This weekend?s mid-Wales-based Severn Valley National Rally saw Lisburn brothers Phillip and Simon Morrow make it three Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge wins so far this year, the result extending their lead in the highly competitive one-make championship for Mitsubishi Lancers.

Starting and finishing at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground in Builth Wells, the rally featured six stages in the forests on the Brecon Beacons plus a 17-mile run through Radnor Forest ? the longest stage of the event.

Phillip was up against 16 other Evo Challenge crews and the rest of the National field and, following a hasty refurbishment of his car following last week?s Jim Clark Rally, he was looking forward to this event, the Welsh forests his preferred rallying location.

The dry weather meant that the forest roads were covered with a layer of loose gravel, making the fast and flowing stages extremely slippery in places. But this posed no problem to Phillip as he set off for the first two stages of the day.

However, his performance was compromised when he found his Evo unusually down on power and although third of the Mitsubishi runners, he was behind his main Evo Challenge rivals Julian Reynolds and Sebastian Ling.

At the first service halt his team took the opportunity to change his car?s turbo-charger and, with Radnor Forest ahead of him, Phillip knew that this next stage could be a deciding factor in the outcome of the results.

Not far from the start of the stage it was the turn of Reynolds? car to lose power, the fault traced to a split turbo-pipe. Ling also lost time when he caught the car ahead and was unable to see in the dust. In contrast, Phillip had a clear run and, with his Mitsubishi restored to full-power, he blasted through the stage to take a 30-second lead.

Following the second service halt, a further four stages in the forests in and around the Eppynt Military ranges remained. Besides the dust, Phillip could now taste victory and was in fine form, posting a stunning second overall stage time on SS6.

Try as he might, Ling knew that unless Morrow had a problem he was unlikely to catch him and, with no pressure from behind, he sensibly elected to hold station for the rest of the event. Reynolds was on a charge, looking to make up places following his SS3 frustrations ? which he did, but was too far behind to catch the flying Ulsterman.

At the finish, back in Builth Wells, Phillip crossed the line 37 seconds ahead of Ling and almost a minute ahead of Reynolds. His third win of the season sees him now four points ahead of the rest in the Evo Challenge standings and another step closer to the title.

?After a few problems this morning I thought I was going to have another one of those days?, said Morrow. ?But when the car was back to 100% I really got stuck in. It just goes to show that you mustn?t give up, as others have problems too. I?m very pleased, as this result really helps my championship position ? and that?s the most important thing, as my goal is to win the Mitsubishi works drive next year.?

Phillip and Simon?s performance was also good enough to see them win the event?s production class and finish in fourth place overall. Phillip also won the PIAA Junior and Gravel Championship awards for under 25 year old drivers.

The team now take a well-earned Summer break before the fifth round of the Evolution Challenge - the Swansea Bay Rally on 21st July.

Phillip?s 2007 campaign is supported by Morrow Fuels, Pirelli Tyres, Lyons European Haulage, Lagan Motor Factors, DGM Motorsport, Kelly?s Toyota, Proflex, PIAA, Speedline Corse, AMS gear kits, BADMC and RPM Promotions.