KNY70-HA7863

This car is very interesting, as this one was a Ralliart Japan car - RHD, different roof scoop, mirrors and sumpguard, etc. The car made its debut on the 1993 Safari Rally under the Mitsubishi Oil banner, with none other than Kenjiro Shinozuka. The event went badly though, as they had to retire after engine trouble not even halfway into the rally.

Safari Rally 1993 (Mitsubishi)

In 1993, contesting the APRC was Ralliart Japan's job, and so their next event was the opening round, the Rally Indonesia. Not much is known of this event, but Shinozuka finished 2nd, behind Possum Bourne's Subaru Legacy.

Next up was the Rally of Malaysia. This time around, they finished 3rd, behind Colin McRae and Possum Bourne.

The car's final event of the season was the Hong Kong-Beijing Rally. They couldn't beat the Subaru Legacy trio of Vatanen, McRae and Bourne, and finished 4th.

Hong Kong-Beijing Rally 1993 (en.responsejp.com)

1994
They returned for the 1994 Safari Rally, which was the original Evo I's last appearance as a works car. They fared a lot better in 1994 than the year before though, and ended up in 2nd behind Ian Duncan's Toyota Celica.

Safari Rally 1994 (Mitsubishi)

Next up was the Rally Indonesia, with the car now converted to Evo II. They finished 3rd this time, little consolation to that was the fact that team-mate Kenneth Eriksson took the victory, with Possum Bourne 2nd in the Mitsubishi sandwich.

Ralliart Japan ended the season with the Hong Kong-Beijing Rally. They finished 4th.

Hong Kong-Beijing Rally 1994 (Classic Rally instagram)

1995
In 1995, they returned with the usual lineup, the only thing changed was the car, now sporting the Evo III updates. They had a rough event, but finished 2nd behind Yoshio Fujimoto's Toyota Celica.

Safari Rally 1995 (internet)

Whereabouts
After the 1995 Safari - and occasionally even before that - Shinozuka started using Ralliart Australia's cars (more on that later), and on the 1996 Safari Ralliart Japan had a new car (at least a car with different numberplate, but likely it was a different car). Of the APRC rounds back then, there's very little info available, so...

Track record
Starts: 8
Wins: 0
Podiums: 5

• 1993 Rally Indonesia
• 1993 Rally of Malaysia
• 1994 Safari Rally
• 1994 Rally Indonesia
• 1995 Safari Rally

Retirements: 1

• 1993 Safari Rally - engine

L6 MRE

L6 MRE made her debut on the 1994 Rally New Zealand, with Armin Schwarz and Klaus Wicha. The event counted towards the WRC and the APRC among others - so specialist drivers were also present to try to throw a wrench into the regulars' business. Schwarz was not baffled by them though, and finished 3rd, right in front of his more experienced team-mate Kenneth Eriksson.

Rally New Zealand 1994 (en.response.jp)

Rally New Zealand 1994 (KiwiRallyFan)

Her next event was the Hong Kong - Beijing Rally. No info on who drove the car or what the finish was, and pictures... no-no.

1996
She returned on the 1996 1000 Lakes Rally, with Ralliart test driver Lasse Lampi (this could indicate that at that time L6 MRE was a test car), and as an Evo III. They did what they could, and ended up 8th overall against very-very strong opposition.

1000 Lakes Rally 1996 (mattsoumi)

Whereabouts
She made it to 1996, albeit most likely as a test car; this could indicate that she was scrapped later on, but just as well she might be still around, although not likely.

Track record
Starts: 3
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1

• 1994 Rally New Zealand - Schwarz/Wicha

Retirements: 0

M9 MRE

M9 MRE's -and sister car M10 MRE's- story is not that unusual for works Lancers. Both cars debuted on the 1995 Rally New Zealand, with Kenneth Eriksson and Staffan Parmander assigned to drive M9 MRE. Eriksson was fast, but not fast enough, and finished 5th behind McRae and the three factory Toyotas.

Rally New Zealand 1995 (en.response.jp)

Rally New Zealand 1995 (forocoches.com)

She returned to competition on the 1995 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally, again with Eriksson and Parmander. The event was always one of the most difficult on the APRC calendar, and there was pressure: Eriksson could get a big lead in the championship standings, also, Mitsubishi could get a jump on rivals Subaru. In the end, Eriksson won, with stand-in teammate Ari Vatanen coming home in 2nd for the double win.

Hong Kong-Beijing Rally 1995 (Classic_Rally instagram)

Whereabouts
The M9 MRE numberplate has never returned to competition, but I don't necessarily think that the car was scrapped; it might have been reused with a different numberplate...

Track record
Starts: 2
Wins: 1

• 1995 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally

Podiums: 1
Retirements: 0