:01:37.3
9 Neil McCance/Anthony O'Connell (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 1:01:58.6
10 Andrew Burton/Shelley Rogerson (Peugeot Cosworth) 1:02:12.3

• National A Results
• National B Results

Photos:
Roy Dempster Photos
Mullrallyesport

Border Counties

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• 2008 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship
• 2008 Scottish Rally Championship

'BEST ENTRY OF THE YEAR' SET TO CONTEST THE BORDER COUNTIES

Posted: April 3, 2008 11:30 PM

A capacity 150 cars will line up in Jedburgh next weekend ready to take part in one of the Border region's main sporting events when the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally gets underway next Saturday morning.

And with a world-class entry assembled by Whickham and District Motor Club and Hawick and Border Car Club, including British, National and Scottish Champions, as well as some of Britain's most promising talent, it really is a mouth-watering prospect.

The entry is headed by triple British Champion Mark Higgins, who along with co driver Rory Kennedy, is in action in the latest Group N MG S2000 Sport and the PWRC specification car is expected to attract a lot of interest.

Fresh from victory on Rallye Sunseeker, Pirelli MSA Championship leader Marcus Dodd travels up from his Dorset home hoping to repeat his victory of two years ago on the event when he and co driver Andrew Bargery took a dramatic victory in the prevalent snow and ice in their Hyundai Accent WRC. However, Dodd rolled out of last year's event when leading with just a couple of stages to go.

Chasing Dodd down for ANCRO honours will be the radical Peugeot Cosworth of Midlander Andrew Burton/Shelley Rogerson who are planning a full campaign this season and they will be up against the Subaru WRCs of Mancunian Jon Ingram/Ian Allsop and Welshman Julian Reynolds/Pat Walsh whereas Ulstermen Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh will be a major contender in their ex Henning Solberg Ford Focus WRC.

The major protagonists in the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship will also be battling it out in round two over the infamous Kielder stages with series leader Jimmy Girvan (Subaru) squaring off against former double champion Barry Johnson, who makes his debut in the ex-Andreas Mikkelsen Ford Focus WRC, and the DAM of Andy Horne, amongst a string of other leading Scottish drivers including Jim Carty (Subaru), Mike Faulkner (Mitsubishi) and William Bonniwell (Subaru).

Leading the charge in the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge is young Scot David Bogie, who will be looking for success once again and he'll be keen to score as many championship points in both this and the Scottish Championship in which he currently lies fourth. So too will Irishman Richard Cathcart who doubles up in both series but with 2007 Mitsubishi winner Phillip Morrow in the field, their work will be made a lot harder. Sebastian Ling, Nik Elsmore and Daniel Barry are all expected to go well on the event which last year, saw a tenth of a second between Morrow in first and second placed Ling.

Other names to watch out for are 2007 BTRDA Champion Tristan Pye (Subaru), Icelander Daniel Sigurdarson and 2007 Fiesta Sporting Trophy winner Jonathan Greer (Mitsubishi). Rallying veterans Charlie Payne (Mitsubishi WRC), Steve Bannister (Ford Escort Mk2) and comeback driver Brian Bell (Ford Focus) all add to the spice and with George McDonald's Super 1600cc Opel Corsa running at the front of the 1600cc field, the scene is set for a fantastic event:

"I don't think we'll see a better entry on a British event this year" enthused Clerk of the Course Paul Hughes. "We've reached our maximum capacity and it looks like it's going to be an absolutely cracking event with battles right the way down the field."

Comprising rounds of many major 2008 championships including the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the Subaru Group N Trophy as well as the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship, top crews from all over the country as well as some European visitors will be hoping for a good run on the event. In addition, a National B and 'Mini' Rally will run concurrently to the main event.

Cathcart, McCance and Greer ready to go for The Border counties

Posted: April 3, 2008 11:13 PM

The second round of the Mitsubishi evolution challenge heads north on the 5th April for the border counties national A rally based in Jedburgh, Scotland. The rally will also host the second round of the Scottish rally championship which will run along with the main field under national B regulations.

Northern Irish preparation team David Greer Motorsport who will be fielding a three car team for the duration of the championship will make the trip across the Irish Sea continuing their season long goal to bring the evolution challenge title to Ireland for the second year in succession.

