A következő címkéjű bejegyzések mutatása: alister mcrae. Összes bejegyzés megjelenítése
A következő címkéjű bejegyzések mutatása: alister mcrae. Összes bejegyzés megjelenítése

2015. június 5., péntek

KR05 ZKK

And we always have one of these cars, don't we? The one that pops up suddenly, no info about where it came from and in this case where it is. This car might have had the same story as Peugeot's last 307 WRCs, which were only just completed or half completed chassis'. So this car was likely caught in a bubble with being half ready, and given the numberplate, it fits nicely with ZKL and ZKJ - just it didn't compete till mid 2009! Although no official chassis number is known for this car, it is a guess that it is #18. But anyways, onto the story!
Hir first rally was the Amsterdam Rallysprint with Mark van Eldik - who later competed with KR53 YPP and other Lancers, this was his first taste of the car. He won the rally with it in a very strong field, beating 2006 Focus WRCs and others.
2009 Amsterdam Rallysprint (Arjen Groters / menmrally.nl)
After her maiden rally, she was at the RallyDay at Castle Combe, piloted by none other than former Mitsubishi works driver Alister McRae, who flew back to the UK from his home in Australia to drive for MML.
With Alister McRae, RallyDay 2009 (MML Sports)
 Her next event was in Latvia, the championship's closing round, the Rally Latvija - Kuldigas Rudens. Her driver was Ivars Vasaraudzis, but after some problems (a small crash, etc) they finished only 5th.
2009 Rally Latvija (ziemellatvija.diena.lv)
Sporting some cosmetic damage, 2009 Rally Latvija (liepajniekiem.lv)
Next up was the Lausitz Rally with Mark van Eldik, who originally debuted the car. Despite Mark not having much experience on gravel, they were able to secure a victory in very difficult conditions.
Lausitz Rally 2009 (Nico Meyer / ewrc.cz)
Her next event was the Condroz Rally with none other than François Duval. They had a couple of quality opponents in strong cars, but François did what he became famous for - crash out in a spectacular way.
Condroz Rally 2009: before the crash...
...and after (www.tout-le-rallye.be)
2011
After that heavy crash, she only returned in 2011 for the Cambrian Rally, with up-and-coming talent Tom Cave. They didn't disappoint despite Tom's young age, and finished 2nd!
Cambrian Rally 2011 (Simon Clarke - www.sc-photography.co.uk)
Two Czech events followed at the end of the year, the first being the Rally Show Uherský Brod, with her new driver, Martin Březík. They finished 3rd, and with teammate Tlust'ák winning with KX53 BKO, it was a great weekend for the team.
Rally Show Uherský Brod 2011 (Petr Sagner / ewrc.cz)
Her last recorded start is the Mikuláš Rally, with Jan Štěpánek. Despite Jan's first rally in a WRC that was not a Skoda, they did very well, and only a puncture could get them off a certain podium position, but they still managed to finish 4th.
Mikuláš Rally 2011 (Mirek Rihánek / e-motorsport.cz)
Whereabouts
After the Mikuláš Rally, the car (or the numberplate) never returned, and to this day this car is a mistery, given that possibly it has no chassis number, etc. It could have been crashed or the shell used for an other car, or it is sitting in a warehouse, waiting for her next deployment (like KX05 AUR returned after a hefty break).

Track record
Starts: 8
Wins: 2
  • Amsterdam Rallysprint 2009
  • Lausitz Rally 2009
Podiums: 4 
  • Amsterdam Rallysprint 2009
  • Lausitz Rally 2009
  • Cambrian Rally 2011
  • Rally Show Úherský Brod 2011
Retirements: 1

  • Rallye du Condroz-Huy 2009 (crash)

2013. április 3., szerda

KR02 DLX

Interestingly, the three KR02 DL-cars' chassis numbers are the opposite direction as the alphabet goes (DLZ - C012, DLX - C015). Well, to say the least, I don't have to keep a long story short, as she had only three rallies during her entire career, and was unlucky enough not to finish any of them; not exactly a fairy tale...
She debuted as an asphalt car for Alister McRae on the 2002 Deutschland Rallye, but was forced to retire after the turbo blew up.
It is not the best when you have something like this coming out of the exhaust... (Petr Fitz)
Her next event was Rally Sanremo, but McRae had injured himself prior to th event. In fact, his problems were worse than they thought, and had to withdraw him from the event.
As the glowing brakedisc shows, you have to tackle a lot of corners in Sanremo (motorsport.com)
It is just a mere irony that Jani Paasonen, the substitution driver for McRae in GB got to drive her, but after being really off the pace, he crashed the car really badly, ending the season and the car on a low, too.
Her first gravel rally was her last one - ever... (motorsport.com)
Whereabouts
She was crashed on the last event before Mitsu went for a holiday season, and a new car was in the works, so it's safe to say she wasn't repaired, instead, fed to the grim reaper.
Paasonen never made half work...

