Fermanagh's Richard Cathcart and his Meath co driver Martin Brady have moved into the joint lead of the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge as the championship moved past the half way point on the recent Severn Valley Stages in Wales.

Cathcart has arguably been the pacesetter of the year with 20 fastest stage times in the category out of a possible 41 stages. Bad luck and misfortune have on occasion hampered Richard, brake failure on the opening round reduced him to 3 working brakes yet despite the obvious disadvantage he still kept the car on the straight and narrow to set fastest times and score valuable points. Round 2 in Scotland saw Richard and Martin score their maiden victory in the Evo challenge when on an incident free Border Counties rally they controlled the pace and took the win and an excellent 3rd overall amongst the WRC cars.

The Manx proved to be a tale of woe for the rapid Cathcart, he and Brady had shown their tarmac capabilities on November's Rally Ireland where they won the Group N class and finished 3rd to the world championship registered Group N crews and they continued this pace on the Manx lanes. With 2 stages to go and a 41 second lead in the Evo Challenge while holding 4th overall, contact with a simple concrete water gully on the inside of a fast corner was to wipe out their advantage in a split second, the damage caused was to prove terminal and although reaching the finish of the rally and setting a 3rd overall time on the last stage with the ill handling car, the puncture had caused enough time loss to put them over maximum allowed lateness and the result was gone and it was a case of what may have been.

Still reeling from the last minute drama of the Manx the crew and their David Greer Motorsport team traveled to the Severn valley stages in Wales and set about regaining momentum to their championship challenge. Cautiously they tackled the opening stages and were 3rd placed Mitsubishi by the first service halt. Tyres were a difficult choice in the sweltering heat and the coarse gravel stages. Whichever choice was made there was still a niggling doubt that the other option may have been better and Richard felt that something was not right and he wasn't driving at his best for once, in service the Greer mechanics discovered damage to the cars intercooler and this gave some explanation as to why the times were not at the customary top of the sheets. An intercom problem in the last loop of stages caused further time loss but Richard and Martin reached the finish ramp happy to get that far and to finish second to David Bogie after Keith Cronin dropped back late in the day with exhaust damage.

At the finish ceremony Richard commented "It was a difficult day today and I just didn't feel I drove my best and the times were not what they would normally be, sure we had a few wee problems but at least we got to the finish and after the Manx we know how important that it is. I'm happy now that we drove for the finish today and the points have got us back up to the top of the standings"

Martin reflected on their result by saying "it was an odd sort of a day we just didn't find the groove early in the morning and were maybe too cautious which normally we wouldn't be, but the confidence was knocked a bit in the Manx, the DGM lads fixed the intercooler which did make a difference but by then the sensible thing to do was hold station and take points, I'm glad we are finished as my voice is almost gone from shouting thanks to a faulty intercom!!"

The pair are now joint leading the Evo Challenge and 3rd Grp N in the Ancro championship so there is still much left to play for and many miles to do it, expect it to be spectacular and sideways!

Richard Cathcart & Martin Brady are supported by www.frcathcartltd.com and Irelands Home Interiors and Living.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge is backed by Mitsubishi Motors UK and Ralliart, with support from its associate sponsors: Pirelli tyres, Speedline Corse wheels, Sparco racewear, Performance Friction Brakes, Sunoco Race Fuels, ADR Motorsport, Walkinshaw Performance and PIAA lights