Ten years after his last tarmac rally, Carnforth based Wayne Sisson made a near perfect return to the black stuff when he drove his D-Tec International.com backed Mitsubishi Evo 9 to third in the Evo Challenge on last weekends RBS International Manx Rally.

The former British junior champion had planned to take it easy on the opening 5 stages on Friday night before upping his pace on Saturday. However the rally did not go according to plan when a spin on the opening stage saw the AMS (Arnside Motorsport) run Mitsubishi Evo 9 pick up a front right puncture, costing Wayne time.

The rest of Friday night was without dramas and Wayne, co-driven by Daniel Stone, ended the opening leg fifteenth in class. The planned attack on Saturday would have to wait as the opening stage was cancelled due to an accident ahead of the crew but Wayne made his intentions clear with a sixth fastest in class time through the 8.8 mile Mount Rule Stage.

This set the standard for the rest of the morning and the Kumho tyres and Silkolene Oils supported Evo was constantly in the top 5 thereafter. By lunchtime Wayne, the 2004 BTRDA Group N champion, had moved into a podium position which he then consolidated throughout the afternoon.

The weekend pretty much went according to plan - apart from the spin and puncture right at the beginning of course!

This result now elevates Wayne into fifth overall in the Evo Challenge, the prize of which is a works' seat with Mitsubishi in the British Rally Championship the following year!

Next up for the pair is the Severn Valley Rally on the 2nd of June when the championship heads back to gravel.

For more about Wayne please visit www.stationgaragearnside.co.uk For more on the championships please visit www.gravelrally.co.uk.

Report submitted by Geoff Mayes.

Please credit the attached photos to geoff Mayes Media (www.geoffmayesmedia.com).