Mitsubishi Lancer WRC
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
T. Makinen testing in France
(3 - 8 September 2001)
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Four-times FIA World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen got his first taste of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution World Rally Car
this week when he put the new challenger through its paces during a six-day asphalt test near Nice, France. The Finn, who is
hoping the new car will help him seal a fifth world title this year, was impressed from the outset.
"It was absolutely a good feeling straight away, a big difference to our current car", enthused Tommi.
"Everything is very good, and better; the balance between the front and rear, the grip, the response for a fast change
in direction, and there is also a big change with the engine. It revs higher and there is more power, which means we can go
longer distances without changing gear, which is a positive thing. Of course it’s difficult to say what we can do in
Sanremo as we haven’t done back-to-back tests with the current car, but for sure I feel very positive and my immediate
feeling is that we have something faster and better".
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart has already carried out two extensive tests and 1,000 kilometres on both gravel and asphalt
with test driver Lasse Lampi. With much of the initial set-up work already undertaken, both Makinen and team-mate Freddy
Loix took to the wheel, covering a further 900 kilometres on a mixture of bumpy, rough and smooth asphalt roads to finalise
their own settings in preparation for the car’s debut in Sanremo (5-7 October), and the last asphalt event of the
season in Corsica (19-21 October).
Mitsubishi Lancer WRC
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart
T. Makinen testing in France
(3 - 8 September 2001)
|
Loix, who had already driven the car during its first shakedown test in July, was equally enthusiastic about the
developments made on the Lancer Evolution WRC.
"I have to say I have a very good feeling; the car might look quite similar but it is completely different to
drive", said Freddy, after completing the first of his two day test. "We spent a bit of time on Friday morning
working with the suspension because Tommi has a different feeling to me, but I have found some good things and hope we can
make yet more progress. For sure the car is much more precise at the front, and the rear suspension is better on the bumpy
roads".
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart has also been working on tyres for Sanremo, Michelin having come up with a new construction for
the team. "It is looking quite good", commented Chief Engineer Bernard Lindauer, "and I think we had a very
happy Tommi Makinen!"
Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart is now focused on success in the southern hemisphere with its three-car entry of Tommi Makinen,
Toni Gardemeister and Freddy Loix. Victory in New Zealand (20-23 September) would be a fitting finale for the works Group A
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, one of world rallying’s most successful car models with 26 victories to its credit.
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