End of Evo Challenge hits young drivers

THE demise of Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge both here and in Britain is a major blow, particularly to the young drivers, as it provided a perfect launching pad to their careers.

The British campaign ran for 10 consecutive years whilst the Irish series had a three-year tenure. Irish drivers had considerable success in the British campaign with Brendan Crealey (2003), Rory Galligan (2004), Phillip Morrow (2007), Daniel Barry (2009) and Jonny Greer (2010) winning titles. Navan co-driver, partnered David Bogie when the Scottish ace won in 2008 and last year, was co-driver to Wicklow’s Danny Barry.

Some 150 different crews registered for the UK series during its 10-year history — reckoned to be the only manufacturer-backed series that has run continuously for this length of time in Britain.

Meanwhile, the Swedish Evolution Challenge will continue for its fourth season. Additional support has been pledged as the series is set to increase in popularity with competitors.

The winners of the Irish series were Brendan Cumiskey (2008 and 2010) and Neil McCance (2009).

All three events scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled due to the weather conditions.

Tomorrow’s MEC Sporting Trial at Russellstown, Blessington and the same club’s Rallysprint at Mondello Park due to take place on Sunday have both been called off.

A club spokesperson stated they will discuss the possibility of rescheduling the event with the Rallies Committee.

Meanwhile, the Carbery Navigation Trial that was due to take place tomorrow night in Dunmanway has also been postponed. The organisers, the Skibbereen & District Car Club took the decision on safety grounds.

The Killarney and District Motor Club have sought the opinions of crews that were due to compete in last week’s Kenmare Historic Rally that also fell victim to the weather.

The Killarney organisers are hoping to reschedule the event for Saturday, January 22. It seems that this is the only suitable date available during the month of January.

The prize-giving for the Southern 4 Rally Championship takes place in Skibbereen on January 8 and the Autosport Show at the NEC in Birmingham that attracts great Irish interest takes place the following weekend.

Although the January 22 date clashes with the Cork 1000 Shakes Navigation Trial, a round of the national series, the Cork Motor Club have no objection to the proposal.

With the Kenmare event the opening round of the 2011 Irish Tarmac Historic Rally Championship, there is little scope given that the Galway International hosts the second round on the first weekend in February.

The promoters of the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship will run three training sessions for registered competitors in 2011.

It remains to be seen if Irish rally championship organisers will follow their example. The first session will centre on pace-note making, team dynamic in the car before and during rallies. The second training day will be geared towards drivers wishing to learn and develop their tarmac (asphalt) driving skills.

The third and final training session, the BRC training camp, takes place in Finland. The week-long event will involve the run-up to one of the Finnish Rally Championship events.

PEUGEOT will have a strong presence in next month’s Monte Carlo Rally that kick starts the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Ten Peugeot 207 S2000s will line up for the 100th anniversary of the “Monte”. The IRC regulars, Peugeot UK’s Guy Wilks, who makes his debut for the team; Peugeot Belgium’s Thierry Neuville; Peugeot Portugal’s Bruno Magalhaes will all be joined by World Rally star Petter Solberg, Bryan Bouffier and Stéphane Sarrazin. All the top cars will be the latest Peugeot 207 S2000 Evolution. The team is hoping to repeat the lockout of the top three places they secured in the 2009 Monte Carlo rally.

lMotor Sport Ireland and the Irish Sports Council have announced that the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel has determined that John Reilly, an athlete affiliated to Motor Sport Ireland, has committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The panel found that Reilly tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolite or marker, boldenone, in a sample of his urine collected during testing at Mondello Park on July 18, 2010.

Reilly’s results in the race are automatically disqualified. Reilly has also been sanctioned, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days, by the imposition on him of a period of ineligibility for two years.