Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Tommi Makinen (Ralliart Europe - 6 August 2001)

Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Testing in France (30 July - 3 August 2001)

Mitsubishi Motors’ latest rally car, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC, is a new concept and a new start for Mitsubishi. It has been designed from the outset to comply with the World Rally Car regulations rather than the more restrictive Group A class. While it remains faithful to its production origins, it is a purpose-built competition car that takes full advantage of the possibilities offered by the World Rally Car rules and allows Mitsubishi to compete on level terms.

World Rally Car rules permit greater freedom in a number of key areas that are difficult to exploit with modified road cars, such as previous Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions. While Mitsubishi Motors has enjoyed immense success with the Group A Lancer Evolution, the new Lancer Evolution WRC should be even more competitive in a number of respects, because it complies with the same rules as all Mitsubishi’s rivals. Small details matter more than in the past, because the FIA World Rally Championship has become still more competitive. The margins between winning and losing are smaller than ever and it is therefore vital to take full advantage of the freedom the rules permit. As an air intake restrictor limits power, traction and roadholding are more than usually important. Transmitting power with the minimum of frictional losses through the drivetrain and ensuring that the tyres remain as far as possible in contact with the ground become overriding concerns.

Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Testing in France (30 July - 3 August 2001)

Three areas are particularly significant from Mitsubishi’s point of view. The first is weight distribution, as World Rally Car regulations allow the engine to be moved by up to 25 millimetres from the standard location. In addition, much larger suspension changes are allowed, increasing wheel travel and thereby offering greater stability and traction in almost all conditions, especially on rough roads. More extensive modifications are also permitted to the engine itself. Re-positioning the engine decreases pitching, while longer suspension travel improves stability and enhances driveability. The knowledge gained from the rally car will be put to good use in developing future Lancer Evolutions.

Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Font suspension

"Our Group A Lancer was already a good car, because Mitsubishi made quite a high-performance road car, but we were still struggling on three items compared to a World Rally Car", Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart engineer Bernard Lindauer explained. "The first item was the engine position, the second was front wheel arches and suspension turrets, and the third was rear wheel arches and suspension turrets, because we have quite a big difference with a World Rally Car on suspension travel and that was highlighted last year, when we started to lose performance. The areas we were really suffering were weight distribution and suspension travel. We did the first test this year with the Lancer Evolution, where we started to increase the rear suspension travel and we immediately saw that the effect was quite major. I think the three major items of the first World Rally Car for us are weight distribution, and the front and rear suspension travel".

Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart Rear suspension

The Lancer Evolution WRC has been designed to exploit the World Rally Car regulations in all these areas. There is greater suspension travel all round and the rear suspension is completely new, employing MacPherson struts, just like the front of all recent Lancers. The change has necessitated an extensive re-design of the rear end of the car. The engine is based on the well-proven Lancer Evolution unit, but it has been moved 25 millimetres rearwards, significantly improving weight distribution. As a result, front tyre wear should be reduced. The Lancer Evolution WRC is based on the Lancer production car, which has a longer wheelbase than previous Lancers, which provides improved stability. The latest car retains Mitsubishi’s highly developed four-wheel-drive transmission, which optimises traction both under braking and acceleration. With such proven equipment on hand, development will be concentrated on the suspension. The new bodyshell is also stiffer, which further enhances roadholding and handling.

Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart The engine

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions have long been renowned for their potent and reliable engines, but again, the World Rally Car regulations offer scope for an improvement. The turbocharger restrictor size remains 34 millimetres and Mitsubishi therefore retains its existing turbo. However, inlet and exhaust manifolds need not be standard, facilitating improved throttle response. Although there is no increase in the size of the intercooler, which cools the inlet charge before it enters the cylinders, it can be re-located with none of the compromises necessary for a production car. The result is a useful power and torque increase compared to the older car.

The concept is more sophisticated, but refinement is just as important and therefore development of the Lancer Evolution WRC has already begun. It will cover several thousand kilometres of testing in the coming weeks. Engineer Lindauer believes that these few weeks are crucial. He is eager to find out how the new car performs, but admits that his team has a tough task to get the most out of its new car in the limited development time that the World Championship calendar permits.

Mitsubishi Lancer WRC Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart T. Makinen & B. Lindauer at Ralliart Europe (6 August 2001)