PRESS INFORMATION –25th April 2010

MITSUBISHI RALLIART EVOLUTION CHALLENGE UK - ROUND 2 REPORT

Jonny Greer and co-driver Dai Roberts recorded their second Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge win of the season on this weekend’s Pirelli International Rally, round two of the official series for Group N Lancers and the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship. With their performance also seeing them finish in second place overall, they now lead both the Evolution Challenge and the British Championship.

Based at Carlisle Racecourse, at which the start, finish and service area were located, the competitive element of the rally took place entirely within Kielder Forest. Starting on Friday evening, the route saw three stages ran in the dark with a further nine during the course of Saturday, the total of which provided 100 miles of dry and dusty gravel roads.

With the leaders now over half-a-minute ahead of the Icelandic siblings before the final trio of stages, it was only a problem that would see the positions change. But a faultless drive over the final loop meant that Greer/Roberts were to cross the line one-minute 15 seconds ahead of Sigurdarson/Sigurdadottir, their strategy of keeping out of trouble paying off.

And, as others around them fell foul of punctures or problems, they also finished in an impressive second place overall, a result which means they not only top the Evolution Challenge standings, but the British Rally Championship as well.

“This is a great result for us”, said Greer. “For a moment I was worried if we would make it on Friday evening when we the gearbox problem, but other than that the car ran perfectly. With the surface really punishing the tyres and others having problems in the closing stages, all we had to do was keep away from punctures and maintain a good pace, so things couldn't have worked out better for us.”

The third round of both the Evolution Challenge and the British Championship sees the surface change to asphalt, when the crews tackle the lanes of Berwickshire and the Jim Clark Rally, which takes place on 29th & 30th May.

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 2 results
1 Jonny Greer (Carryduff)/Dai Roberts (Carmarthen) 1:30:31.2
2 Daniel Sigurdarson (Iceland)/Asta Sigurdardottir (Iceland) 1:31:46.1
3 Owen Murphy (Cork)/James O’Brien (Cork) 1:33:33.4
 
Retirements
SS2 David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Radiator
SS7 Alastair Fisher (Trillick)/Rory Kennedy (Letterkenny) Transmission
 
Series standings
Drivers
1 Jonny Greer 40
2 Daniel Sigurdarson 36
3= David Bogie 16
3= Owen Murphy 16
5 Peter Horsey 15

Co-drivers
1 Dai Roberts 40
2 Asta Sigurdardottir 36
3= Kevin Rae 16
3= James O’Brien 16

ENDS

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Jonny Greer and co-driver Dai Roberts recorded their second Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge UK victory of the season when they won round two on this weekend’s Pirelli International Rally (copyright free image).