Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland Round 3 Preview Lord Bagenal Hotel Stages Rally – 9th May 2010 Top four Evolution Challenge crews seeded at the front of the field. Carlow event hosts Mitsubishi series for the first time. Series leaders get set to settle the scores from the opening rounds.
..5th May 2010

Round three of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland takes place this weekend, when the series heads south to Leighlinbridge and County Carlow for the Lord Bagenal Hotel Stages Rally.

Following Easter’s rounds one and two of the Evolution Challenge on the two-day Circuit of Ireland Rally, the fight for the leading positions could not be closer, with John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson winning Saturday’s round one and Brendan Cumiskey/Conor Foley winning Sunday’s round two. However, despite collecting punctures and finishing second on both days, Neil McCance/Sean Ferris were first on aggregate over the two days and therefore, the points at the top of the table reflect what has so far been a close fight between the leading Mitsubishi crews.

With 2010 being the first time the Evolution Challenge has visited this popular one-day rally and, with the traditionally clubman-based field making up a large proportion of the entry, rally organisers have seen fit to seed the top four Mitsubishi crews at the head of the field. For the series this is a rare privilege, as it is the first time this has happened since it began in the UK in February 2001. It also signifies that Evolution Challenge crews are in with a good chance of scoring an outright event victory this weekend.

John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson start as car number one in the band new Evolution IX they debuted on the opening round of the season, recording an impressive victory first time out. However, their weekend was blighted by an intermittent mis-fire, which they hope will not re-appear for this event.

Second away from the start are Neil McCance and stand-in co-driver Jonny Hart, who is intending not have to change so many wheels this time around and that his allocation of punctures for the year was taken care of last time out. The 2009 Evolution Challenge Champion Driver is therefore looking forward to a clean run in an event he has not contested previously.

Following them off the line are winners of round two and the 2008 Evolution Challenge Champion Driver Brendan Cumiskey, with co-driver Conor Foley. After overcoming some mechanical issues in round one, they found their rhythm for round two and were very pleased to record their first Mitsubishi series victory for almost two years.

Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly are the fourth seeds and, quickly getting used to four-wheel-drive, are another crew that may come out on top this weekend. They currently lie fourth in the series standings and will be looking to keep their championship hopes alive.

The remaining registered Evolution Challenge competitors have chosen to sit this event out, with other commitments not allowing them to take part this weekend.

Based in Leighlinbridge, the rally starts at 8.30 am and finishes at 4.30 pm. It features eight stages, one ran twice and two ran three times, which combined, provide a competitive distance of 135 kilometres.

For the first time this season, the winner of the Evolution Challenge in each of the three countries it takes place, UK, Ireland and Sweden, will win the same prize: A supported drive in the FxPro Rally Cyprus, the final round of the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge). Then, whichever of the three teams are first home on this event, will be crowned European Evolution Challenge Champions.

The 2010 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland is supported by: Mitsubishi Motors, Pirelli tyres, Sunoco fuels, JRM, Cyprus Automobile Association, Fairways Mitsubishi, Donnelly Group, James Foley Rallysport, Speedline Corse wheels, Murray Motorsport, CL brake pads, Sparco racewear, Pacenotes and PIAA lights - who sponsor the junior award for under 25-year old drivers.

Evolution Challenge entries
1  John McGlaughlin (Cookstown)/Crawford Henderson (Magherafelt)
2  Neil McCance (Comber)/Jonny Hart (Carryduff)
3  Brendan Cumiskey (Dundalk)/Conor Foley (Ballinode)           
4  Sam Moffett (Monaghan)/ James O’Reilly (Monaghan)

Championship positions after rounds 1 & 2
Drivers
1= Neil McCance 20
1= Brendan Cumiskey 20
3 John McGlaughlin 17
4= Sam Moffett 14
4= Geoff McMahon 14
6= Stanley Ballantine 7
7 Willie Mavitty 5

Co-drivers
1= Sean Ferris 20
1= Conor Foley 20
3 Crawford Henderson  17
4= James O'Reilly 14
4= Rob Graham 14
6= Donnacha O'Callaghan 7
7 Brian Daniels 5

ENDS

Photo
John McGlaughlin and co-driver Crawford Henderson will lead the charge this weekend, when they start as car number one for round three of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the Carlow-based Lord Bagenal Hotel Stages Rally (copyright free image).