Mitsubishi Announce Plans for 2006 Evolution Challenge

PRESS INFORMATION

20th October 2005

• Mitsubishi's one-make series joins British Rally Championship

• Higher Profile, incresed competition and top quality stages

• Additionsl National A 'Evo Cup' series proposed

Mitsubishi Motors UK are pleased to announce that its popular single-make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, will follow all six rounds of next year’s British Rally Championship.

Having enjoyed five years of success with the ANCRO administered National Gravel Championship, Mitsubishi decided to take the Evolution Challenge to the BRC in 2006, following the announcement that WRC cars would be no longer be allowed to participate and therefore hand the competitive advantage to Class N4 machines.

Series organisers are confident that the move to the British Championship will see registrations for the series increase and provide a host of benefits to competitors, such as: High quality stages, top level competition, increased media profile, more opportunities for sponsors, special deals for registered competitors and therefore represent excellent value for money.

The new-look six-round British Championship will feature three gravel and three asphalt rallies, therefore providing a balanced mixture of surfaces. It is hoped that the inclusion of the asphalt events will make the Evolution Challenge more appealing to Irish competitors.

Organisers are aware that some teams will be concerned that the move to the BRC will see the cost of competing escalate, but with the British Championship taking on a new format, the difference of competing in eight events in 2005 and six events in 2006 will be minimal. A spokesman for the Evolution Challenge said:

“With the series launched at BRC Live at the beginning of the season and the Rally GB at the end, plus the addition of television coverage, there will be many more advantages for sponsors. Therefore, we hope that teams will exploit these features and see the move to the BRC as a great opportunity. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year.”

With the Rally of Great Britain being the final round, organisers are currently considering an allocation of points for each day of competition and looking into the possibility of running ‘Super Rally’ rules for Evolution Challenge competitors.

Mitsubishi are pleased to confirm that the coveted prize of a works drive in a Group N Mitsubishi Evolution will be awarded to the 2006 Champion. The series will also enjoy an increased prize fund, which awards the first four drivers on each round and at the end of the season.

For competitors without International licences and for those not wishing to contest the British Rally Championship, subject to demand, Mitsubishi are proposing to introduce the ‘Evo Cup’, a seven round series which will run alongside the Evolution Challenge in 2006.

This new initiative will feature five gravel and two asphalt based National A status events. A prize fund similar to that of the International series will be on offer, but without the added attraction of a works drive for the Champion.


2006 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge

BRC Live: 19th March
Pirelli Rally: 13th & 14th May
Jim Clark Memorial Rally: 7th & 8th July
Manx International Rally: 3rd, 4th & 5th August
Ulster Rally: 1st & 2nd Sept
Rally Yorkshire: 7th October
Rally of Great Britain: 22nd, 23rd & 24th November*

* Provisional Date

Proposed 2006 Mitsubishi Evo Cup

Rallye Sunseeker: 25th & 26th February
Rally of Wales: 8th & 9th April
Pirelli Rally: 13th May
Jim Clark Memorial Rally: 7th & 8th July
Ulster Rally: 1st & 2nd Sept
Trackrod Rally: 7th October
Tempest Rally: 11th November