2013. október 4., péntek

P3 MRE

P3 MRE was one of the least used of the Evo IV branch-this is easily because she was one of the last, classic 'heavy gravel' cars; these had a very short, albeit eventful career, and so had P3. She made her debut on the 1997 Safari Rally with Tommi Mäkinen and Seppo Harjanne; however, the Finns couldn't repeat their victory from the previous year, as they had to retire on the penultimate day.
1997's Safari wasn't the best one for the car (Mitsubishi)
 Her next outing was also unique: she went from the hot, dry, rocky and dusty Kenya to the hot, wet and humid Indonesia for a little jungle-rally (not kidding, the rally literally was located in the middle of a huge jungle). This one didn't fare better that the Safari did, as another DNF could be added to the resumé because of a radiator leak.
Mäkinen couldn't extend his lead in the championship due to a broken radiator, 1997 Indonesia (Mitsubishi)
1998
P3 MRE's short career continued with one last outing on the 1998 Safari Rally. Once again, she was piloted by Mäkinen, but unfortunately their luck didn't turn with the calendar; Mäkinen had to retire with engine failure when leading the rally before his team-mate Burns.
They were the fastest, but engine truobles stopped them from winning (Mitsubishi)
Whereabouts
She was only used on 3 rallies altogether, but those included 2 Safaris and an Indonesia - so she probably suffered the same fate as other heavy-gravel cars; she was used for Safari recces over the next few years, and then scrapped. Although it is still possible she survived somewhere in Africa.

Track record
Starts: 3
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Retirements: 3 (1997 Safari Rally & Rally Indonesia, 1998 Safari Rally)

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