E 6 GRA

Just like with her sister cars, V905 EEN and the Ralliart Italia cars, were prepared by Co-ordSport and MEM to Ralliart UK specifications. However, her case is different in the sense that her only active season was 2004 - 4 years after the Gr.A kit was introduced and 3 years after Ralliart stopped competing with the Evo 6! She was rallied by Ali Ersin (a turkish Gr.N champion with Mitsubishi) and co-driver Ahmet Yoruk.

Their first event was the Pirelli Rallisi, with a strong entry: 2 Focus WRC, an Accent WRC and many dealer-supported teams with S1600 cars. They had a slow start, but by the end, they were setting regular top4 stage times and climbed back up to 7th.

Pirelli Rallisi 2004 (Hayatim Rally By Can Ünlü / Youtube)

However, this was only a test for the big rally that year: Turkey hosted its first ever WRC round, and Ali and the team took part - making this the first appearance of a Gr.A kit Lancer since Aghini's Sanremo fiasco in 2000. They didn't light the world on fire, but with this car at that year, it was not possible either. They finished 18th overall and 11th in A8.

Rally Turkey WRC 2004 (turkmotorspor / Instagram)

Next up was the Bursa Rallisi, with the same strong entry as previously. They started well, but lost time on the 3rd stage and had to retire on the 4th.

Bursa Rallisi 2004 (Hayatim Rally By Can Ünlü / Youtube)

Their next event was the Hitit Rallisi, with a little less of the entry as before, but still very strong. The car got some visual updates: a works Evo 6.5 front bumper and Exide sponsorship. However, they were forced to retire again.

Hitit Rallisi 2004 (Tork Spor / Youtube)

Whereabouts

Strangely, they never returned to the stages - Ali's last rally was Hitit, and I found no information on the car appearing again (strangely similar case to V905 EEN, though that car should still exist). So, again, if you have infos about this topic, please contact me!

Track record

Starts: 4

Wins: 0

Podiums: 0

Retirement: 2

• Bursa Rallisi 2004
• Hitit Rallisi 2004
  

V905 EEN

 V905 EEN was the very first one of the Gr.A kit/Dealer Team Specification cars, prepared by Ralliart, CoOrdsport and Mellors Elliot Motorsport, and (initially) run by the help of LoCar team. This car went to the Madit Slovnaft Team in Slovakia, for driver Michal Gargulák.

Their first event was the Česky Krumlov. On the first event, they weren't really a match for the other top cars, and finished in 5th place, even though at the end, they improved the stage times a lot.

Rallye Česky Krumlov 2000 (Jan Marek - ewrc.cz)

Up next was the Rally Kosice, part of the ERC with a coefficient of 3 (that was pretty low, the higher coefficient events attaracted the most crews). None the less, they ended up with the victory - the perfect preparation for the next event, also ERC round Rally Bohemia!

Rally Košice 2000 (Szabosi Tibor / autosportfoto.sk)

Next was Rally Bohemia, This time with tougher opposition (Kresta with Octavia WRC, Hrdinka with Subaru, etc). Unfortunately, they had to retire from 4th place due to propshaft problems - interestingly, Agini in Italy was also suffering transmission problems on more than one occasion.

Rally Bohemia 2000 (Petr Fitz / ewrc.cz)

To round out this mini ERC campaign, next they tackled the Barum Rally. They had very good speed and ended up 4th, with setting quite a few top3 stage times.

Barum Rally 2000 (Jíri Jermakov / ewrc.cz)

Up next was a return to Slovakia, with the inaugural Mikona Rally, based in Bratislava. They faced an increasingly difficult opposition, with Janusz Kulig in a Corolla, Tomás Hrdinka in an Impreza, and also Szeleczky in an Escort WRC. In the end, they ended up 4th, missing out on the podium by only 1s.

Mikona Rally 2000 (Jíri Jermakov / ewrc.cz)

The next stop of the Slovakian championship was the Rally Tatry. Although the entry wasn't as strong as in the Mikona Rally, the new opponent was Stanislav Chovanec with an Octavia WRC. They had a big fight, but in the end, Chovanec won by 1.6 seconds.

