RE: 'Evo' Line To Survive Ralliart Closure
Thursday 11th March 2010
Mitsubishi's famous racing division Ralliart is shutting up shop, marking the end of a glorious motorsport era that saw Tommi Makinen clinch the WRC title four times in succession from 1996 to 1999 driving the Ralliart-prepared Lancer Evolution.
'Evo' Line To Survive Ralliart Closure
Winding up marks the end of an era, if not the name
A notice has gone up on the Ralliart Inc website announcing the closure, which the company attributes to global economic conditions. The move is unlikely to make any significant difference to Mitsubishi's current operations as they've pretty much opted out of motorsports anyway. (Last year Mitsubishi's remaining 20 motorsport engineers were transferred to electric vehicle projects, which - we must assume - was probably better than being fired!)
The Ralliart name will survive, as it currently appears on various 'sporty' Mitsubishi models sold around the world - including the 147bhp Colt Ralliart sold here in the UK.
The Lancer Evolution line will continue too, according to a spokesman for Mitsubishi in the UK. Ever since the Evo VI was replaced with the VII, the model has been developed almost exclusively in-house by Mitsubishi engineers, with only a token input from Ralliart Inc. That will continue with future Evo models says our man.
Discussion
Ralliart Japan is being wound up and absorbed into Mitsibushi. Sad end to the once great Mitsi / Ralliart partnership that took Tommi Makkenen to 4 world champs. Ralliart RIP
http://www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=311...
http://www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=311...
EDLT said:
So they will be doing the same thing, but in-house like AMG?
Not really, only grp N parts offered as official mitsi parts, although the other kit, it would appear will be discontinued (or sold direct by the companies that make it under the Ralliart brand in all likelihood.The big issue is that Mitsi supplied parts are just silly money - Brembo rear callipers at a thousand notes a pop for example!
End of a very well known name, which is a shame.
soad said:
jgt1972 said:
I've watched the first couple of rounds of WRC this year, and it was a bit embarassing, to be honest. Very, very sad.
Probably will never be the same again ever. Good old days gone past...
troen left, so only one real rally team in it then (though stroen aren't doing bad)(Last year Mitsubishi's remaining 20 motorsport engineers were transferred to electric vehicle projects, which - we must assume - was probably better than being fired!)
Only just.....
Its a sad state of affairs when a company as big as Mistubushi cant keep 20 guys working in motorsport.
Only just.....
Its a sad state of affairs when a company as big as Mistubushi cant keep 20 guys working in motorsport.
havoc said:
soad said:
Boy, that red Evo looks so sweet! 
I'm a n/asp and 2wd man at heart, but the one rally-rep that genuinely tugs at my heart-strings is the TME - pure, focused, unfiltered...just spot-on!
My last quick car was a westy megabird, and I loved the way it seemed to dance down B roads. The way it changed direction was sublime. The Evo RS is the first car I've driven since then that comes close in terms of feedback, which is really bizarre given it's 4wd and FI. It's funny, as I actually had no intention of buying one but the indy dealer saw me looking at it and tossed me the keys. I was sold within about 500m of driving the thing. The funny thing is when googling them to see the pros and cons, I found a review by Evo of one which likened it to a 4 door Caterham 500.
Andrew[MG] said:
I never seem to be able to find rallying on TV but isn't there some non WRC events that are starting to get much bigger followings?
Dave have the sole rights to WRC now I think. It used to be them and Eurosport (who did a better job of it) but now it just seems to be Dave. As someone else mentioned the IRC is shown now on Eurosport.I remember the days when Subaru, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Ford, Seat, Toyota all had factory teams and now it's just down to Citroen and Ford.
Very, very sad.
jgt1972 said:
I've watched the first couple of rounds of WRC this year, and it was a bit embarassing, to be honest. Very, very sad.
The IRC is being covered on Eurosport with Carlton Kirby at the mic - not to everyone's liking but he makes me laugh. Much of Monte Carlo was covered live as will be some future European rounds.Motors TV have taken WRC from Eurosport this year and are giving it one-hour daily reports rather than the previous half-hours. Coverage can be less - how can I put this politely - polished than on Dave, but there's a lot of in-car, sometimes for whole stages. And they haven't got that irritating bell-end that Dave inexplicably employ.
In summary, if you can only have terrestrial, I'm afraid you're stuck with WRC on Dave. Otherwise there are options.
Crow555 said:
Andrew[MG] said:
I never seem to be able to find rallying on TV but isn't there some non WRC events that are starting to get much bigger followings?
Dave have the sole rights to WRC now I think. It used to be them and Eurosport (who did a better job of it) but now it just seems to be Dave. As someone else mentioned the IRC is shown now on Eurosport.I remember the days when Subaru, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Ford, Seat, Toyota all had factory teams and now it's just down to Citroen and Ford.
Very, very sad.
http://www.motorstv.com/car/rally/16112009/motors-...
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