Last year’s Champion Lisburn driver Phillip Morrow will lead the field of Mitsubishi’s away in his newly acquired left hand drive Evo 6 which he is debuting on the event in preparation for his manufactured supported British championship assault in a Mitsubishi motors evo 9, his prize for winning the challenge in 2007.

DGM’s three drivers Richard Cathcart, Neil McCance and Jonathan Greer seeded at 14, 17 and 34 respectively are relishing the chance to get back behind the wheel of their cars in this competitive championship.

Richard Cathcart will be hoping for a result to match the stunning pace shown on the Sunseeker that culminated in six fastest times, a higher position at the end of the rally only being compromised by a first stage stall. Richard also leads the Scottish GRP N championship and is entering the event in high sprits.

Neil McCance is another driver coming of the back of a strong result, 4th overall and 1st in GRP N on the Circuit of Ireland National Rally his local event means another two days rallying under his belt after a long winter lay off has increased confidence in the camp and Neil can be expected to challenge for honours this coming weekend.

Jonathan Greer the youngest entrant in the 2008 Mitsubishi challenge will head to the border counties fresh from a weekend at Edinburgh University with the MSA British rally elite. The scheme being lead by Robert Reid is designed to arm young drivers with the skills to make it to the top level in rallying. Jonathan will once again be joined by regular Co- Driver Jonathan hart himself a member of the MSA rally academy.

Jonny said “The classic keilder stages are always enjoyable and challenging and with the strong entry of Mitsubishi’s I hope to judge my pace against the high caliber of drivers during the event”

The DGM team will field a fourth car running under the National B banner, Barry Greer brother of Jonathan has entered in his fiesta ST

Mitsubishi teams prepare for battle on the Borders

Posted: April 3, 2008 11:11 PM

Round two of the 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally on 5th April, has all the hallmarks of being a fiercely fought affair.

With all 14 of the registered Evo Challenge crews taking part, the rally will see a re-match following the closely contested round one, when the top six cars crossed the finish line with less than 30 seconds between them! And, if its anything like last year’s Border Counties Rally, when the top three Evo Challenge runners were separated by less than a second, then this weekend is likely to see an epic battle emerge.

Winner of the opening round and the driver most local to this event David Bogie is the top Evo Challenge seed on this occasion, his recent form standing him in good stead for another top performance. He is followed by Irishman Daniel Barry, who is getting quicker each time out and is another driver determined to prove his pace this season.

Third in line is Richard Cathcart from Northern Ireland, who had an impressive run in round one, winning more stages than any other driver – some of which he drove with only three brakes!

Next up is last year’s runner-up, Welshman Sebastian Ling, who is hoping to feel more comfortable on the longer and more flowing stages of Kielder than he did in the more compact Forests of Hampshire and Dorset a few weeks ago.

Other potential podium finishers are Nik Elsmore from Gloucestershire and Ulsterman Neil McCance, both former winners of Evo Challenge rounds in the past.

Also in the frame are Icelandic Rally Champion Daniel Sigurdarson, Billy Coleman Award winner Keith Cronin – who has recruited ex-works Mitsubishi co-driver Greg Shinnors for the remainder of the season – 2007 Fiesta ST Champion Jonny Greer, series rookie Simon Harraway and Evo Cup Champion Miles Johnston.

Evo Challenge regular Jon Sparks is next to take the start, ahead of Tom Naughton and David Meredith, who are running further down the field than normal due to a high number of overall entries.

As well as the second round of the Evolution Challenge, the Border Counties Rally also hosts the second round of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship and the County Saab MSA Scottish Rally Championship. The combination of these three major championships sees the event boast an entry of 140 cars, 39 of which will be competing in the National A category, the Evolution Challenge representing 36% of this higher-status field.

