Lancer Register Forum banner

Latest news from the UK Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge

4K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  Pro-tec Motorsport 
#1 ·
Organisers of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge are delighted to confirm that 2008 Champion David Bogie will receive a full season’s drive in this year’s British Rally Championship. The award is jointly supported by Mitsubishi Motors UK, JR Motorsports and other sponsors.

The young Scot will drive a brand new Group N Lancer Evolution X built by JR Motorsports (formally ADR Motorsport), the team that prepared and ran the works cars for Mitsubishi UK since 2004. On hearing the news of his award Bogie said:

“I’m absolutely over the moon. Although the decision was a long-time coming, as it’s turned-out it was well worth waiting for. Competing in the British Championship in a new Evo X is a really exciting prospect and a great opportunity. It’s exactly what I was hoping for.”

The confirmation of this award comes a week after the announcement that the Mitsubishi UK works team would not be competing this year and ends speculation as to the extent of the prize for winning the 2008 Evolution Challenge.

Following on from this, Mitsubishi UK has confirmed that the prize for winning the 2009 Championship will be a brand new Lancer Evolution X RS, which can also be redeemed towards a similar award to that of David Bogie’s. Further adding to the Evo Challenge prize fund, MMUK will be awarding prize-money vouchers, Pirelli tyres and other awards on each round and at the end of the season.

“I am delighted that we are now able to announce the awards for both 2008 and 2009”, said Evo Challenge Coordinator Simon Slade. “I am also pleased to confirm that the Evolution Challenge will continue for its ninth consecutive season and still offer some of the best prizes available in UK rallying.”

This year’s Evolution Challenge calendar will feature eight rounds, six with the MSA National Gravel Championship, plus two with the British Championship. It includes six loose and two asphalt surface rallies.
Competitors will nominate seven events and count their best six scores.

2009 Calendar
1 February 27-28 Rallye Sunseeker Nat
2 March 21 Border Counties Nat
3 April 18 Pirelli Tour of Cumbria Nat
4 May 8-9 RBSI Manx National Rally Nat
5 May 30 Severn Valley National Nat
6 July 18 Swansea Bay Rally Nat
7 August 21-22 Ulster Rally Int
8 September 26 Rally Yorkshire Int
 
See less See more
#2 ·
This is an excellent opportunity for our young Scottish star David Bogie to have a crack at the BRC rounds, unlike the 2007 Evolution winner, N. Ireland’s Phillip Morrow, who had an unfortunate debut on the BRC series last year, where he was placed in the difficult position of being under pressure to score manufacturer points, and had to part company with the team half way through the championship following a series of crashes. However David with no manufacturer points at stake this year is under no pressure whatsoever other than to enjoy the experience the prize now gives him.

This year will be a development year in the UK for the E10, I’m sure JR Motorsport (formally ADR) who will have access to Mitsubishi Ralliart development of the car in Japan will do their best to provide a competitive machine for David, Although still to be confirmed, I understand Guy Wilks will be on hand to help with development the car David will be driving, So David in turn will benefit from Guys experience in learning how the development of the car progresses during the year, which can only help his own future driving ambitions.

Mitsubishi have taken a lot of flak especially by some people on Rally forums, people who in the main are ignorant to the full facts surrounding Morrow’s sacking and the ongoing saga over the steering column eligibility, and are all to quick to join any “Lynching Party” and who all too quickly forget just how much Mitsubishi UK have supported rallying over the years when other manufacturers have long since deserted our rally championships.

Mitsubishi could quite easily have given David some lesser prize and walked away, but many people have been working hard to pull off this deal for the last couple of months, and also a solid commitment has been made in terms of what this years Evo winner will receive.

These are very difficult trading times for the Motor industry and instead of constantly knocking Mitsubishi, please give them a little bit of credit where it is due for coming through with this deal.

On a personal note, We of course wish David all the best in his progression to the BRC and a new team, We are very proud to have helped him win his first major rally title, Although he did give us some heart stopping moments along the way with his flamboyant driving style !

But we are not parting company completely with David just yet, we will continue to run him on this years Scottish Rally Championship where he will compete in a Pro-Tec Motorsport GpN E9.

This year looks like it will be exciting rally championships with a good selection of up and coming young drivers taking part in both the BRC and Scottish Rally Championships. I think rally spectators are in for some very close fierce competition from the young chargers.
 
#4 ·
I think this is fantastic news for both David Bogie and Mitsubishi. Although not a full works factory team, with the current financial fiascal its great to see Mitsubishi haven't thrown in the towel completely.

I just hope the EVO X is competitive enough to give Higgins another run for his money. :D
 
#5 · (Edited)
It as to be understood of course that the Evo X will be under development this year,so we can't expect too much from it to begin with,but early indications from the engine management guys are very positive that once it is sorted in the chassis dept. it will be more competitive than the E9,
One of the main issues to address will be finding a way of loosing some weight off it,currently it is 20kg to heavy..!
 
#6 ·
Shhhh....Don't tell anyone but Mark Higgins was driving one of our E9's last Monday during a test session ....;)

Seriously, although he has been misguided by driving a Subaru of late..:sick:

Mark is a really nice guy and one hell of a good driver,I hope he gets a deal sorted to be present on the BRC this year..:smthumbup
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top