Rally Tatry 2000 (www.kovovemodely.cz)

The final round of the championship was the Rally Rožnava. Unfortunately, they had to retire there, but they finished 2nd in the championship behind Chovanec. Although the performance was better by the end of the year, it was clear that the Gr.A kit Lancer wasn't a world beater...

2001

In 2001, the team focused on competing in the Czech Championship. The first round was also part of the ERC, with a coefficient of 2. The entry was very strong, with names like Pech, Kresta, Trojan, Sibera. They were in for a good result, but lost 4 minutes on SS7. After that, they finished in 8th place overall.

Rally Sumava Mogul 2001 (Jan Marek / ewrc.cz)

Next up was another iconic event, the Valašská Rally. They were doing OK, but had a great run-in, and jumped from 5th to 3rd on the last 2 stages, finishing 3rd behind Kresta and Pech, albeit by almost 2 minutes.

Valašská Rally 2001 (Jíri Jermakov / ewrc.cz)

Their next event was the 2001 Rajd Polski, a 20-coefficient ERC round with the biggest polish names on the entry list: Holowczyc, Kulig, Kuzaj, Kuchar, and also Stolfa with the 306 Maxi and Austin MacHale as well. It is safe to say that they weren't the speed setters in the Lancer, but in the end finished 4th, albeit a long way away from the "real" WRCs of Kuzaj, Kuchar and Sztuka.

Rajd Polski 2001 (Petr Fitz / ewrc.cz)

Up next was the Rallye Bohemia, a 5-coefficient ERC round, and home rally of Skoda Motorsport. So it was no coincidence that no less than 4 Octavia WRCs were present, along with a couple of other WRCs: Impreza, Focus, Corolla. In this competitive field, it was no surprise that the Slovnaft team managed only 4th overall, with a best stage result of 3rd.

Rallye Bohemia 2001 (Jan Marek / ewrc.cz)

Although not the best, but the Bohemia rally was a preparation for the Barum Rally, this year a 10-coefficient ERC round. However, the rally didn't last long for them, as they had to retire on SS6 due to differential damage.

Barum Rally 2001 (Ludvik Kurečka / ewrc.cz)

Their last rally in the 2001 season was the Mikona Rally in Slovakia. Unfortunately, they couldn't end the season well, as they had to retire due to an overheated engine.

Mikona Rally 2001 (Jíři Jermakov / ewrc.cz)

In the end, they finished 7th in the Czech Championship with one podium finish.

2002

By 2002, it was evident that the car was not that competitive anymore against the newer and newer WRCs that were filtering into the national championship level. To gain some performance, the team formed and alliance with HKS, a very well known engine tuner. However, things didn't go well, as they had to withdraw from the first rally of the season, the Šumava Rally, exactly because of an engine failure. Also, after a couple of years, they changed the livery of the car as well.

Hopes were high for the second round, the Valašská Rally, but the bad luck continued: another engine failure just before the rally, and a last-minute replacement engine was sourced to start. However, they only lasted through the half of the first stage, with another engine problem. Later, the HKS technician recovered a short circuit that had cost the team very dearly.

Valašská Rally 2002 (Petr Fryba / rallylife.cz)

Next up was the Česky Krumlov, and an opportunity to set things right. The car performed well, but they had a 30s penalty for touching a chicane. Not long after, they had an accident and lost a wheel.

Rally Česky Krumlov 2002 (Jan Marek / ewrc.cz)

The next event was one of the biggest in Czechia, the Škoda Rally Bohemia. Usually many extra drivers are present here, so it is one of the biggest challenges in the season. Also, as it was an ERC round, it made the entry even much stronger. They did well with the car, setting times consistently in the top 7. In the end, they finished 6th, behind factory and much newer WRCs.

Škoda Rally Bohemia 2002 (Jíři Jermakov / ewrc.cz)

Then came the RallySprint Kopná, the home event of Gargulák. Finally, they seemed able to find a good setup for the car, but they were again unlucky: a turbo hose fell off, and lost enough time not to be in contention for the win. Still they finished 3rd, on what it turned out to be their last rally together.

Rallysprint Kopná 2002 (Petr Fryba / rallylife.cz)

Whereabouts

After 2002, the car vanished from the stages. There are rumors that it returned as a hillclimb car, but so far, I wasn't able to find any info about it. If you have any info, please get in touch!

