Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge
End of a decade
2010 marked the tenth season of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge in the UK, the third in Ireland and the third in Sweden.
Starting life in 2001, the Evolution Challenge has seen over 150 different crews registering during its 10-year history – an impressive statistic in anyone’s books. It is also impressive to note that, according to its founder and principal organiser Simon Slade, there has been no other manufacturer-backed rally series that has run continuously for this length of time in the UK.
As far as the cars are concerned, the series began with homologation allowing the Evo II through to the Evo VI and, as the years went by and homologations came and went, the VII, VIII, IX and X were subsequently included. Organisers cite this ‘Evolution’ as the number-one reason why the series has been so sustainable, as drivers can update their cars on a regular basis to keep themselves competitive.
This is a different concept to that of most one-make series’, where usually only one model is eligible and, when it goes out of production, the championship is disbanded. Consequently, the cars either end up running in an unofficial series, or are slotted in to a class amongst other cars, where they are usually uncompetitive.
No so the Evo, as history shows that it has always been a main contender for production class honours. In fact, this accolade is now only fought out between two manufacturers, Mitsubishi and Subaru - that’s as long as you discount the arrival of Super 2000 cars - which no-one can really describe as ‘production’.
And, in a few years time when the homologation runs out on the Evo X and the Subaru WRX, what will follow? Whatever it is, it’s likely not to replicate the irresistible road-to-rally attributes possessed by these legendary Japanese, turbo-charged, 4WD machines.
With the change of marketing posture now adopted by Mitsubishi and the recession biting into the entry lists of even the most popular rallies, 2010 is destined to be the final year for the Evolution Challenge in the UK. The end of an era for a championship that has glorified everything the rally-bred Lancer stands for.
“We’ve had ten good years and achieved what we set out to achieve”, said Slade. “We’ve crowned 10 Champions and given up-and-coming drivers the best opportunity they could have wished for, with an official Mitsubishi works drive. We’ve presented £100,000s of prizes and achieved some great media coverage, plus the championship has been as social as it has been competitive and everyone that’s been involved will take away some fond memories. However, sometimes you have to know when to close the book and I believe that time is now.”
Although very popular, the decline in numbers – in no small part due to the country’s difficult times - will also see the series close in Ireland after three years. However, in Sweden things are very different and Slade is delighted to confirm that the Evolution Challenge will continue for its fourth season over there, with more support confirmed from Mitsubishi Sweden and a further increase in numbers predicted.
While watching the Wyedean Rally back in February 2000, PR man Simon Slade had an idea. A year later it became a reality and now, ten years on, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge has the accolade of being one of the most prestigious one-make rally series ever to run in the UK.
“I remember spectating in the Forest of Dean seven years ago and it seemed like every other car was an Evo,” Slade says. “Having competed in the Peugeot Challenge and coordinated the Proton Coupé Cup I was familiar with the workings of one-make series’ and thought there had to be a way of getting all these Mitsubishi competitors together.”
With so many cars out there and Mitsubishi adding another digit to the Lancer Evolution designation after every two years, Slade decided to create a series for all homologated Group N Evos. This would then allow a variety of models and existing cars to enter, rather than specifying one type and insisting that teams purchase an official kit or a new car.
As it’s turned out, this concept proved successful, since it meant drivers could upgrade their cars as new versions come out and don’t have to stick to the same car year-on-year.
After meeting with Peter Collinson of Coordsport and seeking technical advice in order to compile the regulations, Slade successfully attracted a number of sponsors and approached Mitsubishi Motors UK.
“It is vitally important that a one-make series is backed by a manufacturer since it provides credibility and makes the whole thing official,” he said. “Of course, the association also has the potential to provide the extensive support needed to make a championship a success. I was therefore delighted when Mitsubishi UK agreed to get involved.”
With everything in place the Evolution Challenge kicked off in Bournemouth in February 2001, with the Rallye Sunseeker. Then, just two days later, rallying in the UK came to a standstill following the outbreak of foot and mouth. As it turned out, four rounds of the Evolution Challenge were held that year, with Leon Pesticcio emerging as the inaugural champion.
2002 saw more entries and more support for the series. Following all seven rounds of the National Rally Championship, Jeremy Easson went on to take the spoils. Having gained an even higher profile the Evo Challenge was now well and truly on the map.
Then in 2003 things moved on apace, with Mitsubishi Motors UK agreeing to provide backing for the series and a fully-funded works drive as the first prize, an award that is now regarded as one of the best prizes ever in British rallying. Initially, the award was for a season in the National Rally Championship, with 2003 Evo Challenge Champion Brendan Crealey fulfilling the role in 2004.
2003 also heralded the first time the series had moved away from the National Championship, when the Jim Clark Memorial Rally was included in the Calendar. This provided Evo competitors with a second all-asphalt event and served to raise the series’ profile even more by including a round of the British Championship.
