The RBS International Manx Rally has traditionally become the first all-asphalt event in the UK Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge calendar and this year is no exception.
Taking place next week [May 9-10], the championship's annual visit to the Isle of Man means a change of surface from that of the gravel forestry rounds in rounds one and two, a factor which may well reveal a different winner - as it did last year.
2007 saw Neil McCance take his very first Evo Challenge victory on the island and in the light of his former victory, the Ulsterman starts as first Mitsubishi seed next weekend.
He is followed by this year's round one winner David Bogie, who will be looking to put his round two and 2007 Manx memories behind him, both events seeing the talented young Scot experience off-road excursions. He will therefore be looking for a good points haul to ensure he keeps his championship hopes in tact.
Next Evo Challenger to leave the start line will be the current series leader Daniel Barry, who has scored two second places so far this season.
He is followed by round two winner and a man that is likely to go well whatever the surface, Richard Cathcart.
Nik Elsmore will follow those two and he is another driver who is still trying to put the experience of last year's Manx Rally behind him, but with the video footage used in the opening sequence of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Championship's television programmes, he is unlikely to forget his spectacular accident too easily.
Young Ulsterman Jonny Greer is next to take the green light and hopes that this time he can finally get some points on the board, having had to endure a series of frustrating mechanical issues in the first two rounds.