Also, Michal didn't have too fond memories of the car, recalling that they spent 3 seasons to dial the car in: http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=18573

Track record:

Wins: 1

• Rallye Košice 2000

Podiums: 3

• Rally Tatry 2000
• Valašská Rally 2001
• Rallysprint Kopná 2002

Retirements: 

• Rally Bohemia 2000 - propshaft
  
• Rally Rožnava 2000 - ?
  
• Barum Rally 2001 - differential
  
• Mikona Rally 2001 - overheating
• Valašská Rally 2002 - engine
• Rally Česky Krumlov - lost wheel
   

K7 MRE

K7 started her competition life in 1993, on the Acropolis Rally, alongside K6 MRE, with Armin Schwarz piloting her. They had a very strong debut event, as they finished 3rd, recording a stage win and five 2nd fastest times along the way.

Acropolis Rally 1993 (Olivier Delhez / ewrc.cz)

1994

She only returned on the 1994 Acropolis Rally, again with Schwarz, now as an Evo II specification car. They had a great rally again, winning 5 stages and finishing 2nd on 9 stages! They received a 2min penalty after the last stage, but they still had enough gap to Kankkunen to finish 2nd.

Acropolis Rally 1994 (rallyazores.blogspot.com)

1995

She began the season as a test car for the Monte Carlo Rally.

Pre-event test, 1995 Rallye Monte Carlo (youtube.com)

Next up was the Swedish Rally, where she was paired with Mäkinen. They had a good fight with their team-mate Eriksson, and ultimately had to hand over the victory to them after team orders.

Rally Sweden 1995 (McKlein / www.dirtfish.com)

Her next event was the Tour de Corse, this time with Andrea Aghini, and now as an Evo III. Ralliart had high hopes for Aghini, and he delivered: after one stagewin, five 2nd places and a big battle with Sainz throughout the event, they finished 3rd overall!

Tour de Corse 1995 (rallymemory.blogspot.com)

Also during the season, she was also used again as a test car:

During testing, 1995 (facebook)

Whereabouts

She did not compete as K7 MRE again, although that doesn't mean that she was not used again with a different numberplate or for testing.

Track record

Starts: 4

Wins: 0

Podiums: 4

• 1993 Acropolis Rally: 3rd (Schwarz-Grist)
  
• 1994 Acropolis Rally: 2nd (Schwarz-Wicha)
  
• 1995 Rally Sweden: 2nd (Mäkinen-Harjanne)
  
• 1995 Tour de Corse: 3rd (Aghini-Farnocchia)
  

Retirements: 0

K6 MRE

K6 MRE -alongside sister car K7 MRE- made her debut at the 1993 Acropolis Rally, and their debut also marked the first appearance of the Evo II specification (new rear spoiler, revised front bumper, new sumpguard and other bits) cars. She was piloted by Kenneth Eriksson, but unfortunately their rally came to an end when the sumpguard gave way, and lost all oil from the engine.

Acropolis Rally 1993 (Rallysport Stockphoto / RSSP)

Next up for her was the Rally Finland, or as known then, the 1000 Lakes Rally, this time with Armin Schwarz. Armin has always been a better tarmac driver, and the car wasn't good enough yet to challenge in Finland, so they finished 9th overall.

1000 Lakes Rally 1993

1994

With Mitsubishi still committing only to a part-time programme, K6 returned on the Acropolis Rally, reuniting with Eriksson.They did pretty well, won 4 stages and was well in a points-scoring position when the suspension collapsed and they had to retire.

Acropolis Rally 1994 (McKlein)

1995
For 1995, K6 was in action again on Rally Sweden with her usual driver, Kenneth Eriksson. Rule changes (smaller turbo restrictor most importantly) favoured Mitsubishi, and after a good showing in Monte Carlo, they dominated this event, with Eriksson and Tommi Mäkinen leading through all of the event. However, due to team orders, Mäkinen slowed down on the final stage to let Eriksson pass him, and land Mitsubishi's and the Lancer Evolution's first win in the WRC.

