KX53 BKO

KX53 BKO was one of the longest-serving Lancer WRC of her kind (I will explain why only 'was'), and made her competitive debut in 2004 with Kristian Sohlberg on the Rally Sweden. That being the 2nd round of the season, the new car was still very green... An already troubled event just turned to be even more frustrating when the transmission gave up on the second day's first stage.

The car was already a bit worn on the first day... (Mitsubishi)

Her second WRC event was the Rally New Zealand, again with Kristian Sohlberg. I can't say how well the event went for the crew, as they had to retire after the first super special stage on thursday evening with an electrical fault that was a bit amateur...

During shakedown everything was fine... (Mitsubishi)

Her final WRC event was the Acropolis Rally, this time with Dani Sola. He was involved in a very well known and bizarre crash: they had a puncture, ans stopped to change it; however, the next car, Roman Kresta, didn't see them through the thick dust, and crashed into the back of the Lancer. Both crews had to retire, but Sola could continue via SupeRally regulations (his times were recorded, but he wasn't included in the overall standings), even posting a couple of top10 stage times on the last day. Not bad!

Wonderful photo from Greece, 2004 (Mitsubishi)

Then, she was put on a shelf for a long time... well, actually for 6.5 years. Everybody thought that she wasn't converted to WRC05 spec, but indeed she was, and made her return at the Eger Rally, which was the opening round for the Hungarian and Slovak Championship; the driver was Jaroslav Melicharek. It wasn't his first event with the car, but the changing weather and a puncture slowed him, and ended the event 8th overally and 3rd in MSR (Slovak Championship).

Sliding to 8th overall, 2011 Eger Rally (Ivo Nesrovnal)

She spent the rest of the season competing in the MSR, clocking 3 podiums (including a win at Tríbeč), and at the very end of the year she was used on some sprint/spectator events by Antonin Tlust'ak (and that included a win at the Rally Show Uherský Brod).

En route to her first win ever, Rally Tríbeč 2011 (Daniel Hlinka)

Rally Show Uherský Brod 2011 (Jaroslav Pančocka)

2012
She was both used in the MSR by Jaroslav Melicharek and in the Czech Rallysprint Championship by Antonin Tlust'ak. In the 3 starts the car was used by Melicharek, he recorded two 2nd and a 3rd place.

On the Rally Prešov 2012, on the way to 2nd place (Farkas Tamás)

In the Czech Rallysprint Championship, the car was successful too: a win at Vsetín and several podium places marked a good season (the only mechanical problem-related retirement of the year was Rally Jeseníky). Tlust'ak missed the podium at the end of the year by only one point, and the second place by 5 points.

On Rally Vsetín (Jíri Zapletal)

She was also used at some show events at the end of the year, such as Auto Show Slovakia ring or Rajd Barbórka.

A nice powerslide with Szymon Ruta, 2012 Rajd Barbórka (Marcin Snopkowski)

2013
In 2013, the big news came that Antoine l'Estage will bring a Mitsubishi Lancer WRC to the Rally America series. This car happened to be KX53 BKO, and their first event together was the Oregon Trail Rally. The car went through some modifications, such as leaving out the paddle shift gearchange (thus using the transmission in classic sequential mode). The rally didn't end well, as Estage totalled the car, ending the long and eventful life of KX53 BKO. (John Easton, the MML boss said himself that the chassis is beyond repair. Note: they may use the KX53 BKO on a new chassis, but since they still have plenty on the shelf, I don't expect that.

Before the crash... (rallyworldnews.com)

...and after.

Track record:
Starts: 29
Wins: 3 (Rally Tríbeč 2011, Rally Uhersky Brod 2011 & Rally Vsetín 2012)
Podiums: 11
Retirements: 8