Mitsubishi out after Germany
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Mitsubishi out after Germany
Now, if I remember correctly, Hyundai was fined (but still hasn't paid) a quarter million for each rally they missed. Which would mean that Mitsubishi pulling out may garner them a $1.25 million fine, plus they will be missing the Rally Japan.
Doesn't sound like good news over all, especially considering the recent financial trouble of Mitsubishi motors. Hopefully they get everything sorted out by next season.
http://www.wrc.com/News.aspx?PO_ID=3886&lang=en_GB
Doesn't sound like good news over all, especially considering the recent financial trouble of Mitsubishi motors. Hopefully they get everything sorted out by next season.
http://www.wrc.com/News.aspx?PO_ID=3886&lang=en_GB
Mitsubishi will modify its 2004 World Rally Championship activities, switching focus to spending more time further developing the Lancer World Rally Car in preparation for 2005.
As a consequence, Mitsubishi will reduce its*WRC activities after August’s Rallye Deutschland and will not contest the championship from Rally Japan (September 2-5) through to Rally Australia (November 11-14). The focus for the remainder of the season will be to develop the Lancer WRC. Mitsubishi will use one or two selected European rallies as an intensive test and development platform for the Lancer WRC. The new WRC programme for 2004 will not affect Mitsubishi's long-term programme to the*WRC until 2006.
Sven Quandt, President of MMSP GmbH, Mitsubishi Motors’ motorsport company, said: “We started this season with a three-year plan. The first year with the new car back in the*WRC was mainly focused to develop our new Lancer WRC. To pull out from the whole championship for the rest of the season gives us the possibility to further develop our car with all the experience we have gained since the Monte Carlo Rally this year, where we finished in sixth place.”
Akira Kijima, Managing Director and Head of Products Operations, Mitsubishi Motors, added: “Our commitment to motorsport will continue. Rallying is central to our brand philosophy and we will continue to use motorsport to technically develop our production cars. But we have to consider how best to optimise our resources and find our way back to the enormous success we have had in previous years. This is not easy with such an intense world rally programme, so the only way to find time for this is to temporarily reduce our programme.”
Mitsubishi's preparation for the 2005 WRC will continue as usual.*The team*has been on the international rally scene since 1967, winning the WRC series in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 with Tommi Makinen, as well as the manufacturers’ title in 1998.
© Copyright wrc.com
As a consequence, Mitsubishi will reduce its*WRC activities after August’s Rallye Deutschland and will not contest the championship from Rally Japan (September 2-5) through to Rally Australia (November 11-14). The focus for the remainder of the season will be to develop the Lancer WRC. Mitsubishi will use one or two selected European rallies as an intensive test and development platform for the Lancer WRC. The new WRC programme for 2004 will not affect Mitsubishi's long-term programme to the*WRC until 2006.
Sven Quandt, President of MMSP GmbH, Mitsubishi Motors’ motorsport company, said: “We started this season with a three-year plan. The first year with the new car back in the*WRC was mainly focused to develop our new Lancer WRC. To pull out from the whole championship for the rest of the season gives us the possibility to further develop our car with all the experience we have gained since the Monte Carlo Rally this year, where we finished in sixth place.”
Akira Kijima, Managing Director and Head of Products Operations, Mitsubishi Motors, added: “Our commitment to motorsport will continue. Rallying is central to our brand philosophy and we will continue to use motorsport to technically develop our production cars. But we have to consider how best to optimise our resources and find our way back to the enormous success we have had in previous years. This is not easy with such an intense world rally programme, so the only way to find time for this is to temporarily reduce our programme.”
Mitsubishi's preparation for the 2005 WRC will continue as usual.*The team*has been on the international rally scene since 1967, winning the WRC series in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 with Tommi Makinen, as well as the manufacturers’ title in 1998.
© Copyright wrc.com
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Originally Posted by dcfc03
like maybe I can pick up a 04 mitsu rally evo on ebay.
seriously, I hope this outage helps Mitsubishi get competitive again.
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Wow. War of attrition. Who is left? It might be Subaru vs. Citroen vs. Peugot soon! 
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I'd like to know what they did in those two (?) seasons they were out supposedly developing the same new car. I mean, why bother introducing a rally car with no active diffs, no paddle-shift gearbox and no other active systems. While I can appreciate Mitsubishi trying to keep costs and weight in line, there's no reason why the car should be so bad after so many seasons off.
