Oldalak

2013. március 30., szombat

KS51 XPN

KS51 XPN (I think far the worst numberplate a Ralliart car has ever worn, it just sounds really dull to me) had a very interesting, yet short and typical career. Wonder how can you go from an asphalt car to contesting the Safari? Well, if she was (or is?) alive, she could answer that question...
So, she started her competitive life on Corsica, with Alister McRae, and throughout her career she was his exclusive car. So, after bad weather and many problems, the crew finished in 10th position.
Narrow roads, a big car - not exatcly what you want for this event... (motorsport.com)
As the Catalunya Rally in Spain was really close to Corsica (both in time and space), she was used there again. After a couple of punctures, the crew failed to impress again, crossing the finish line in 13th.
In a fast corner, 2002 Spain (motorsport.com)
The team really was just testing at the time Rally Argentina came, her next event. Contrary to that, both cars did better than expected, but they were still a country mile behind event the points-scoring places, let alone the podiums...
Jumping to 8th place, 2002 Argentina (motorsport.com)
Her last known event to date came with the Safari Rally. The hopes were high (so high that even a point for McRae would have been a win for the team...), and despite this was Alister's first Safari and the car was also falling apart (literally!), he managed to bring her home in 9th place. Not bad considering these facts, but utter sh-you know what-it considering he was beaten by Juha Kankkunen, whose Hyundai Accent WRC lost two dampers, the rear-wheel-drive and some gears upon finishing, and also that only 12 cars were at the finish...
This gives you an idea what the Safari is all about... (motorsport.com)
Whereabouts
After this career-altering performance, she was quickly scrapped and was never converted to Step2. 
Update 2015: I just came across a very strange set of pictures from 2003 October; on these, this car is at a show, but strangely it is sporting an Evo VIII rear spoiler, sills and rear bumper!
As a show car, 2003 October (RaX / evolutionm.net)
The headlights and the Detschland Rally stickers are also interesting (RaX / evolutionm.net)
Of course, it is possible that XPN was just a registration they put on, but given the fact that it has an Evo VIII rear bumper (so it's not a remained Evo VII bumper they were using before), it is likely to be the original plate of this car - after a Safari, the chassis could have been so badly used that it was decided to remain as a show car (much like Y5 MMR's reappearance after its crash). But after that what happened to her is unknown.

Track record
Starts: 4
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Best finish: 8th (2002 Rally Argentina)
Retirements: 0

3 megjegyzés:

  1. I saw a post on facebook of what appears to be that show car being scrapped. :(

    VálaszTörlés
  2. KS51 XPN was found in Puerto Rico along with some Evo VII that had a livery similar to Y4 MMR. Both were sadly scrapped.

    VálaszTörlés