After three podium finishes in this year's Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, Daniel Barry was denied a fourth when he retired on the final stage in the fourth round of the year, the Severn Valley National Rally.
Despite the disappointment, Barry continues to lead the championship with three rounds left to go, currently level on points with Richard Cathcart on 28 points.
With the car fully repaired following its adventures on the recent Manx Rally, where the team finished third in the Mitsubishi series, Barry was relishing a return to gravel surface roads and was determined to defend his championship lead.
Stage one set the scene for what was to be a fierce battle between the Mitsubishis for the rest of the day, when he and four other drivers all completed the 5.57 mile run through Esgair Dafydd in six minutes and nine seconds.
Looking to move ahead on stage two, Barry upped his pace, but his car started to lose power when the exhaust system came loose and, whilst trying to compensate, he momentarily slid into a ditch – the consequent time loss dropping him to fourth.
Fortunately, the first service halt of the day followed and his car was fixed in readiness for the third and longest stage of the day, a nineteen-mile run through Radnor Forest. Following a concentrated effort Barry moved up to third place, but reported that perhaps he was trying too hard and, for the final four stages, focussed on tidying-up his driving style and challenge for the lead.
Stages four and five went well and he moved within nine seconds of the leader, but he became concerned as the car's temperature gauge started to rise. Switching off the anti-lag system and adopting a more cautious approach through stage six, he crossed his fingers for the final 15-miles of stage seven. But, halfway through, Barry saw the temperature go into the red and, not able to drive the car as he would do normally, he slid into a ditch.
As well as being stuck fast, the impact with the scenery had split the car's oil-cooler and therefore, the 24-year old's rally was well and truly over.
![Daniel Barry / Mark Bowens - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. RBSI Manx Rally. May 2008. [Pic credit: cmwi.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/438613.jpg)
