I'd like to wish all of you a really merry Christmas! In under one year, more than 3000 of you have visited this blog... That is quite something since not a lot of rally fans are interested this deeply in statistics or stories about cars that were built almost a decade or more ago. So thank you for all the views, and keep sticking around as more and more interesting stuff will be put on! :)
After a little break due to my university duties, we can all return to the flow of Lancer WRCs, starting with none other than KR53 YPP! The car that debuted on the 2004 Rally New Zealand (and shortly stopped because of electrical problems), and went out with a bang (that bridge didn't take the collision lightly either...). So, let's get started!
She made her debut as Panizzi's car on the 2004 Rally NZ. Yes, this was the envent where all works Lancer WRCs stopped due to electrical probems after one Super Special Stage. Not the debut someone can dream of...
Problem-free in the morning, embarrassing retirement in the evening, 2004 NZ (Mitsubishi)
Her next event was the hard-hitting Acropolis Rally. Despite Panizzi's limitations on gravel they were in 6th position when the engine started to give out, eventually dropping them down to 10th place.
Despite the late engine woes, the car started to show some promise, 2004 Greece (Mitsubishi)
Next up was Rally Argentina, where Kristian Sohlberg took over her steering wheel from Panizzi. They worked really well together, and the fast and flowing Argentine stages suited Sohlberg's driving style as well. However, they had to retire due to gearbox problems. At the time they were lying in 5th position.
Another good performance crashed by another mechanical failure, 2004 Argentina (Mitsubishi)
Her final full works rally was the 2004 Rally Catalunya, with Dani Sola. The car started to be more reliable, and that showed in a 6th place, and a bunch of top5 stage times.
En route to 6th place, 2004 Rally Catalunya (Mitsubishi)
2006-2007
And, she disappeared for 2005. Many suspected that with new cars being built already as 2005 spec, she was scrapped. However, it turned out that Kai Kuistila Brought her to RaceRentEurope, and as a semi-works entry, Juho Hänninen drove the car on the 2006 Rally Finland. Even though that was Juho's first time in a WRC, they did reasonably well until they were excluded because Juho's fireproof underwear was not within the rules.
As a RRE car, 2006 Rally Finland (Mitsubishi)
Her next (and last as an RRE car) rally was the 2007 Rally Norway, again with Hänninen. Juho was doing reasonably again, but two trips into the snow walls meant he finished only 17th.
Sporting the classic RRE-silver and the signs of an excursion, 2007 Norway (Mitsubishi)
2009
Once again, as RRE handed their WRCs back to Ralliart/MML, many suspected they were the only Lancer WRCs (besides KN04 WMC, but that is a later story...) - not the other way around!
Well, we had to wait two and a half years before she returned, and again - under very interesting ownership status. Mark van Eldik got the car, but it has never been made clear whether he bought it or rented it or leased it (his service crew was half MML, half his own team on occasions!), just like with RRE (well, afterwards we know they leased the cars). Anyways, their first rally together was the 2009 Hellendoorn Rally, finishing 3rd behind a 2006 Focus WRC and an Impreza S14. (Let's be realistic, the Lancer has never been better than those cars, but we don't have any inso if van Eldik had the 2007 update pack for the car).
Gravel with tarmac tyres? Should be fun! 2009 Hellendoorn Rally (Jan Borger)
Her next event was the Nederland Rally, but this time they landed on the top of the podium with a very dominant drive. Also, this was KR53 YPP's first ever victory!
A dominant performance brought her first win, 2009 Nederland Rally (Jan Borger)
The final event for the MenM Rally Team was sort of a "feel good, drive for fun" type, but in a beautiful place: non other than Tenerife. So, after this and looking up pictures and videos it is clear that by finishing 13th on the Rally Isla de Tenerife they didn't lose their smiles... :)
During Rally Isla de Tenerife, 2009 (Tuerca Sport/MenM Team)
2010
In 2010, van Eldik was driving the car only part-time, and in the meantime, he rented it out to some young and interesting drivers. But to kick off the season, he jumped into the car, and drove it to a 2nd place on the Rally van Haspengouw.
It's always good to start a new year with a podium. 2010 Rally Haspengouw (Juha Bos)
Next up was the TankS rally, and now David Westenbrink drove the car (van Eldik drove his own S14 Impreza but retired). It was his 4th rally ever, his second drive in a 4wd car, and his first ever in a WRC; however, he managed to take 5th place in front of regular WRC drivers and rally veterans!
Cutting their way through the standing water to a 5th place finish, 2010 TankS Rally (Jan Borger)
Her next event was the TAC Rally in Tielt, Belgium, and her driver was once again van Eldik. The Balgian championship was extremely strong that year, and with some problems, they finished 5th behind mainly younger, faster cars.
2010 TAC Rally Tielt (Ronny Baert)
She returned to action on the 3rd round of the Belgian Championship, the Rallye de Wallonie, again with van Eldik. This rally wasn't problem-free again, this time due to gearbox issues, and after that Mark couldn't find his rhytm, so they finished only 6th.
Despite big jumps like this, they weren't really flying this time (Bert Verstraete)
After these outings in Belgium, she returned to the Netherlands for the Paradigit ELE Rally. This time they didn't have any problems, and it was a long-awaited return to the top of the podium (even though the winning margin was only 3.7s!).
After some bad luck they celebrated a victory, 2010 ELE Rally (Jan Borger)
Her next rally was very interesting, because a very talented Belgian female driver, Melissa Debackere drove her on the Exotic Green Rally. However, this new partnership was short as Melissa retired due to an accident.
Melissa Debackere-Cindy Cokelaire, 2010 Exotic Green Rally (Bart Vanpoucke)
Van Eldik didn't return to the car, instead, Timo van der Marel took the steering wheel and drove to a superb 2nd place on the Amsterdam Rallysprint. Before this, the fastest car Timo drove were Gr. N cars, so it has to be said that he adapted to the car very well.
Powersliding to 2nd place, 2010 Amsterdamsprint (Peter Tsang Chung)
Van der Marel did the next round in the Dutch Championship, the Hellendoorn Rally. Despite even winning some stages and regularly posting top5 stage times, various problems meant they finished only 5th.
En route to 5th, 2010 Hellendoorn Rally (Jan Borger)
As the Dutch Championship returned to the East Belgian Rally for its penultimate round, van Eldik was back in YPP's driver seat again. The rally went well until they slid into a ditch and lost over 16 minutes, finishing 43rd overall.
The trip to the ditch took its toll on the car... (TeamCologne)
The Dutch Championship's final round (which turned out to be the YPP's final rally as well) was the Euregio Rally., and van Eldik was still in with a chance for the title. However, after the first day, he was only 5th; on the opening stage of the second day he was the fastest, but on the next one he struck a concrete bridge very hard. The front of the car was destroyed, and it was on fire, but they could put that out quickly.
Just moments after the crash, 2010 Euregio Rally (Jan Borger)
Whereabouts
Well, the car was badly damaged (similar to KR05 ZKL), and there is little to no chance that she will be used ever again.
