Merry Christmas!

Well, another year has passed, and now most people are still rushing to get things done before Christmas. I'd like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! The blog's been on a slow burn, but I tried to speed things up this year (with one post per month, not much, but the farther the topic goes back in time, the harder it is to find infos and pictures). But not much ago the blog has welcomed its 24000th visitor, which is quite great! I hope you'll stick with me in the coming times as well.

Here's a couple of pictures of Ralliart's test in Rovaniemi from the December of 2000, with Tommi giving Santa a ride in his own slide!

I'm sure they went a little sideways later... (Mitsubishi)

Tommi and Joulupukki, with S44 TMR in the background (Mitsubishi)

Retro Rumour Mill - Abu Dhabi and Mitsubishi?

Well, this time a bit of an ancient, but interesting rumour regarding Mitsubishi and Abu Dhabi. Many of you know that Abu Dhabi entered the sport as a big sponsor in 2007 as part of the Ford WRT from Finland onwards. Also, MML prepared an update for the Lancer WRC05, which they claimed made the car 0.5s/km faster than before. Two things that has nothing in common at first sight - and since this is a rumour, take this with a grain of salt -, it might have had. Theory says that Abu Dhabi contacted MML and Mitsubishi about a full-time works return to the series. However, Mitsubishi didn't want it in the end (because of the new direction they had and have at the moment), and so Abu Dhabi went to Cumbria instead. It would have been very interesting to see this come together if it was really true (car/drivers-wise, etc.), but unfortunately it didn't. However, they got as far as decorating up a Lancer WRC with Abu Dhabi colours - it would have looked good if it became a reality. At least we got a better car out of this whole thing in the end, which pretty much kept it alive as long as it is.

Unfortunately, this never became a reality... The WRC07 in Abu Dhabi colours (internet)

N2 APC

This car - just like sister N1 APC - was an APRC-exclusive car, with her being assigned to then up-and-coming Richard Burns. Their first event together was the 1996 Rally of Thailand. They were mixing it up with Mäkinen, Mcrae and Eriksson, but on the last stage of the first day they had a problem, hit a tree, rolled and retired.

Their second event together (there was Indonesia, but no English plates were put on those cars) was the Petronas Rally of Malaysia. The car got a Petronas livery for this event, and it went very well, as they finished 2nd overall!

Podium of the Petronas Rally of Malaysia 1996 (McKlein)

Next up was the Smokefree Rally New Zealand, and the Lancers sported a Rothmans livery this time. The event was star-studded again, but Mäkinen and Possum Bourne crashed, and that left Burns in the lead with Eriksson closing in. However, the Briton did just enough to keep his lead, and win his first major international event.

Smokefree Rally New Zealand 1996 (response.jp)

Her last known event was the 1996 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally, again with Burns. The drivers' championship already went to Eriksson, but Mitsubishi looked to retain their manufacturers' title. Burns couldn't answer Ari Vatanen's times, and had to settle for 2nd; however, a 1-2-3 finish still ensured the Title and good spirits.

The three musketeers, or N1 APC, N2 APC and the Japanese car lining up for the start (Mitsubishi)

1996 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally

Whereabouts

Same goes for this as N1 APC: not much possibility for its survival, but if it made its way somehow into a collector, it can still be around somewhere.

Track recod

Starts: 4

Wins: 1 - 1996 Rally New Zealand

Podiums: 3

• 1996 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally
• 1996 Rally New Zealand
• 1996 Petronas Rally of Malaysia

Retirements: 1 - 1996 Rally of Indonesia (Accident)

N1 APC

In rallying heyday of the '90s, there was a championship besides the WRC which was almost as important for the Japanese manufacturers as the big series itself - the now often overlooked and forgotten about Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, or APRC. The series was prestigious, and the events so special that many times the manufacturers called for specialist drivers - such as multiple times Dakar and Safari Rally winner Ari Vatanen, Asia-specialist Kenneth Eriksson, Kiwi Possum Bourne, and also Dakar Rally and APRC champion Kenjiro Shinozuka. Of course, besides these drivers, the top WRC stars were regular participants, with Mäkinen, Sainz, McRae, Burns, Kankkunen and Liatti taking part as well.

After this little intro, let's get back to the Mitsubishi part in all this. For 1996, Ralliart prepared two cars (or numberplates) for APRC use: N1 & N2 APC; these cars were often partnered by Shinozuka's RHD, Ralliart Japan-prepared Lancer. N1's first event was the 1996 Rally of Thailand, with the crew of Tommi Mäkinen and Seppo Harjanne. It is undclear as to what happened to them, but they didn't finish.

No info or pics, just this bad quality cutout of a video... 1996 Rally of Thailand

Her next documented deployment was the Rally New Zealand, again with Mäkinen. They were leading after the first day with a big gab behind them, but they hit a treestump on the second day and had to retire.

1996 Smokefree Rally New Zealand

Her final event was also the very last running of the infamous Hong Kong-Beijing Rally, but this time her driver was Ari Vatanen, multiple time Safari and Dakar Rally winner, 1979 World Rally Champion. He bid farewell to the car and the rally in style, winning it without doing any recce! Also, a 1-2-3 finish ensured Mitsubishi successfully defended their manufacturers' title in the APRC.

Hong Kong-Beijing Rally 1996 (Response.jp)

Whereabouts
This was an APRC-exclusive car, and given the fact that the Evo IV was already knocking on the door and this car just having done an endurance gravel event, there's not much chance for it still being around, although it's possible.

