The inaugural round of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge in Ireland kicks off with the Safety Direct Galway International Rally this weekend – 2nd & 3rd February, when registered crews will be battling to be the first ever winner of the all-Irish, all-asphalt series.

The Galway Rally marks a significant point in the history of the official one-make championship for Group N Lancer Evolutions, as it hosts the first Evolution Challenge event ever to be held outside Britain.

About to start its eighth consecutive season, the UK championship features a calendar of mainly gravel surface events, whilst the Irish series includes six tarmac rallies, with competitors counting their best five scores towards their final points total.

Organisers are delighted to report a great deal of interest from Irish Mitsubishi competitors and, with 12 teams already registered, it is expected that this figure will rise before the action starts next Saturday.

Leading the Evolution Challenge charge on this event is reigning Irish Tarmac Production Class Champion Colm Murphy, who will be driving a James Foley Rallysport prepared Evo IX.

Murphy is followed by a trio of junior (under 25) drivers, the increasingly impressive Damien Tourish, 2006 Billy Coleman award winner Owen Murphy and 2007 Fiesta ST UK Champion Jonny Greer, all out to further their careers by joining the Mitsubishi series.

Regular Irish Tarmac competitors Tom Curley and Stanley Ballentine are next in line followed by Alan Carmichael, who switches to the Irish Evo Challenge for 2008, having contested a full season in the UK Mitsubishi championship last year.

Although a bit further down the field, strong performances are also expected from Brendan Cumiskey, Darren Caldwell, Michael Murray, Andrew Connor and Michael Cunningham, all of them destined to score far better than their seeding suggests.

“Being the first ever round of the Evolution Challenge outside of the UK makes this weekend’s event a very exciting prospect”, said Evo Challenge Manager Simon Slade. “We are delighted by the quality of entries we have received and will have even more crews joining us for the second round.”

The 2008 Safety Direct Galway Rally starts from Eyre Square in Galway and features eight stages on Saturday and a further six on Sunday, totalling a combined competitive distance of 211 kms.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland is supported by: Sunoco fuel, Pirelli tyres, Mitsubishi Motors Ireland, Performance Friction Brakes, Speedline Corse wheels, PIAA lights (sponsors of the junior award), 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 Round 1 entries

Start no.          Driver (home town)/Co-driver (home town)             
19                    Colm Murphy (Dublin)/Ger Loughrey (Limerick)
30                    Damien Tourish (Ballyboley)/Domhall McAlleney (Letterkenny) J
31                    Owen Murphy (Kileria)/Greg Shinnors (Limerick) J
32                    Jonny Greer (Carryduff)/Jonathan Hart (Newtownards) J
40                    Tom Curley (Oranmore)/Paul Horan (Ballygluan)
42                    Stanley Ballentine (Strabane)/Richard Hyland (Omagh)
44                    Alan Carmichael (Ballymena)/Ivor Lamont (Ballymena)
50                    Brendan Cumiskey (Dundalk)/TBA
87                    Darren Caldwell (Navan)/Martin Costello (Trim)
89                    Michael Murray (Longford)/Aidan Mannion (Kilcolgan)
117                  Andrew Connor (Downings) /Kevin Connor (Downings)
125                  Michael Cunningham (Galway)/Alvin Mulroe (Galway)