Round four of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland, the City North Hotel ALMC Stages Rally, saw Damien Tourish and co driver Domhall McAlleny record their first ever victory in the one-make series for Group N (production class) Mitsubishi Lancers. Owen Murphy and James O’Brian were pleased to finish second with a car that was down on power all day and, winner of rounds one and three, Brendan Cumiskey, with co-driver Conor Foley, finished third following an eventful rally.

Round four of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge Ireland, the City North Hotel ALMC Stages Rally, saw Damien Tourish and co driver Domhall McAlleny record their first ever victory in the one-make series for Group N (production class) Mitsubishi Lancers.

Owen Murphy and James O’Brian were pleased to finish second with a car that was down on power all day and, winner of rounds one and three, Brendan Cumiskey, with co-driver Conor Foley, finished third following an eventful rally.

ALMC Stages is the only one-day event in this year’s Irish Mitsubishi Championship calendar and featured a three-stage loop, run three times, which provided the capacity entry – which included nine Evo Challenge teams - with a competitive distance of 129 kilometres.

Based 30 kms north of Dublin, the event started on Sunday morning from its sponsor’s hotel, the overnight rain making grip on the the first loop of stages very unpredictable – most drivers opting for wet-weather tyres.

Having not driven the car for two months since round three in Killarney - whilst the team had been trying to cure an ECU fault - Murphy/O’Brien surprised even themselves, when the clock showed them ahead of Tourish/McAlleny by two seconds. However, on stage two, positions were reversed, when Murphy’s car developed a misfire.

With stage three cancelled due to a local farmer not being as happy as he could be about the rally passing his land, crews returned to service with stories of the slippery conditions. Stanley Ballentine/Richard Hyland were the first to be caught out, when their car slid off the road on the very first corner and became beached on the edge of a ditch for nearly a minute. They claimed that they would have got out to push, but they didn’t like the look of the nettles that surrounded the car!

Michael Murray/Aiden Mannion were slowed when their car’s differential pump stopped working during the first stage, whilst Tom Curley/Brian Miller reported to have clipped a bank in SS2, although Curley was delighted that the electrical gremlins that had plagued him for rounds two and three had finally disappeared.

The first Evo Challengers to leave the chase were Darren Caldwell/Martin Costello, who were concerned with the feel of their car’s transmission, spun and, on selecting reverse, broke something serious in the gearbox. As they carried on to the end of the stage they were caught by both Ballentine/Hyland and Carmichael/Lamont, but in the end, had no choice but to retire in what was their return to the Evolution Challenge following an appearance in Galway.

Having started the day cautiously, Colm Murphy/Brian Duggan picked up the pace on SS4 and, as the weather improved and the roads dried out, pulled ahead of Tourish/McAlleny by one second – their move to slick tyres proving to be the right choice. Now in the groove, they continued to set fastest Evo Challenge times on both stages five and six and entered the second service halt leading by 21 seconds.

Murphy/O’Brien were now third, with Carmichael/Lamont elevated to fourth when Cumiskey/Foley rearranged the front of their Evo after hitting a bale when their intercom failed in stage six.

With the final loop of three stages remaining, it looked as though Colm Murphy would finally claim the victory that had eluded him all season. However, when he arrived at the start of SS7 – still on slicks - to find the roads soaking wet and his car’s differential pump not working, he and Duggan realised it would be no easy task. Trying to strike a balance between maintaining a pace which would keep them in the lead, whilst staying mindful of the conditions, they overshot a junction and then got stuck in a ditch. After being pushed out by spectators, they consequently found themselves a minute down on Tourish/McAlleny.

Cumiskey also fell foul of the wet roads of SS7 and matched the damage to the front of his car with that of the rear, when he spun backwards into a tree near the end of the stage. However, this was top be the last stage for Ballentine/Hyland, who clipped a bale, then a stone pillar and a wall, when their car locked-up under braking for a chicane – at over 100mph! Fortunately, both crew members emerged unscathed and, although damaged, their once pristine Evo could well have been worse!

With a return to dry roads for stages eight and nine, Murphy/Duggan went on a mission to claw-back time, but it was not to be, when their car clipped a bridge wall, breaking a front wheel in the process. After changing the wheel at the side of the road, they were able to carry on to the end of the event but, with so much time being lost, Murphy was again robbed of victory.

Taking a calculated approach in the latter stages of the rally, Tourish/McAllenny were able to cruise to their very first and well-deserved Evo Challenge victory, whilst Murphy/O’Brien overcome the frustrations of their lesser-powered car to finish a fine second.

In what has now become customary, Cumiskey/Foley threw caution to the wind on the final stage - claiming that they only had their car’s four doors left to damage - and stormed through to take third from Carmichael/Lamont, who’s fourth place was enough to see them maintain the championship lead.

Curley/Miller drove well and were satisfied to finish fifth, as were Murry/Mannion who claimed sixth – but not so for Murphy/Duggan who ended their day in seventh.

“It was a tough event, but I enjoyed it”, said Tourish at the finish. “I’m delighted to claim my first Evo Challenge win and, following a second place in Killarney, means that I’m now in with a shot at the title.”

Tourish also won Group N, finished fifth overall and picked up the PIAA junior award for under 25 year old drivers.

There is now a break of two months, when the Irish Evolution Challenge resumes with round five in Wexford on 6th & 7th September.

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 4
Results
1 Damien Tourish (Donegal)/Domhall McAllaney (Donegal) 0:59:40
2 Owen Murphy (Cork)/ James O’Brien (Cork) 1:00:16
3 Brendan Cumiskey (Dundalk)/Conor Foley (Ballinode) 1:01:14
4 Alan Carmichael (Ballymena)/Ivor Lamont (Ballymena) 1:01:24
5 Tom Curley (Oranmore)/Brian Miller (Leixlip) 1:03:08
6 Michael Murray (Longford)/Aidan Mannion (Kilcolgan) 1:06:14
7 Colm Murphy (Dublin)/Brian Duggan (Tim Healey Pass) 1:12:08
Retirements
SS1 Darren Caldwell (Navan)/Martin Costello (Trim)
SS7 Stanley Ballentine (Strabane)/Richard Hyland (Omagh)

Championship Positions after round 4
Drivers
1 Alan Carmichael 34
2 Brendan Cumiskey 32
3 Damien Tourish 22
4 Tom Curley 21
5 Owen Murphy 20
6 Stanley Ballentine 18
7 Michael Murray 16
8 Liam McFall 6
9 Colm Murphy 4

Co-drivers
1 Ivor Lamont 36
2 Domhall McAllaney 22
3 Conor Foley 20
4 Richard Hyland 18
5 Aidan Mannion 18
6 Peter O’Toole 12
7 James O’Brien 10
8 Paul Horan 8
9 Pat Cashman 8
10 Brian Miller 6
11 Brian Duggan 4