K7 MRE

K7 started her competition life in 1993, on the Acropolis Rally, alongside K6 MRE, with Armin Schwarz piloting her. They had a very strong debut event, as they finished 3rd, recording a stage win and five 2nd fastest times along the way.

Acropolis Rally 1993 (Olivier Delhez / ewrc.cz)

1994

She only returned on the 1994 Acropolis Rally, again with Schwarz, now as an Evo II specification car. They had a great rally again, winning 5 stages and finishing 2nd on 9 stages! They received a 2min penalty after the last stage, but they still had enough gap to Kankkunen to finish 2nd.

Acropolis Rally 1994 (rallyazores.blogspot.com)

1995

She began the season as a test car for the Monte Carlo Rally.

Pre-event test, 1995 Rallye Monte Carlo (youtube.com)

Next up was the Swedish Rally, where she was paired with Mäkinen. They had a good fight with their team-mate Eriksson, and ultimately had to hand over the victory to them after team orders.

Rally Sweden 1995 (McKlein / www.dirtfish.com)

Her next event was the Tour de Corse, this time with Andrea Aghini, and now as an Evo III. Ralliart had high hopes for Aghini, and he delivered: after one stagewin, five 2nd places and a big battle with Sainz throughout the event, they finished 3rd overall!

Tour de Corse 1995 (rallymemory.blogspot.com)

Also during the season, she was also used again as a test car:

During testing, 1995 (facebook)

Whereabouts

She did not compete as K7 MRE again, although that doesn't mean that she was not used again with a different numberplate or for testing.

Track record

Starts: 4

Wins: 0

Podiums: 4

• 1993 Acropolis Rally: 3rd (Schwarz-Grist)
  
• 1994 Acropolis Rally: 2nd (Schwarz-Wicha)
  
• 1995 Rally Sweden: 2nd (Mäkinen-Harjanne)
  
• 1995 Tour de Corse: 3rd (Aghini-Farnocchia)
  

Retirements: 0

KX53 AOB

KX53 AOB - alongside KX53 BFV - was the first 2004 specification Lancer WRC built, and later used as a test car.

KX53 AOB during the Lancer WRC04 rollout

KX53 AOB during the Lancer WRC04 rollout

From the above two pictures it is very interesting to compare the initial look of the car to how the actual car ended up (biggest differences: front bumper, rear bumper, headlights, front and rear wings, etc.).

Whereabouts
The car is owned by Tristan Bailey, who also owns KX53 BFV, since 2012. The car is halfway through its build up process, and soon will be ready to roar in original specification as a tarmac car.

In July 2017 (Tristan Bailey / MMR Rallysport facebook)

 

 

Update 2023:

In december 2023, it was revealed that AOB's restoration is nearing its completion at MMR Rallysport. Upon completion, she will join her sister BFV as the only remaining 2004 specification Lancer WRCs.

AOB in december 2023 (Galway Carbon)

 

J200 RAE

This car is pretty much a mystery, and not really a 1993 car - given the numberplate, it was registered likely in the first half of 1992. Nevertheless, it was pretty much like R6 MRE or Y2 MMR (more like the latter, as R6 MRE was likely converted from a used Evo IV chassis), never competing anywhere.

Pre-Monte 1993 test (McKlein)

Pre-Monte 1993 test (McKlein)

Pre-Monte 1993 test (McKlein)

 

 J200 RAE on the 1993 Finalnd pre-event test (Youtube)

K4 MRE

K4 MRE -alongside sister car K5 MRE- was the first Lancer Evolution entered by Ralliart Europe in the WRC, making her debut on the 1993 Rallye Monte-Carlo with Kenneth Eriksson and Staffan Parmander. One funny story occured right before the event, after Ralliart failed to secure Coca-Cola sponsorship. But just before the event, the wrong design scheme was faxed to the workshop, that's why the Lancers had Coca-Cola stripes on the sides. They ran the event like that, but the design -sadly- has never been seen since. Anyways, Eriksson did well, and finished 4th, albeit 17 minutes behind the winner.

Rallye Monte-Carlo 1993 (internet)

Rallye Monte-Carlo 1993 (instagram)

Her next event was the Rallye de Portugal, again with Eriksson and Parmander. As said above, the cars were sporting a new look, with a lot of green replacing red and black. They were doing well once again (remember, this was only the second works outing for the Lancers ever!), and finished 5th behind more experienced opposition.

Rallye de Portugal 1993 (F1PAM): this is a great picture, as during the Lancer's design phase,
the Integrale was studied thoroughly by Mitsubishi engineers

Rallye de Portugal 1993 (olhares.sapo.pt)

Between two competitive outings, she (or her numberplates) was used on the team's 1993 Rally Finland pre-event test as well.

1993 1000 Lakes Rally pre-event test (Youtube)

Her final WRC event in 1993 came on the RAC Rally, this time with Schwarz. They had very little experience, and that was worsened by the trecherous conditions that year (snow and ice in Wales, ice in Kielder, etc.), but in the end reached the finish in 8th.