Track record (confirmed starts only)
Starts: 3
Wins: 1

• 1996 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally

Podiums: 1 (1996 Hong Kong-Beijing Rally)
Retirements: 2

• 1996 Rally of Indonesia - unknown
• 1996 Smokefree Rally New Zealand -  Lost wheel

N7 MRE

N7 MRE was the twin car of N6 MRE - therefore she began her career in 1996 in Argentina as well, just she was piloted by the up-and-coming British driver, Richard Burns. The event was a first for everyone - the team, Tommi, and Richard. Despite that, Mäkinen won - and Burns arrived at the finish in 4th overall. Not bad at all!


Her second event was the Rally Australia, again with Burns. Despite having very small experience of the event, they finished 5th, and almost beat Colin McRae, the outgoing World Champion.

1996 Rally Australia (McKlein)

1997
In 1997, Mitsubishi was still using the trick that only Mäkinen was doing all the events, while Burns was on deployment in the APRC, and on selected WRC rounds. When the 2nd factory car was not present, Uwe Nittel, the 1996 Gr. N champion was nominated as point scorer in a Ralliart Germany Lancer, to be exact, N7 MRE. The season started well in Monte-Carlo, with them finishing 5th, despite having to change a wheel on day 3.

1997 Rallye Monte-Carlo (Mitsubishi)

Next up was the Rally Sweden, a quite harsh learning ground for any non-Nordic driver. Nittel was doing according to this, and almost had a decent result, but two stages before the end they went off and hit a tree.

1997 Rally Sweden (Mitsubishi)

They returned to action in Spain, the first real tarmac rally of the season. Nittel was driving very carefully, but he had a chance to get 6th on the final stage. He went off though, and had to complete the rally with one suspension missing, and only finished 8th.

1997 Rally Catalunya (Mitsubishi)

As was the tradition for many years, shortly after Spain was the Tour de Corse. They had quite a disadvantage here with the old Evo III against the Kit Cars and the WRCs, and so it showed. They made stage times in the 5th-10th zone, and ended up 8th after encountering some transmission problems.

1997 Tour de Corse (Mitsubishi)

For Greece, Nittel was carrying #10 as this was the first time three works cars were present at the same rally. Interestingly though, they finished 6th, their second points scoring finish after Monte-Carlo. Unfortunately, so far I wasn't able to find a picture of them.

After missing New Zealand, they returned on Rally Finland. Again, not an easy rally, but they kept themselves together, and finished 7th - not bad considering they were the fastest of the non-Finnish drivers!

1997 Rally Finland (Mitsubishi)

Their last WRC event of the season was the Sanremo Rally. They were doing quite well against the better cars, and even had a pair of 2nd-fastest stage times, but went off on SS16 and had to retire.

1997 Sanremo Rally (Mitsubishi)

To close the season, they entered the Golden Tulip Rally (now called Hellendoorn Rally), part of the ERC. However, this didn't turn out to be a good occasion, as they crashed out.

Cropped from a video, the only sight I have found of them - 1997 Golden Tulip Rally

Whereabouts
The car wasn't seen after 1997, but since it was at Ralliart Germany, it could have survived, but crashing on its last known rally might not have helped. I have no info on this matter. So, if You have any, please contact me!

Track record
Starts: 10
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Best result: 4th - 1996 Rally Argentina
Retirements: 2

• 1997 Sanremo Rally - accident
• 1997 Golden Tulip Rally - accident

N6 MRE

The second group of 1996 built cars appeared in Argentina, with N6 MRE being assigned to Mäkinen, and N7 MRE to Richard Burns. This was everybody's first Rally Argentina - neither Tommi, nor Richard, nor the team has ever contested this event. Finns always do well here - and Mäkinen was no exception to this, as the fast stages resemble the ones in Finland. So he ran home with the win, and Burns also collected important points for his 4th place.

1996 Rally Argentina (members.tripod.com)

She returned at the Rally Australia, again as Mäkinen's car, and with Petronas livery. This was a very important event, as Mäkinen could seal his first world title. To make him work for that, there were very bad conditions, with rain and therefore always changing grip. However, they grabbed the lead on the first day, and never gave it away, bringing Tommi his 5th win of the season and his first world title.

1996 Rally Australia (gtplanet.net)

1996 Rally Australia podium (Brian Long: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo: The road car & WRC story)

Whereabouts
1997 saw a complete change in the model line, which of course meant that the factory team was using the new cars as well. No data on what happened to this car, but it might have been used as a Safari recce car.

Track record
Starts: 2
Wins: 2

• 1996 Rally Argentina 
• 1996 Rally Australia

Podiums: 2

N4 MRE

N4 MRE was the first of the 1996 batch of Evo III cars, and also one that started her life as a III, and wasn't a rebuilt II. Her first rally was the Safari, which is always a very difficult event. None the less, Mäkinen won it after he slowed down a bit (before the event, there was a serious concern as Tommi basically wrote the car off during testing as he was driving so hard, but luckily he understood what he had to do).

1996 Safari Rally (internet)

Whereabouts
Not so strangely to a Safari car, her career was done as a works car. It is possible that the shell was used for later Safari recce drives (like P55 MRE from the Evo IV's), but no other competition. Now she is in Andrew Cowan's private museum, sitting next to Burns' 1998 Safari-winning P33 MRE.

Track record
Starts: 1
Wins: 1

• 1996 Safari Rally

Podiums: 1