Track record
Starts: 3
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Retirements: 3

2013. április 2., kedd

KR02 DLZ

KR02 DLZ is one of the most (if not the most) used chassis among the Evo WRCs, therefore she is a bit worn now... but later on that.
She started her career on the 2002 Rally Finland, as a brand new Step2 car, with Alister McRae. Unfortunately, the rally was cut short for the crew, because just like team-mate Delecour, a jump was too heavy for the suspension to handle (obviously something wasn't designed properly), and they had to retire.
On the first day, wearing the signs of a little bit too big jump... (motorsport.com)
She returned to acton on Rallye New Zealand, now ith Jani Paasonen. They got along pretty well, as Paasonen was a strong contender for the podium, even recording the car's first (and only) stagewin in the WRC. Unfortunately, on the second day he rolled the car, damaging the radiator, so they had to retire. That is a shame, because this was basically the only time the car could show its real potential...
The finnish-like stages favoured Paasonen, but he was still impressive (motorsport.com)
Whereabouts
She remained a works car, and in 2003, she contested the 2003 Arctic Rally and Rally Sweden with Kristian Sohlberg. On the Arctic Ralli, they were forced to retire with a clutch failure, and in Sweden they failed to live up to the expectations, and finished only 12th.
Arctic Ralli 2003 (kristiansohlberg.com)

Jumping through the now so-called Colin's Crest, 2003 Sweden
After this, she was sold to a private team in England. Her first start in parivate hands was the 2004 Killarney Stages with Irish rallying legend Eammon Boland, and a 3rd place was the prize for the efforts. (Note: she was converted to right-hand drive for Boland, but later was converted back). On the next two events they had to retire do to mechanical problems, and she quickly left Ireland afterwards.
Montage of the Killarney Stages 2004 (crspics.com)
On the Jim Clark Memorial 2004 (Ian Hardy)
She was purchased by MSR Motorsport (alongside KR02 DLY), and she is still with them, although after her last appearance to date, the 2011 Border Counties Rally, was put up for sale. Mostly Ian Campbell drove her since 2007. On some occasions, she carried the reg plate E10 WUL, which she shared with KR02 DLY.
Sunseeker Rally, 2007
Yes, she was even dressed up as a bee... (Ian Hardy)

Track record
Starts: 18
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1 (Killarney Stages 2004 - 3rd)
Retirements: 11

2013. március 30., szombat

KS51 XPN

KS51 XPN (I think far the worst numberplate a Ralliart car has ever worn, it just sounds really dull to me) had a very interesting, yet short and typical career. Wonder how can you go from an asphalt car to contesting the Safari? Well, if she was (or is?) alive, she could answer that question...
So, she started her competitive life on Corsica, with Alister McRae, and throughout her career she was his exclusive car. So, after bad weather and many problems, the crew finished in 10th position.
Narrow roads, a big car - not exatcly what you want for this event... (motorsport.com)
As the Catalunya Rally in Spain was really close to Corsica (both in time and space), she was used there again. After a couple of punctures, the crew failed to impress again, crossing the finish line in 13th.
In a fast corner, 2002 Spain (motorsport.com)
The team really was just testing at the time Rally Argentina came, her next event. Contrary to that, both cars did better than expected, but they were still a country mile behind event the points-scoring places, let alone the podiums...
Jumping to 8th place, 2002 Argentina (motorsport.com)
Her last known event to date came with the Safari Rally. The hopes were high (so high that even a point for McRae would have been a win for the team...), and despite this was Alister's first Safari and the car was also falling apart (literally!), he managed to bring her home in 9th place. Not bad considering these facts, but utter sh-you know what-it considering he was beaten by Juha Kankkunen, whose Hyundai Accent WRC lost two dampers, the rear-wheel-drive and some gears upon finishing, and also that only 12 cars were at the finish...
This gives you an idea what the Safari is all about... (motorsport.com)
Whereabouts
After this career-altering performance, she was quickly scrapped and was never converted to Step2. 
Update 2015: I just came across a very strange set of pictures from 2003 October; on these, this car is at a show, but strangely it is sporting an Evo VIII rear spoiler, sills and rear bumper!
As a show car, 2003 October (RaX / evolutionm.net)
The headlights and the Detschland Rally stickers are also interesting (RaX / evolutionm.net)
Of course, it is possible that XPN was just a registration they put on, but given the fact that it has an Evo VIII rear bumper (so it's not a remained Evo VII bumper they were using before), it is likely to be the original plate of this car - after a Safari, the chassis could have been so badly used that it was decided to remain as a show car (much like Y5 MMR's reappearance after its crash). But after that what happened to her is unknown.