In pursuit of the much sought-after new prize and with the interest generated from Crealey’s achievement, 2004 witnessed an amazing year for the Evo Challenge, with no less than 39 competitors registering for the first round in Bournemouth. A host of top calibre drivers entered, a factor which made competition extremely fierce, the talented Irishman Rory Galligan eventually winning the season by just one point!
Galligan was subsequently awarded the works drive, which was now aligned with the British Rally Championship and he joined David Higgins for a two-car assault for the Production Class title.
2005 saw numbers in the Challenge dip slightly as the demographic trend in rallying declined. However, the series attracted yet another crop of fast and determined drivers and, after a calculated and consistent season, it was Ryan Champion who came out on top.
He grasped his opportunity with both hands and went on to win the first round of the 2006 BRC, followed by the remaining two gravel rounds. However, it was perhaps ironic that some of his main competition came from Evo Challenge competitors, as the series had swapped to the British Championship for 2006.
With the BRC now excluding WRC cars, Group N machinery was inevitably to run at the front of the field and, with series organisers wanting to ring the changes, moving away from the National Championship was the logical step to take.
Now running at top UK level, the Evo Challenge attracted some of the leading names in British rallying, with Gwyndaf Evans and Jonny Milner battling for the title all year. It was so close that it all came down to a tie-break on the final round, the dice rolling in favour of the Welshman.
To provide Mitsubishi competitors an incentive at National level, MMUK introduced the Evolution Cup. This was won in 2006 by Anthony Willmington. Then, in 2007 the Cup became a series for cars of Group N specification without the OE parts, such as dog-gearboxes, hydraulic handbrakes, big brake kits etc. IT was won in this season by Miles Johnston.
2007 saw the main Evolution Challenge return to the National Gravel (ANCRO) series and a surge in numbers, back to running with over 20 entries for the eight rounds. The man of the year was Phillip Morrow, the young Ulsterman trouncing the opposition by winning six of the eight rounds and, after eight years, winning the holy grail of a Mitsubishi works drive.
2008 witnessed one of the closest years yet in terms of out-and-out competition, with no less than ten of the 15 registered drivers all on a similar pace and in with a chance of lifting the title. As history will show, an ‘interesting’ season reached a climax on the final round when David Bogie did just enough to snatch the win from Nik Elsmore, both drivers ending their season on the same number of points but, having won the opening round, the youthful Scot claimed the honours on a tie-break ruling.
For the first time in 2008, the Evolution Challenge spread its wings overseas, with a series launched in Sweden an Ireland, each following the successful, tried and tested format from that of the UK. In true Evo Challenge fashion, both titles were decided on the final round, Andreas Magnusson winning in Sweden and Brendan Cumiskey doing the business in Ireland.
In 2009, the UK Championship featured eight rounds, six with the MSA National Gravel Championship and two with the British Championship. This included six loose and two asphalt surface rallies. A dominant performance by Irishman Daniel Barry meant that he claimed the title with two rounds to go.
Another promising youngster Jocke Nyman won in Sweden, with a man who has been a mainstay of the Evolution Challenge since 2004, Neil McCance finally adding his name to the prestigious list of Champions with a win in Ireland.
With the recession starting to bite, 2010 saw another drop in numbers for the UK series as it joined the British Rally Championship for all of its six rounds. Following a great start to the season and a series of consistent performance, Jonny Greer became the tenth winner of the British Evo Challenge title.
In Sweden, Jimmy Joge was the class of the field and deserved to record his first series crown, where as In Ireland, for the first time ever, a driver became Champion driver for the second time, Brendan Cumiskey proving that scoring points on a regular basis is the way to win titles.
2011 will see the story continue in Sweden, but in the UK and Ireland the Evolution Challenge has crossed its final finish ramp.
“I would like to thank Mitsubishi, all of its sponsors, teams, drivers, co-drivers and friends for their support and commitment over the past ten years”, concluded Slade.
Roll of honour
UK Driver Co-driver
2001 Leon Pesticcio Howard Davies
2002 Jeremy Easson Nigel Gardner
2003 Brendan Crealey Andy White
2004 Rory Galligan Jonty Bolsover
2005 Ryan Champion Craig Thorley
2006 Gwyndaf Evans Huw Lewis
2007 Phillip Morrow Patrick Walsh
2008 David Bogie Martin Brady
2009 Daniel Barry Martin Brady
2010 Jonny Greer Asta Sigurdartottir
Evolution Cup
2006 Anthony Willmington Andy White
2007 Miles Johnston Ian Bevan
Evolution Challenge UK Roll of honour
Ireland
2008 Brendan Cumiskey Domhall McAllaney
2009 Neil McCance Donnacha O’Callaghan
2010 Brendan Cumiskey James O’Reilly
Irish Evolution Challenge Roll of honour
Sweden
2008 Andreas Magnusson Henrik Hulterskog
2009 Jocke Nyman Bo Holmstrand
2010 Jimmy Joge John Stigh
www.evo-challenge.com
ENDS |
