Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland Rounds seven and eight - Preview • Riverbank House Hotel Dick Bailey Stages Rally • Wexford hosts three-way battle for Irish Evo title. • Neil McCance, Brendan Cumiskey and Sam Moffett prepare for end of season show-down. • Double-header event rounds off third season for Mitsubishi series in Ireland.
..8th September 2010

The final event in the 2010 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland calendar, the Riverside House Dick Bailey Stages, is set to provide an epic three-way battle for title honours between the 2008 Champion Brendan Cumiskey, 2009 Champion Neil McCance and 2010 series new-comer Sam Moffett.

With just eight points separating all three drivers and the Wexford-based event hosting round seven on Saturday and round eight on Sunday, a maximum of 24 points are up for grabs for the winning crew. Therefore, the outcome is impossible to predict, as drivers will have the dilemma of having to finish, but at the same time, needing to drive fast enough to beat their rivals.

With two outright wins under his belt and having recorded the top-points score on the opening two rounds in April, McCance looked favourite to scoop the championship by mid-season. However, a non-finish in rounds five and six means that his early advantage has now diminished – much to his frustration.

Having won the previous round in Ulster, Cumiskey has rekindled his chances of claiming his second Evolution Challenge crown and, when dropped scores are taken into account, he starts this weekend’s rally level-pegging with McCance. A consistent performance all season has also seen Moffett put himself in the frame for the title, although he too has to drop one of his scores and therefore, is the equivalent of being eight points down.

Another twist to this intriguing finale for the Mitsubishis is the appearance of the 2009 UK Evolution Challenge Champion Daniel Barry, who has entered his local event to shake-down his refurbished Evolution IX. It will therefore be interesting to see him compete against the Irish Evo Challenge runners, especially as he has Craig Breen, another of the country’s leading drivers, alongside him as co-driver!

The battle for the co-drivers’ title is also far from over, with just two points between James O’Reilly and Conor Foley, who sit next to Moffett and Cumiskey respectively. Unfortunately for Jonny Hart, who accompanies McCance, he missed the first event of the season and therefore, mathematically is not in the running for the prize.

Starting and finishing from the car park outside the Riverbank House Hotel, which overlooks the River Slaney, the event features three stages ran three times on Saturday and a further three stages ran twice on Sunday, the total providing an overall competitive distance of 200 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.

Rounds seven and eight – Evolution Challenge entries
2   Neil McCance (Comber)/Jonny Hart (Carryduff)            
9   Brendan Cumiskey (Dundalk)/Conor Foley (Ballinode)                        
12 Sam Moffett (Monaghan)/James O’Reilly (Monaghan)                        

Series standings after round six
Drivers
1   Brendan Cumiskey 52
2= Neil McCance 44
2= Sam Moffett 44
4   Geoff McMahon 22
5   John McGlaughlin 17
6   Stanley Ballantine 15
7   Willie Mavitty 5           
Co-drivers
1   James O'Reilly 44
2   Conor Foley 42
3   Jonny Hart 24
4   Rob Graham 22
5   Sean Ferris 20
6   Crawford Henderson 17
7   Donnacha O'Callaghan 15
8   Brian Daniels 5

ENDS

Photo Caption
This weekend’s Wexford-based Riverbank House Hotel Dick Bailey Stages Rally provides an end of season shoot-out for the 2010 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland title between the championship’s three leading crews (from left to right): Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly, Neil McCance/Jonny Hart, Brendan Cumiskey/Conor Foley (copyright free image).