Mitsubishi's struggles continued with the Step2 version of the Evo WRC, mainly because it wasn't really a step into a different direction. Nothing radical was done, but they made the car better - only that it wasn't enough. More rigid chassis with better weight distribution, lighter engine parts to decrease rotating part inertia and enhance throttle response, but perhaps the biggest change was the new front bumper and the airbox moving to the right side of the car. Aside from Delecour's sporadic good times and Paasonen's performance in NZ until his crash, the results were subpar, and it was no wonder that after Marlboro left, Mitsubishi pulled the plug on the car.
I found an article about Jari Tuuri's car and there is mentioned that there is 7 of these 01-02 WRC's left. It is nice we have 3 of those here in Finland :)
VálaszTörlés7 is actually correct as far as I know, them being: Y7 MMR, KP51 RWO, KP51 RWL, KR02 DLY, KR02 DLZ, KN52 XBB & KN52 XBC. What surprises me more is that except for Latvala's Evo III, I have no info of any other ex-works Gr.A car being in Finland, maybe that is the reason you have so much of these cars there. :D
VálaszTörlésCould you give me a link to that article? Would be interesting what he says about the car, especially if he also talks about XBB. :)
http://issuu.com/ransuracing/docs/ralliuutiset_2014_screen
VálaszTörlésJuha Kankkunen has one Evo III in his collection. Tommi Mäkinen drove it in Killeri SSS 2013.
Thanks!
TörlésThe Evo III he drove wasn't Latvala's ex-works car? Until now I thought it was :D