The rally starts from Jedburgh at 8.30 on Saturday morning and features seven timed special stages in Kielder Forest and, following 60 miles of competition, cars return to Jedburgh at 5.45 pm for the finish.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK and Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli tyres, Speedline Corse wheels, Sparco racewear, Performance Friction Brakes, Sunoco Race Fuels, ADR Motorsport, Walkinshaw Performance and PIAA lights, who sponsor the junior award for under 25 year old drivers.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge entries (in number order)
11 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) (J)
12 Daniel Barry (Enniskerry)/Mark Bowens (Cork) (J)
14 Richard Cathcart (Enniskillen)/Martin Brady (Navan)
15 Sebastian Ling (Llandysul)/Aled Rees (Crymych)
16 Nik Elsmore (Coleford)/Paul Wakeley (Llanelli)
17 Neil McCance (Comber)/Sean Ferris (Drumquin)
32 Daniel Siguardarson (Iceland)/Isak Gudjonsson (Iceland)
33 Keith Cronin (Bantry)/Greg Shinnors (Limerick) (J)
34 Jonathan Greer (Carryduff)/Jonny Hart (Moneyrea) (J)
41 Simon Harraway (Weston-super-Mare)/Craig Drew (Bream)
43 Miles Johnston (York)/Ian Bevan (Holywell)
44 Jonathan Sparks (Glastonbury)/Chris Davies (Abergavenny)
70 Thomas Naughton (Bury)/Horace Saville (Bury)
71 David Meredith (Dolgellau)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen)

(J) = Junior driver

Entry List - Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy @ No1 in MG S2000

Posted: March 28, 2008 9:08 AM

Border Counties

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• 2008 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship
• 2008 Scottish Rally Championship

PLANS IN PLACE FOR 2008 BRICK & STEEL BORDER COUNTIES RALLY / Date Change to 5th April

Posted: February 12, 2008 8:33 AM

• List of Entries received to date
• Regulations not being posted - On line only
• PLANS IN PLACE FOR 2008 BRICK & STEEL BORDER COUNTIES RALLY
• Date Change to 5th April

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12/02/08
2008 BRICK & STEEL BORDER COUNTIES RALLY UPDATE
Following last week’s announcement that the 2008 Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally will take place onSaturday 5th April 2008, already lots of interest has been received for the Whickham and District Motor Club and Hawick and Border Car Club organised event.

As well as comprising round two of the 2008 MSA Pirelli Gravel Rally Championship, which incorporates the various associated championships including the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge and Subaru Group N Trophy and the ANCRO Rally Challenge amongst others, the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally also hosts the second round of the popular County Saab 2008 MSA Scottish Rally Championship which gets underway with the Snowman Rally this weekend.

In order to reduce costs, the regulations will not be posted this year, instead, an e-mail notification is in the process of being sent out to the organisers’ database and these along with an entry form will be available for download at www.bordercountiesrally.co.uk from WEDNESDAY 13th FEBRUARY.

With the National ‘A’ event set for seven stages totalling around sixty miles, and the supporting National ‘B’ rally offering forty-five miles over six stages, both with minimum road mileage, demand for entries is bound and also,he organisers are also planning a ‘Mini BCR’ to allow novice crews the opportunity of experiencing forest rallying at a subsidised cost. This is expected to comprise two stages within the Harwood complex, totalling around fifteen miles.

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07/02/08
PLANS IN PLACE FOR 2008 BRICK & STEEL BORDER COUNTIES RALLY
The classic tracks of the Scottish Borders and Kielder Forest will once again be reverberating to the sound of rally cars when the annual Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally gets underway from Jedburgh on Saturday 5th April 2008.

Comprising round two of the popular 2008 MSA Pirelli Gravel Rally Championship, as well as the opening round of the clubman-based ANCRO Rally Challenge, the organising team has been hard at work securing the best stages available for the event which follows a similar format to last year’s successful venture and sees Harwood Forest once again incorporated as well as a centralised service area at the Otterburn Airstrips.

With the National ‘A’ event set for seven stages totalling around sixty miles, and the supporting National ‘B’ rally offering forty-five miles over six stages, both with minimum road mileage, demand for entries is bound to be high so the message from the organising Whickham and District Motor Club and Hawick and Border Car Club once again is ‘book early to avoid disappointment!’

The organisers are also planning a ‘Mini BCR’ to allow novice crews the opportunity of experiencing forest rallying at a subsidised cost. This is expected to comprise two stages within the Harwood complex, totalling around fifteen miles.

As well as the ANCRO-organised 2008 MSA Pirelli Gravel Rally Championship, the National ‘A’ event will incorporate qualifying rounds of The Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge and Cup, the Subaru Group N Trophy and a number of regional championships. Regulations will be posted out to registered competitors on or just after Monday February 11th whereby they will be also available on the official website below or by calling 0191 529 0634 or 07773 420666 (+44 191 529 0634 or +44 7773 420666)

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Date Change to 5th April

Border Counties

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• 2008 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship
• 2008 Scottish Rally Championship