Rally Sweden 1995 (LAT Photographic / Motosport Images)

Rally Sweden 1995 (juwra.com)

Whereabouts
Unlike the other Evo II's fates, K6 MRE's migh have been a bit different, as Andrew Cowan's museum has an Evo II with Rally Sweden 1995 stickers on... And it would be quite difficult to believe that neither him, nor Ralliart would have put away the first winning Lancer.

Track record
Starts: 4
Wins: 1

• 1995 Rally Sweden - Eriksson/Parmander

Podiums: 1
Retirements: 2

• 1993 Acropolis Rally - engine
• 1994 Acropolis Rally - suspension

KX53 AOB

KX53 AOB - alongside KX53 BFV - was the first 2004 specification Lancer WRC built, and later used as a test car.

KX53 AOB during the Lancer WRC04 rollout

KX53 AOB during the Lancer WRC04 rollout

From the above two pictures it is very interesting to compare the initial look of the car to how the actual car ended up (biggest differences: front bumper, rear bumper, headlights, front and rear wings, etc.).

Whereabouts
The car is owned by Tristan Bailey, who also owns KX53 BFV, since 2012. The car is halfway through its build up process, and soon will be ready to roar in original specification as a tarmac car.

In July 2017 (Tristan Bailey / MMR Rallysport facebook)

 

 

Update 2023:

In december 2023, it was revealed that AOB's restoration is nearing its completion at MMR Rallysport. Upon completion, she will join her sister BFV as the only remaining 2004 specification Lancer WRCs.

AOB in december 2023 (Galway Carbon)

 

Merry Christmas!

Well, another year has passed, and the blog is still going well - I am trying to post new things as much as I can, but it not that easy anymore (less info, less time, etc). But anyways, merry Christmas to all of you, and hopefully we will meet here next year too. Until then, I will try to put out one more post, and update some newer ones with infos I have gathered lately. So stay safe and enjoy some rest and good food in the coming days! :)

KNY70-HA7863

This car is very interesting, as this one was a Ralliart Japan car - RHD, different roof scoop, mirrors and sumpguard, etc. The car made its debut on the 1993 Safari Rally under the Mitsubishi Oil banner, with none other than Kenjiro Shinozuka. The event went badly though, as they had to retire after engine trouble not even halfway into the rally.

Safari Rally 1993 (Mitsubishi)

In 1993, contesting the APRC was Ralliart Japan's job, and so their next event was the opening round, the Rally Indonesia. Not much is known of this event, but Shinozuka finished 2nd, behind Possum Bourne's Subaru Legacy.

Next up was the Rally of Malaysia. This time around, they finished 3rd, behind Colin McRae and Possum Bourne.

The car's final event of the season was the Hong Kong-Beijing Rally. They couldn't beat the Subaru Legacy trio of Vatanen, McRae and Bourne, and finished 4th.

Hong Kong-Beijing Rally 1993 (en.responsejp.com)

1994
They returned for the 1994 Safari Rally, which was the original Evo I's last appearance as a works car. They fared a lot better in 1994 than the year before though, and ended up in 2nd behind Ian Duncan's Toyota Celica.

Safari Rally 1994 (Mitsubishi)

Next up was the Rally Indonesia, with the car now converted to Evo II. They finished 3rd this time, little consolation to that was the fact that team-mate Kenneth Eriksson took the victory, with Possum Bourne 2nd in the Mitsubishi sandwich.

Ralliart Japan ended the season with the Hong Kong-Beijing Rally. They finished 4th.

Hong Kong-Beijing Rally 1994 (Classic Rally instagram)

1995
In 1995, they returned with the usual lineup, the only thing changed was the car, now sporting the Evo III updates. They had a rough event, but finished 2nd behind Yoshio Fujimoto's Toyota Celica.

Safari Rally 1995 (internet)

Whereabouts
After the 1995 Safari - and occasionally even before that - Shinozuka started using Ralliart Australia's cars (more on that later), and on the 1996 Safari Ralliart Japan had a new car (at least a car with different numberplate, but likely it was a different car). Of the APRC rounds back then, there's very little info available, so...

Track record
Starts: 8
Wins: 0
Podiums: 5

• 1993 Rally Indonesia
• 1993 Rally of Malaysia
• 1994 Safari Rally
• 1994 Rally Indonesia
• 1995 Safari Rally

Retirements: 1

• 1993 Safari Rally - engine