Network Q RAC Rally 1993 (pistech.karoo.net)

1994
Despite the arrival of new chassis, the old cars (or at least their numberplates) were kept around an converted to Evo II. K4 MRE returned on the Sanremo Rally, with the team's new star, Tommi Mäkinen. Their rally didn't end well, as Tommi took a wheel off on SS5 and they retired.

1995
K4 MRE returned to the WRC on the RAC Rally, again with Mäkinen and now as an Evo III. Mitsubishi was in a fight with Subaru for the manufacturers' title, but their plans didn't go too well: Mäkinen retired with transmission failure, and Eriksson crashed out, meaning Mitsubishi finished 2nd behind Subaru.

Network Q RAC Rally 1995 (Shaun Flannery Photography)

Network Q RAC Rally 1995 (Shaun Flannery Photography)

Whereabouts
This is a tough one, as this car was one of the two first Lancer Evos to compete in the WRC, and yet it might now have survived. There's an Evo II in Cowan's collection, but from the pictures it can't be determined which one, and none of the Evo IIIs is likely to be this car.

Track record (might be incomplete)
Starts: 6
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Best result: 4th - Rallye Monte-Carlo 1993
Retirements: 2

• 1995 RAC Rally - transmission
• 1994 RAC Rally - accident

V22 MMR

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pirelli Int'l Rally 2003 (www.pro-rally.co.uk)

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!

2003 Jim Clark Memorial (flickr)

2003 Jim Clark Memorial (flickr)

2003 Jim Clark Memorial (flickr)

2003 Jim Clark Memorial (Roy Dempster)

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.

2003 Manx International Rally (Roy Dempster)

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...

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...

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...

During a test in 2000 (VHS Rallies / Youtube)

During a test in 2000 (VHS Rallies / Youtube)

During a test in 2000 (VHS Rallies / Youtube)

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)

P22 MRE

1997
Unlike her sister P2 MRE, P22 had a much longer - and much successful - career. She was the first works Evo IV on the stages, and driven by none other than Tommi Mäkinen and Seppo Harjanne. The debut went well, but the changing conditions and the big competition meant that the duo had to settle for 3rd after leading the rally earlier on.

The all-new Evo IV showed immediate promise in MC (Mitsubishi)

The next event for P22 was the TAP Rallye Portugal. This event went down historic for both Mitsubishi and technology: Mäkinen won the rally, thus the Evo IV became the first car equipped with a sequential gearbox to win a WRC round. And also 'by a country mile', as the Aussies would say, as the winning margin was over 4 minutes!

Writing history - once again. (Flickr)

Her last rally in 1997 was the infamous Acropolis Rally; she was piloted once again by the Mäkinen/Harjanne duo. The rally was possibly the toughest Acropolis up to that date, as some teams began considering running their Safari kits in 1998. Neverthless, they clinched the 3rd place (after they swapped with team-mate Burns) and extended Mäkinen's lead in the championship.

It's always good to be on the podium of the Acropolis

1998
She returned for the 1998 season on the Monte Carlo Rally - exactly where she debuted one year before. Again piloted by Tommi Mäkinen, the change was Risto Mannisenmäki replacing the retiring Seppo Harjanne. The event started well, as the new pairing was leading, but on the final day they crashed into a ravine - and out of the rally.

Still in and leading the rally... not for long. (Mitsubishi)

Whereabouts
After the crash in MC, the car was badly damaged, and so it was rebuilt as an Evo V test car. Thanks to Kristian Svendsen who found a video of the test and pointed this out! Though it is still likely it was scrapped along the way, but who knows...

During testing, now as an Evo V (Ralisasul)

During testing, now as an Evo V (Ralisasul)

Track record
Starts: 4
Wins: 1 (1997 TAP Rallye Portugal)
Podiums: 3 (1997 Rallye Monte Carlo, TAP Rallye Portugal & Acropolis Rally)
Retirements: 1 (1998 Rallye Monte Carlo)

Y2 MMR

Well, just a short note here, as there's nothing serious to be reported of a test car that was never used in competition. However, this car had a huge role in the Evo WRC project, so I can't leave her out of the party.

During testing before the Evo WRC's debut, September 2001 (Mitsubishi)

As she was a test car that wasn't even used in 2002, it is certain that she was scrapped, which is understandable as she clocked up more than 2000kms during test sessions in 2001. But to have more than three sentences of this car, here are some pictures during tests and other activities:

The front suspension during testing in the summer of 2001 (Mitsubishi)

The all-new rear suspension of the Evo WRC (Mitsubishi)

The engine bay. A lot of parts are in the same location as they were on the Gr.A Lancers (Mitsubishi)

During testing in the summer of 2001 (Mitsubishi)

Good shot of the cooling ducting, gearbox, engine bay and suspension (Mitsubishi)