Next weekend’s Quality Hotels West Cork Rally hosts the second round of the Irish Mitsubishi Raliart Evolution Challenge, which sees eight of the ten registered Evo Challenge contenders entered for this highly popular event, which is also a round of the national Irish Tarmac Championship.

With first round winner Brendan Cumiskey not able to compete, due to a date clash with his sister’s wedding, the high-profile one-make series for Group N (production specification) Mitsubishi Lancers is destined to see a different winner this time round. Also having to miss this event is Michael Murray business commitments not allowing him to build on his fifth place from last time out.

Aiming to put the record straight after leading the Evo Challenge field for two-thirds of round one, the Galway Rally, reigning Group N Irish Tarmac Rally Champion Colm Murphy is the first of the Mitsubishi runners away and hopes that transmission troubles will not spoil his chances of getting his Evo Challenge title hopes back on track.

He is followed by Owen Murphy, who also led round one for a while, before being delayed by a puncture and therefore the Cork driver will be looking to make the most of his local knowledge and the support he’ll get from competing on his home ground.

Next of the Evo Challenge runners is Alan Carmichael, who finished third in Galway and having been pleased with his performance, will be looking for another podium finish. He is followed by Damian Tourish, who makes his debut with the championship having had to miss round one after suffering an injury the week before the event.

Tom Curley posted a solid fourth place last time out and is the fourth Evo Challenge seed this weekend, whilst behind him, Damien Caldwell will be looking to put his round-one misfortunes aside and build on what started out as a strong performance in Galway.

Stanley Ballantine follows and is another who hopes for better things this time out, intending to put his previous turbo and transmission problems aside. Liam McFall follows Ballantine and, having missed round one because of other rallying commitments, is another who makes his debut in the Evolution Challenge this weekend.

Adding to the prize fund and becoming a sponsor of the 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge in Ireland is the country’s leading supplier of race and rally equipment, Dublin-based Murray Motorsport (www.murraymotorsport.ie).

“We are delighted to be sponsoring the Evolution Challenge”, said Sales Manager Eoin Murray. “We see this as a great opportunity for increased publicity and in particular, the promotion of Proflex suspension and Sparco racewear, as Murray Motorsport are distributors for these products in Southern Ireland.”

The West Cork Rally is based in Clonakilty and features eight stages on Saturday followed by a further nine stages on Sunday, the total of which provides competitors with an overall distance of 240 competitive kilometres.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland is supported by: Sunoco Racing Fuels, Pirelli tyres, Mitsubishi Motors Ireland, Performance Friction Brakes, Speedline Corse wheels, PIAA lights, Murray Motorsport, Sparco racewear, Pacenotes and James Foley Rallysport, who are providing a Group N Lancer Evolution for the 2008 Champion to use in next year’s Rally Ireland.

Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland – Round 2
List of entries in start number order
7 Colm Murphy (Dublin)/Ger Loughrey (Limerick)
8 Owen Murphy (Cork)/James O’Brien (Cork)
40 Alan Carmichael (Ballymena)/Ivor Lamont (Ballymena)
41 Damien Tourish (Donegal)/Domnall McAlaney (Donegal)
42 Tom Curley (Oranmore)/Pat Cashman (Falway)
43 Darren Caldwell (Navan)/Martin Costello (Trim)
44 Stanley Ballentine (Strabane)/Richard Hyland (Omagh)
45 Liam McFall (N. Antrim)/Aidien Friel (N. Antrim)

Championship Positions after round 1
Pos. Name Points
Drivers
1 Brendan Cumiskey 12
2 Owen Murphy 10
3 Alan Carmaichael 8
4 Tom Curley 7
5 Michael Murray 6

Co-drivers
1 Peter O’Toole 12
2 Ivor Lamont 10
3 Paul Horan 8
4 Aidan Marrion 7