Stuart Jones, together with his co-driver Craig Parry, won this weekend’s round two of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, the Jim Clark International Rally. He now leads the Championship by two points.

Jones is no stranger to winning the one-make series for production specification Lancer Evolutions. Having won five rounds in 2005 he again proved his pace this weekend with his first victory since the series has moved to the highly competitive arena of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship.

The rally started from Kelso in the Scottish Borders and featured a competitive route of 150 miles on closed public roads around Berwickshire, the event split into six timed special stages on Friday and a further 15 on Saturday. As well as the Evolution Challenge, the rally also hosted round two of the British Championship and round five of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship.

Carrying on from where he left off, round one winner Gwyndaf Evans immediately went into the lead, ahead of the seven other Evolution Challenge competitors entered and, after the first loop of three stages on Saturday, Evans pulled out an advantage of just over 10 seconds ahead of Phillip Morrow and Jonny Milner.

At this point Jones was out of the running, his car was not handling as he had expected. Others reported similar issues - including Evans, but it was Shaun Gallagher who was the first Evo Challenge runner to pull-out, when his car’s fuel pump stopped working on the way out of the service area.

After a repeat of the first three stages, competitors returned to the service park for the overnight halt. Evans was still in the Evo Challenge lead, now 21 seconds ahead of Morrow, who’s car had lost third gear. Milner was next, a further four seconds behind and surprised he wasn’t further up the field, with Jones now fourth and getting quicker, having adjusted his Mitsubishi’s suspension.

Young Ulsterman Connor McCloskey was determined to have a good run, but his intentions were spoilt when he clipped a kerb bending his car’s rear suspension and smashing a brake caliper, requiring him to drive Friday’s final three stages with little or no brakes!

Evans continued to set the Evo Challenge pace for the first five of Saturday’s 15 stages and looked in-line to take his second series win in a row. But on SS12 the experienced Welshman was given no choice but to retire, when his car’s rear differential cried enough.

Armed with a new gearbox Morrow was back on the pace but had collected a 50 second penalty after leaving the service area late when the repairs over-ran the allotted time. This allowed Milner to take the lead when Evans retired, with Jones now second and just 30 seconds behind the leader.

Unfortunately for Morrow his charge back up the field was short-lived. He clipped the wall of the bridge on the approach to Langton Ford, removing the nearside front wheel in the process and although making it to the end of the stage, his car would go no further.

Then, on stage 16, it was Milner’s turn for misfortune. Just after the start he collected a puncture and opted to stop and change the wheel. He then landed heavily after the jump at Swinton crossroads, breaking his car’s rear suspension, the sum total of which cost him three minutes and dropped him to third behind Neil McCance, who was in contrast enjoying a trouble-free run.

Milner’s woes subsequently increased when the repairs took longer than expected and he collected a 2.5 minute penalty for being late out of service.

Having discovered a blown fuse, Shaun Gallagher had re-joined the hunt on Saturday under ‘Super-Rally’ regulations, but a sticking throttle on SS16 forced him off the road, into a tree and out of the event.

Also enduring a frustrating rally was Stephen Petch. After encountering a few handling issues on Friday, his car’s centre differential was not as active as it should have been on Saturday afternoon and his progress slowed considerably as an effect.

All this drama saw Jones elevated to the front, a position he maintained for the remainder of the rally. McCance recorded his highest ever Evolution Challenge finish with a fine second place and McCloskey’s perseverance was rewarded with a well-deserved third.

“After a slow start on Friday I have to admit I’m a little surprised to have won this weekend.” said Jones at the finish. “However, I’m delighted to take my first Evo Challenge victory of the season – it’s just like old times. I’m also pleased that we’re now leading the championship.”

The Evolution Challenge offers driver the best prize in British motorsport – the chance to become a Mitsubishi works driver in the British Rally Championship. The series is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK Ralliart and sees the continued support of its associate sponsors: Walon, Pirelli, PIAA, Speedline Corse, Shell and Mintex.

2006 Evolution Challenge Round Two
Jim Clark Intnerantional Rally – Results
1st Stuart Jones (Welshpool)/Craig Parry (Llanymynech) – 2:12:43.2
2nd Neil McCance (Comber)/Sean Moriarty (Kerry) – 2:15:48.1
3rd Connor McCloskey (Kilrea)/Crawford Henderson (Portrush) – 2:24:59.4
4th Jonny Milner (Huggate)/Nick Beech (Lewknor) – 2:38:03.3
5th Stephen Petch (Richmond)/Michael Williamson (Tow Law) – 2:54:03.9
6th Phillip Morrow (Lisburn)/Daniel Barritt (Burnley) – 3:22:02.4
7th Shaun Gallagher (Letterkenny)/Charlie McGinty (Letterkenny) – 4:02:20.0

Retirements

SS12 Gwyndaf Evans (Dinas Mawddwy)/Huw Lewis (Machynlleth) – Transmission

Championship Positions

Drivers
1st Stuart Jones - 21 points
2nd Jonny Milner - 19 points
=3rd Phillip Morrow - 15 points
=3rd Neil McCance - 15 points
=3rd Connor McCloskey - 15 points
6th Gwyndaf Evans - 14 points
7th Shaun Gallagher - 13 points
8th Stephen Petch - 12 points

Co-drivers
1st Nicky Beech - 22 points
2nd Craig Parry - 21 points
3rd Daniel Barritt - 18 points
4th Charlie McGinty - 15 points
5th Huw Lewis - 14 points
=5th Michael Wilkinson - 14 points
7th Damien Connelly - 6 points
8th Sean Ferris - 4 points


 

Updated10 July 2006
Webmaster - Jim Paterson