Track record
Starts: 4
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Best finish: 8th (2002 Rally Argentina)
Retirements: 0

KP51 RWN

KP51 RWN's story is a bit interesting and in the end, sad. She was part of the trio prepared prior to the 2002 season (KP51 RWL, RWO, RWN), and she held the record for the best finish an Evo WRC ever had: on the 2002 Rally Sweden, together with Alister McRae, ended the event in 5th place.
Rocketing to his kind's best WRC finish ever, 2002 Sweden (motorsport.com)
Her next round was the Cyprus Rally, the third hardest-hitting event on the 2002 WRC calendar behind the Safari and the Acropolis. The rally didn't go as well as her debut, first McRae rolled, and than the drive broke in the transmission, forcing the crew to retire.
Prior to the crash, 2002 Cyprus (motorsport.com)
Speaking of the Acropolis, she made the short trip there to be Alister's car again. And once more, unfortunately, the crew didn't see the finish ramp, this time due to an accident.
Already sporting some battle bruises, 2002 Greece (motorsport.com)
If you're already parading in the Mediterranean, why not take a short trip down to Australia for the penultimate round of the 2002 season, and with the bonus of getting converted to Step2 spec? Paasonen substitued for the injured McRae, but was really off the pace, and later rolled too, so the 9th place was even good looking at all this...
They hoped for a food result, but -again- it wasn't to be (motorsport.com)
As 2002 turned into 2003, she was used only once more as a works car, at the 2003 Rallye New Zealand, with up-and-coming young star Kristian Sohlberg. Sadly, they had to retire after they spent too much time repairing the car.
On her last works event, 2003 New Zealand (kristiansohlberg.com)
Whereabouts
We had to wait for her return until 2005, when she was used in the Finnish championship with Kristian Sohlberg, and ran by Ralliart Finland/Race Rent Europe. She had mainly podium places, but was heavily crashed on the SM Valvoline Ralli. There's no info if she was repaired or not, but hasn't been seen since that.
Probably SM Waltikka Ralli 2005
SM OK-Auto Rally 2005
Track record
Starts: 10
Wins: 0
Podiums: 3 (2005 SM Perunkaralli, SM OK-Auto Ralli & SM Uusikaupunki Ralli)
Retirements: 4 (2002 Rally Cyprus & Acropolis Rally, 2003 Rally New Zealand, 2005 SM Valvoline Ralli)

2013. március 27., szerda

KP51 RWL

KP51 RWL (notice the new numberplate-design: that is due to Britain going for a new system starting from September 2001; the first two letters indicate the area -in our case, Rugby, which goes from KM to KY-, than the next two the spring/autumn season, and three random numbers; if you're further interested, click here).
So, after this little history lesson on british numberplates, let's actually care about the car herself. She had a very strange and -unlike the cars who followed- very short stint as a factory car. She was the one Alister McRae used during the 2002 Rallye Monte Carlo, although they couldn't get close enough to bring home a good result; they finished 14th.
Possibly on Sisteron, 2002 Rallye Monte Carlo (Petr Fritz)
And than she disappeared, and didn't return until the 2003 Rallye New Zealand, again paired with Alister McRae. This was Mitsu's hiatus year, and also Marlboro was gone; however, this didn't stop the crew to come home 6th, the best result with an Evo WRC since 2002 Sweden.
En route to 6th place, 2003 NZ (www.ewrc.cz)
Whereabouts
She was put up for sale in 2010 August after a total refurbishment. It's unknown if she was bought or not, but somewhere she's still around.

Update 2018: The car was with Sumo Motorsport/JRM, but now has been bought by Michael Ehrle alongside X33 MMR.

Track record
Starts: 2
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Best finish: 6th (2003 Rallye New Zealand)
Retirements: 0