2000
W9 MMR was maybe one of the most used chassis during the 2000-2001 seasons, and went through both Mäkinen and Loix. She started her life in Finland, as Tommi Mäkinen's car, debuting as the first Evo that was built to the 6.5 spec, and not just updated to it. Just because of the changes and Risto Mannisenmäki's back problems, the crew finished the event in 4th place - not bad at all, but they hoped for more on Tommi's home event.
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| Speeding through the forests, 2000 Finland (Mitsubishi) |
She returned to action at the Sanremo Rally, again with Mäkinen. After some problems both on- and off the track (the crew was eye withness of an accident where a police officer was killed), the performance was better and better and they arrived back at the mediterranean holiday resort in 3rd place.
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| Exiting one of the many hairpins, 2000 Sanremo (Mitsubishi) |
2001
In 2001, she became of the elite group of cars that had the opportunity to contest a rally on every surface by accompanying Mäkinen in Rally Sweden. He was in a big fight for the lead, when on the very last stage Tommi was trying too hard, and spinned off the road, and right into a tree. Game over. (Interesting to note: if he had finished the rally in second place -where he was standing-, he would be a five-time world champion. But you know: in rallying, the 'what if' sentences doesn't mean anything...).
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| Rocking the winter Marlboro livery, 2001 Sweden (Mitsubishi) |
She made the trip to Argntina, and welcomed her new captain, Freddy Loix. The pairing was successful, proven by a 6th place despite Freddy's lack of experience and some misfortune, too.
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| Taking a well deserved shower, 2001 Rally Argentina (Mitsubishi) |
Her final event as a works car was in Africa. Yes, the ultra-demanding Safari Rally in Kenya (the route even crosses the Equator). Mäkinen was her driver again, and finally they were able to clinch a victory together with a huge lead over 2nd place - or 'by a country mile' as Australian people would say.
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| She proved her abilities by winning the toughest rally on Earth (Mitsubishi) |
Update: her final event as a works car was not the Safari, but rather the Rally Hokkaido in Japan, wihich was a WRC candidate event (well, you could say it was a bit behind, since the boom of Japanese WRC teams was a decade ago), and so Mitsubishi decided to run their Japanese works driver, Katsuhiko Taguchi on the event with a Group A Lancer. Well, this car was W9 MMR, and they finished 2nd behind Possum Bourne.
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| 2001 Rally Hokkaido. Even Andrew Cowen was there to be the team leader (rally.or.jp) |
She also participated before Hokkaido at the Suzuka World Rally Festival, alongside an other ex-works car with V2 MMR numberplates (which were then replaced on the car for X6 MMR plates, totally incorrect as that car is at best 1999 specification). But back to W9: the chassis is #71, the rollcage ID is #2001-0071 (the 1 is under the flexiwrap).
As you can see, the car looked a bit worn (it was used by Mäkinen on the Safari, so...), but the 2001 suspension layout is pretty clear as well: backwards tilted shock absorber with a lot thicker housing, differnet stabilizer solution, etc.
Whereabouts
Update: Well, yes, finally infos about this car as well. She has indeed survived, and is now owned by Stig-Olov Walfridson (he is not sure about it, but he thinks it is W9 MMR). The car has been re-registered as WTP 163, and got a silver paintjob in 2005 when he bought it. In 2006, he collided with a moose at 149 km/h, and the car was opened up like a tin. However, it was rebuilt, and lately Petter Solberg used it to drive around his sponsors.
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| In 2006 on the Killingen Rally as a safety car (Backmans Foto) |
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| 2006 Killingen Rally (Backmans Foto) |
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| 2005 Rally Osterlen (Backmans Foto) |
Track record (WRC only, other events to follow soon)
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Podiums: 2
Retirements: 0
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