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 A jubilant Alan Carmichael and co-driver Ivor Lamont crossed the finish line of this weekend’s Quality Hotels West Cork Rally to win the second round of the Irish Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge and, in doing so, now lead the one-make championship for Group N Lancer Evolutions.
Second-placed Stanley Ballentine/Richard Hyland put up a fight to the finish following the demise of pace-setter Colm Murphy, who retired after leading for three-quarters of the event when he hit a wall on stage 13.
Based in Clonakilty, the two-day West Cork event is one of the most popular rallies in Southern Ireland and this year saw a total of 166 cars start the main event. Of these, the Evo Challenge accounted for six entries, the Mitsubishi field reduced on this occasion due to driver’s ill health, family or business commitments.
Saturday featured eight timed special stages with a service halt after every two and, as he had done in round one, Colm Murphy showed the rest of the Evo Challenge field – and in fact all other Group N runners - a clean pair of heels. Following two wet stages, he returned to the first service interval 40 seconds ahead of his nearest Mitsubishi rival Owen Murphy, having set a pace good enough to put him in third place overall.
Although second in the Evo Challenge, Owen Murphy was already having difficulties, a problem with his car’s centre differential forcing him to drive with just two-wheel-drive through SS2. After changing two driveshafts at the first service halt his team then replaced the car’s transfer box at the second and, although getting the car’s transmission back to working order, over seven minutes had been lost.
Hoping to use local knowledge to his advantage, the Cork 21 year old’s attempts to make up time came to an end when he found himself with no brakes at the end of a flat-out straight. He subsequently left the road, with the car coming to a standstill in a ditch with such impact, both he and co-driver James O’Brien were taken to hospital for a check up, but were thankfully released later that day with no more than severe bruising.
Also having problems - albeit not so drastic - during Saturday, was now second-placed Tom Curley, who’s car appeared to have a slipping clutch, Alan Carmichael was in third, even though his co-driver Ivor Lamont was becoming increasing un-well with a suspected bought of food poisoning.
Making his debut to the Mitsubishi series was Liam McFall who, after making a few adjustments to his car in the morning, was going well, until a blown turbo brought a premature end to his rally on SS5.
Positions after stage eight before the overnight night showed Colm Murphy well out in front of the Evo Challenge field – and holding a stunning second place overall. Carmichael was now second of the Mitsubishi runners after Curley’s transmission problems – and now a misfire - continued to effect his pace, with Ballentine having a good run and moved up to third.
Day two featured a similar format of eight stages split by a service halt after every two, with the added extra of a three km run very close to the host town as the final stage.
Colm Murphy continued as he had done throughout Saturday – right up until SS13 - when his car slid-wide and into a wall as he came into the section around Clonakilty Harbour, about two kms into the infamous Ring stage. With too much damage to the offside corner of his James Foley Rallysport Evo to continue, Murphy’s impressive run had come to an end, but not before the talented Dubliner has proved his potential.
This left Carmichael and Ballentine in first and second places – and with Ballentine getting more used to his new car he was now closing on Carmichael and the still un-well Lamont.
As they lined-up to start the 17th and final stage just five seconds separated the two front-runners. Both pushed as hard as they could, setting almost identical times, which meant that Carmichael crossed the line to take his first ever Evolution Challenge victory.
“I can believe I’ve won a round of the Evo Challenge” said an overwhelmed Carmichael at the finish.”Once I could see a chance of winning it was a case of 100% concentration and no mistakes, plus Ivor did a great job considering he was unwell, so this is an excellent result for us – especially as we now lead the championship.”
Carmichael’s performance also scooped him four Pirelli tyres, the Performance Friction Brakes Cup and the Sunoco Spirit Award – which was down to Lamont’s determination not to give up, even though he was feeling so un-well.
Ballentine was delighted to finish second, collect three Pirelli tyres, plus the Murray Motorsport Best Improvement on Seeding Award and the Best Prepared Car Award, whilst Curley was just relieved to get to the finish having had to drive around a series of un-traceable mechanical problems throughout the day.
The third round of the Irish Evolution Challenge takes place on 3rd & 4th May, when the Mitsubishi crews head to Killarney for the Rally of the Lakes.
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.
1 Alan Carmichael (Ballymena)/Ivor Lamont (Ballymena) 2:23:36.8
2 Stanley Ballentine (Strabane)/Richard Hyland (Omagh) 2:23:42.6
3 Tom Curley (Oranmore)/Pat Cashman (Falway) 2:47:47.4
SS5 Owen Murphy (Cork)/James O’Brien (Cork)
SS5 Liam McFall (N. Antrim)/Aidien Friel (N. Antrim)
SS13 Colm Murphy (Dublin)/Ger Loughrey (Limerick)
1 Alan Carmichael 20
2 Tom Curley 15
3 Brendan Cumiskey 12
4 Owen Murphy 10
5 Stanley Ballentine 10
6 Michael Murray 6
1 Ivor Lamont 22
2 Peter O’Toole 12
3 Richard Hyland 10
4 Paul Horan 8
5 Pat Cashman 8
6 Aidan Marrion 7
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