Look at Ford and what they've done with the Focus "evolution". They were without sponsorship and could'nt afford to keep the top two drivers in the series but they put together one tough car that really addressed the issues of the old one and made major headway in their competitiveness. What's the deal with Mitsu?
I hope that some other manufacturers get more involved... c'mon skoda! Get that Fabia back in the fight!
Look at Ford and what they've done with the Focus "evolution". They were without sponsorship and could'nt afford to keep the top two drivers in the series but they put together one tough car that really addressed the issues of the old one and made major headway in their competitiveness. What's the deal with Mitsu?
I hope that some other manufacturers get more involved... c'mon skoda! Get that Fabia back in the fight!
Originally Posted by Barchetta212
I'd like to know what they did in those two (?) seasons they were out supposedly developing the same new car. I mean, why bother introducing a rally car with no active diffs, no paddle-shift gearbox and no other active systems. While I can appreciate Mitsubishi trying to keep costs and weight in line, there's no reason why the car should be so bad after so many seasons off.
Look at Ford and what they've done with the Focus "evolution". They were without sponsorship and could'nt afford to keep the top two drivers in the series but they put together one tough car that really addressed the issues of the old one and made major headway in their competitiveness. What's the deal with Mitsu?
I hope that some other manufacturers get more involved... c'mon skoda! Get that Fabia back in the fight!
Look at Ford and what they've done with the Focus "evolution". They were without sponsorship and could'nt afford to keep the top two drivers in the series but they put together one tough car that really addressed the issues of the old one and made major headway in their competitiveness. What's the deal with Mitsu?
I hope that some other manufacturers get more involved... c'mon skoda! Get that Fabia back in the fight!
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Yeah- the car did show good gravel potential. And Pasonen did a great job behind the wheel. I hope they keep it up!!
I hope it can show some speed on tarmac as well, that seems to be the trick these days, getting a fast car on tarmac.
I think rallying needs a couple more manufacturers to stay healthy. Skoda is great to have back- especially if they're going to be competitive.
I think we need to see some interest from Mazda, maybe Honda (suitable model?) and someone in the Fiat Group, like Fiat or Lancia- a manufacturer that would go all out and build a serious car.
I don't know if you saw the preview show that had an interview with one of the Ford bosses who stated how important rallying was to Ford, then would'nt confirm wether they'd be back in '05. That'd be a huge blow to rallying to loose Ford.
I hope it can show some speed on tarmac as well, that seems to be the trick these days, getting a fast car on tarmac.
I think rallying needs a couple more manufacturers to stay healthy. Skoda is great to have back- especially if they're going to be competitive.
I think we need to see some interest from Mazda, maybe Honda (suitable model?) and someone in the Fiat Group, like Fiat or Lancia- a manufacturer that would go all out and build a serious car.
I don't know if you saw the preview show that had an interview with one of the Ford bosses who stated how important rallying was to Ford, then would'nt confirm wether they'd be back in '05. That'd be a huge blow to rallying to loose Ford.
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Yup, although I can't see Mazda entering if Ford stays in the Championship. Suzuki is heavly rumored to show up next year or maybe in '06. Renault/Nissan and Fiat/Lancia are other manufactures likely to show up in the WRC.
I don't think Honda would show up in the WRC. The Civic is quite a bit like the Focus, Fabia and 206 (in terms of weight, drivetrain and engine), so it is possible to get it to become a competitive WRCar, but I think Honda is a little too invested in F1 right now (I guess the same could be said for Renault too...)
I don't think Honda would show up in the WRC. The Civic is quite a bit like the Focus, Fabia and 206 (in terms of weight, drivetrain and engine), so it is possible to get it to become a competitive WRCar, but I think Honda is a little too invested in F1 right now (I guess the same could be said for Renault too...)
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You're probably right about F1 investments with Honda and Renault. It's still fun to think about what Honda could do with a rally car since they tend not to do things half-assed. It would also be really nice to see Toyota back in the hunt. They should scrap the IRL program (since I don't like IRL) and bring back another rally program with the current euro Corolla or even the celica for that matter... it could work!
I just like to think about stuff like that because, well, I don't have too much else to think about.
I just like to think about stuff like that because, well, I don't have too much else to think about.
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