2008 Billy Coleman award winner Keith Cronin is to tackle the UK EVO challenge in 2008. The assault on the challenge was announced by the Cronin Motorsport team this week.

Team manager Danny Cronin said “ The EVO Challenge is the next obvious step for Keith.With the fantastic Group N results posted by him in 2007 it’s time to look at the pace in the UK and we expect Keith will be on the pace from the word go.His pace on the Swansea Bay Rally during 2007 only proved what we knew here on the team anyway,the fact that his times were so close to the eventual GP N winner on the event before his forced retirement was very encouraging,particularily as he was competing in an EVO 7 against much newer machinery and he was on new territory as well.We see this as the start of a three year plan that will hopefully pay dividends for Keith and help him reach his goal of a drive in the WRC.”

The team has ordered a brand new EVO 9 for Keith, which they hope to take delivery of within the next couple of months and also plan to do selected Tarmac rounds in Ireland as the calendar allows.

The UK EVO Challenge 2008 kicks off in with Rallye Sunseeker on the 22/23rd of February and is followed by the Border Counties on the 15th of March,the RBSI Manx Rally on the 9th/10th of May,the Severn Valley on the 31st of May,the Swansea Bay on the 19th of July,the Ulster Rally on the 22nd/23rd of August and finally the Bulldog Rally on October 18th.

It has already been announced by the team that Denis Cronin will contest the entire Hankook Tyres National Forest Rally Championship in his Subaru Impreza WRC and will also do selected tarmac rounds in the now famous ex-works BMW M3.

There will be a chance to hopefully see both Denis and Keith in action once
More before the year ends as the team plan to take part in the Cork Motor Club promoted Rally Sprint in The Pike,Dungarvan,Co.Waterford on the 30th of December.