1999
V22 MMR had a quite similar career to her sister, V2 MMR, but given her numberplate, she was Loix's car (except one occasion). She debuted in Sanremo as well, arriving back to the mediterranean town in 4th place.
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| Solid debut in the Mediterranean, 1999 (Mitsubishi) |
2000
Her next duty was the season opener Rallye Monte Carlo. She and her crew had a solid rally, rolling through the finish gate in 6th position.
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| Yes, you can even do this in Monte Carlo (www.rallylife.cz) |
Up next was Spain, where brake pipe issues hampered Freddy's progress, but at least they finished the event, but the 8th place was not what they wanted.
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| In 2000, Rally Catalunya was almost like the Monte (Mitsubishi) |
She then was converted to full Evo 6.5 specification (developed suspension, transmission and chassis), and was the car for Freddy in Finland. Everything went well until a big jump crashed the intercooler and radiator, forcing the crew to retire.
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| On one of the hundreds of jumps, 2000 Finland (Mitsubishi) |
The next round she was used at was Wales Rally, this time paired with no other than Tommi Mäkinen himself. After a very slippery and eventful rally, the crew finished the rally in 3rd position, ending the year on the podium.
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| Cutting through the thick Welsh mud, 2000 (Mitsubishi) |
2001
She returned to her regular driver, Freddy Loix for the 2001 Rallye de Portugal. After some impressive stage times, the transmission gave up.
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| 2001 Portugal (Mitsubishi) |
Her next event was Rally Cyprus, sill with Loix. Everything looked good until transmission problems struck, but a 5th place was sill a solid result after an entire loop without front wheel drive.
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| Cyprus was rougher than usual in 2001 (Mitsubishi) |
She was one of the three cars that closed a chapter in Mitsubishi's rallying history: she was present at the very last event, 2001 Rally New Zealand, the team had used the Group A (well, at that point just more or less) cars. The differentials were not working well, and with no manufacturer car retiring, the 11th place was the best they could get.
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| 2001 Rally New Zealand (Mitsubishi) |
2003
This update focuses on the 2003 season of the car with James Thompson (thanks for pointing this out Karl Davidson!), which started at the Pirelli International Rally, and with works support. They were among the fastest, but a roll and the lost time meant a bad starting position for day 2, where James spent most of the day catching and passing slower cars. But in the end, they finished 6th overall. Sadly, I can't find any more pictures of this event than this small one.
Next up was the RSAC Scottish Rally. Not much I could find about this event, but one thing is sure: they retired.
Their 3rd event together was the Jim Clark Memorial Rally, which they finished in 8th place overall. Also, notice the very heavily modified rear suspension on the first picture!
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| 2003 Jim Clark Memorial (flickr) |
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| 2003 Jim Clark Memorial (flickr) |
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| 2003 Jim Clark Memorial (flickr) |
Their final event was the Manx International Rally. Also, I couldn't really find much of how this went down, but one thing is sure, they crashed out.
Whereabouts
Update: the V22 MMR plate returned on the 2012 Rallylegend with a car that many say is only a replica car. So, still nothing new on this one...
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| Rally Legend, San Marino, 2012 |
Update #2: after seeing the pictures of the car with Thompson, I couldn't point at what was so familiar. After 5 minutes, I realized I saw the right rear door somewhere before...
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| Yes, the door on the right is certainly from V22 MMR (www.duen.hu) |
What makes this interesting is that the picture was taken at the TRT shop while X3 MMR was under rebuild. Of course, it could have come with the spares package, but I doubt that. Well, X3 is almost certainly X3 (see the
post of that car for more on that), but this puts up a few questions. Here we go again... :)
Update 2020: alongside
W4 MMR (and recce cars S6 and V77 MMR), V22 appeared in an in-house Ralliart promo video, with Loix driving her. The video could have taken place around RAC Rally that year given the location and conditions. Obviously Mäkinen drove V22 on the RAC, which would indicate this was after the event, but Ralliart was never afraid to put some random numberplates on cars, so...
Track records:
Starts: 12
Wins: 0
Podium finishes: 1
(2000 Wales Rally GB)
Best finish: 3rd
(2000 Wales Rally GB)
Retirements: 3
- 2001 Rallye de Portugal (clutch)
- 2003 RSAC Scottish Rally
- 2003 Manx International Rally (accident)
