Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge UK Round Six Preview • Trackrod Rally Yorkshire – 24th & 25th September 2010. • Tenth Evo Challenge season reaches its conclusion in Yorkshire. • Jonny Greer and Daniel Sigurdarson battle it out for the title. • Alastair Fisher swaps cars for season finale. • Swedish Evo Challenge driver Ramona Karlsson joins UK series for final round.
.121st September 2010

The sixth and final round of the 2010 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge takes place this weekend, the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire hosting the finale for the series’ tenth consecutive season in the UK. And, after the five events held so far this year - two on gravel and three on asphalt - the battle for the title is now between two drivers: Jonny Greer and Daniel Sigurdarson.

Taking place on Friday and Saturday, the rally also hosts the final round of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship and, with it being the last event of the season, organisers have deemed that competitors will score one-and-a-half times the usual number of points. As such, there will be 30 points allocated for a win, rather than the usual 20.

In addition to leading the Evolution Challenge field, Greer - who will be co-driver by Dai Roberts - also tops the British Championship Drivers’ standings. His successful season has included an impressive three wins and two second places in the Mitsubishi series and therefore, he is in pole position to claim the title this weekend.

The only driver able to spoil Greer’s aspirations is Daniel Sigurdarson. Having scored two second places, two third places and one non-finish, he and co-driver Asta Sigurdardottir have to be the first of the Evolution Challenge runners home and will need Greer not to finish if the Icelandic Champion is to lift the crown.

The event will also be the decider for the co-driver’s title, Roberts and Sigurdardottir the two in line for the trophy.

A driver that could so easily have been fighting for the title is Alastair Fisher. However, three non-finishes eliminated any chance he had of winning the 2010 series, although he’s shown he has pace to do it by winning on two occasions.  For this event, Fisher and his co-driver Rory Kennedy have stepped out of their usual Evolution IX and into an Evolution X, having accepted to invitation to drive JRM’s new ‘National’ specification Group N car which makes its competitive debut this weekend.

Making a welcome visit to the UK is Swedish Evolution Challenge competitor Ramona Karlsson. She and co-driver Miriam Walfridsson are another who have swapped cars and will be driving an Evo IX on loan from Kick Energy boss and regular rally competitor Steve Perez. Although an experienced driver in her home country, this will be Karlsson’s debut in the UK.

The Trackrod Rally Yorkshire is based in Scarborough this year, with all of its 85-mile competitive route and nine stages taking place in the forests over the North Yorkshire Moors. The action gets underway at 7.00pm on Friday evening with one stage in Langdale Forest. This is followed by a further eight stages on Saturday before the finish in Scarborough at around 6.00 that evening.

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

For the first time this season the winner of the Evolution Challenge in the 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. Added to this, the winning driver in the UK will be a guaranteed nomination for the Pirelli Star Driver shoot-out.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge UK - Round six entries
4 Alastair Fisher (Trillick)/Rory Kennedy (Letterkenny)
6 Jonny Greer (Carryduff)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen)            
9 Daniel Sigurdarson (Iceland)/Asta Sigurdardottir (Iceland)
20 Ramona Karlsson (Sweden)/Miriam Walfridsson (Sweden)
 
Series standings after round five
Drivers
1 Jonny Greer 96
2 Daniel Sigurdarson 68
3 Alastair Fisher 40
4 Euan Thorburn 18
5= David Bogie 16
5= Owen Murphy 16
7 Peter Horsey 15
Co-drivers
1 Dai Roberts 76
2 Asta Sigurdardottir 68
3 Rory Kennedy 40
4 Paul Beaton 18
5= Kevin Rae 16
5= James O’Brien 16

ENDS

Photo caption
If all goes well for Jonny Greer and co-driver Dai Roberts in this weekend’s Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, they will become the tenth crew to become UK Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Champions (copyright free image).