Enniskerry rally driver Daniel Barry, together with his co-driver Mark Bowens from Castlemartr, finished a hard-fought second place in round two of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, which took place this weekend on the Brick and Steel Border Counties Rally.

With this being the second time Daniel and Mark have claimed the runners-up spot this season, it mean that they now lead the one make championship for Group N (production specification) Mitsubishis, two points ahead of their closest rivals Richard Cathcart and co-driver Martin Brady.

After an excellent performance in round one, the Bournemouth based Rallye Sunseeker, Daniel was raring to go this weekend, but with all of the stages taking place in Kielder Forest, which is renowned for its arduous and un-forgiving nature, the 23-year old knew he had a tough task ahead.

As well as the Evolution Challenge, the rally also hosted a round of the Pirelli MSA National Gravel and the County Saab Scottish Rally Championships, which meant that the entry list saw over 140 cars taking part.

Starting from the Borders town of Jedburgh, Daniel set-off to start the first of seven stages - and sixty competitive miles - with a cautious approach. Following a controlled run he was pleased to find himself third in the Mitsubishi standings and eighth overall.

Then, on stage two, the two Evolution Challenge drivers ahead of him, round one winner David Bogie and Icelandic Rally Champion Daniel Sigurdarson, both went off the road in the slippery conditions. Cathcart, on the other hand, was on a charge and edged ahead of Daniel in stage two – albeit by just two seconds.

In the next two stages Daniel fought back, but he too was caught out by the lack of grip on the gravel forest roads and in both stages the car spun, which dropped him 27 seconds behind the leader.

With the surprise onset of un-seasonal snow falls during the remaining stages, try as he might, Daniel could not catch Cathcart, even though he recorded a fastest Evo Challenge time on stage six.

After a hard day’s rallying Daniel, Mark and the Barry Motorsport team were delighted to finish second in the Mitsubishi standings, third in Group N and sixth overall:

“To come away from a day’s rallying in Kielder Forest without a scratch on the car, no mechanical problems and leading a championship can’t be bad”, said Daniel at the finish. “We fought as hard as we could in the conditions and of course, would like to have been the first Evo Challenge competitor home, but we’re battling for the championship and it’s more important to score a good haul of points rather than perhaps not finish at all.”

Daniel and his team now prepare for another tough test of man an machine, the RBSI Manx Rally, which takes place on 9th & 10th May and sees 140 competitive miles and the first all asphalt event of the season.

Daniel’s 2007 campaign is supported by: Tech-Plus, Irish Transport & Shipping, BPI Telecom, Henco under-floor heating and SC Signs.