Ryan takes Trackrod Rally Yorkshire Podium

Ryan Champion, co-driven by Ulsterman Allan Harryman, took a superb third placed finish on the 2016 Trackrod Rally Yorkshire driving the SVP Motorsport prepared Mitsubishi Lancer WRC for the first time.

Champion won the event ten years previously in a Mitsubishi and was invited to drive the WRC machine by it's owner Tristan Bailey to help promote an new venture hiring out two of the iconic Lancer's.

A brief shakedown at the Chris Birkbeck Rallyschool the day before the rally allowed Ryan to reacquaint himself with a type of car he last drove in 2007 when testing for the Mitsubishi World Rally Team. Despite having not competed for a year, Champion was straight on the pace with a third fastest time on Stage 1 despite a small spin and low turbo boost pressure which reduced the performance of the Mitsubishi over the opening two tests.

That problem was quickly rectified by the SVP crew and allow Ryan to set fastest time in Dalby Forest, just his third stage with the car.

Two more very competitive times on the final two tests, matching the much newer machinery of the opposition, allowed Ryan to take his place on the podium with a third overall finish. He commented, "I'm really happy to finish in the top 3. It's five years since I last drove a four wheel drive car in the forest so it took a little time to find the limit but once we got the boost issues sorted the car was fantastic and I have to thank Tristan and Dom at SVP for giving me the opportunity to drive the car."