Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland
Round Six Preview

ALMC Stages Rally – 19th July 2009. Irish Evo Challenge resumes after eight-week break. McGlaughlin and McCance ready for re-match. Scene set for battle throughout the Mitsubishi field.
..13th July 2009

Following an eight-week summer break, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland resumes this Sunday for round six, the ALMC Stages Rally, with nine registered crews entered for this popular one-day event.

Following their battle for the lead in round five, the Cavan Stages, this weekend’s rally will see a re-match between winners last time out John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson and second on that occasion Neil McCance/Sean Ferris.

These two leading crews start this event as first and second seeds and are likely to set the pace in the Evo Challenge and Group N. Added to this, McCance/Ferris are mindful that, as current series leaders, another top result will put them in a good position for this season’s title.

Next to cross the start-line are four crews who will be set to pounce if either of the two top seeds falter: Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont, Stanley Ballentine/Donnacha O’Callaghan, William Mavitty/Keefe Kilcoyne and Geoff McMahon/Rob Graham. This quartet have all shown similar pace this season and are destined to be locked in battle in order to gain a podium position.

Another similarly matched batch of Mitsubishi crews rounds off the nine Evo Challenge entries: Michael Murray/Brian Daniels, former series leader Liam Egan/Mary O’Kane and Thomas White/Robert Murphy. These three have all shown they can post good stage times this season and each are likely to do better than their entry list seeding suggests.

The rally starts and finishes at the City North Hotel near Gorrmanston in County Meath, just off the M1 about 30 kilometres north of Dublin. The route follows a familiar one-day Irish tarmac format, with three stages run three times, the 48 km loops spilt by two service halts in Duleek.

The Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland is supported by: Pirelli tyres, Sunoco Racing Fuels, James Foley Rallysport, Carbone Lorraine, Murray Motorsport, Speedline Corse wheels, PIAA lights, Pacenotes, Sparco racewear and Mitsubishi Motors Ireland.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland

Round six entries – in start number order
4    John McGlaughlin (Cookstown)/Crawford Henderson (Magherafelt)
5    Neil McCance (Comber)/Sean Ferris (Omagh)
8    Alan Carmichael (Ballymena)/Ivor Lamont (Ballymena)
16  Stanley Ballentine (Strabane)/Donnacha O’Callaghan (Mallow)
19  William Mavitty (Eniskillen)/Keefe Kilcoyne (Westport)
67  Geoff McMahon (Armagh)/Robert Graham (Armagh)           
72  Michael Murray (Longford)/Brian Daniels (Waterford)
73  Liam Egan (New York)/Mary O’Kane (Maghera)
75  Thomas White (Foulksmills)/Robert Murphy (New Ross)

Series standings after round five
Drivers
1 Neil McCance 34
2 Liam Egan 27
3= Keith Cronin 24
3=  Stanley Ballantine 24
5 William Mavitty 22
6  Alan Carmichael 20
7 Geoff McMahon 13
8 John McGlaughlin 12
9 Brendan Cumiskey 8
10 Tom White 5
10 Michael Murray 5
12 Alan Burrows 4
Co-drivers
1 Sean Ferris 34
2 Donnacha O’Callaghan 25
3 Greg Shinnors 24
4 Keefe Kilcoyne 23
5  Ivor Lamont 20
6 Colin Harkness 18
7 Robert Graham 13
8 Crawford Henderson 12
9 Mary O’Kane 9
10 Brian Daniels 6
11 Robert Murphy 5
12 Gavin Burrows 4

ENDS

Photo: Current Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland leaders, Neil McCance and co-driver Sean Ferris, are back in action this weekend after an eight-week summer break, when the series resumes for round six, the ALMC Stages Rally (copyright free image).