Mitsubishi Rides High At Pirelli International Rally

Guy Wilkes celebrated his first drive for the Mitsubishi Motors team by taking a dominant victory at the Pirelli International Rally. The Darlington driver was in unstoppable form, quickest on 11 of the events 14 stages and had over a minute in hand ahead of the Subaru of Mark Higgins with last year's winner, Ryan Champion third in his borrowed Mitsubishi.

The scale of the 26-year-old Pirelli International Rally victory against such stiff opposition was also recognized by the judges of the inaugural Pirelli Star Driver award who had little difficulty in naming Wilkes as the first of six finalists to go forward to win a ‘works drive’ in the 2008 British series.

At the finish in Carlisle City centre Wilkes said, “It feels fantastic to win my first International Rally and to do it in a production car is excellent. The Pirelli Star Driver award is very special too as the judges have all known me for a long time. And I know it would take a big effort to impress them.” 

The Pirelli International Rally has a long and distinguished history stretching back over a quarter of a century to 1974 when all the motor clubs in Cumbria got together, to organize one "big" event. The first rally called the Tour of Cumbria, ran in 1975 and attracted massive 180 entries.

 It was an exuberant Wilkes who headed for the finish ramp in Carlisle city centre, having made a dream start to his British Championship campaign on what had proved to be a tough opening round with the tracks in Kielder being as unforgiving as ever.