http://img153.exs.cx/img153/8769/05releaselancer5uo.jpg
The Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car has undergone months of intense development work and the team’s latest challenger for the FIA World Rally Championship - the Lancer WRC05 - will break cover at the 2005 Rallye Monte-Carlo, January’s season-opening event.

The FIA World Rally Championship regulations have changed in a number of areas for 2005 and the Mitsubishi Motor Sports team has seized this chance to further enhance key areas of the Lancer WRC05. One of the most notable changes permits manufactures to increase the width of the car body shell by 30mm, from 1770 mm to 1800 mm. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Lancer WRC05 now has re-designed front and rear wings, rear quarters and bumpers, making subtle visual changes but aiding stability.

In tandem with this, longer suspension links and drive-shafts are required and uprights have been modified to optimize the suspension geometry. In short, there has been a complete review of the suspension and, while the Tarmac-specification dampers used in the 2004 Rallye Catalunya-Rally de España were designed to comply with the new wider body shell of the WRC05, specific changes have been made to adapt the uprights and dampers to the new geometry on the gravel specification Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05. While retaining a light-weight form, these will improve stiffness and be used from Rally México onwards. Further modifications to the internal components are also then planned, affording greater freedom and finer tuning.

Improvements to the engine include new waste gate and anti-lag valves, both of which will be run from Rallye Monte-Carlo. These parts, working with an improved engine control, will give a significant performance improvement and more accurate tuning possibilities.

"In particular, this means we can get much closer to the limits acceptable to the engine in all conditions", commented the team’s Technical Director, Mario Fornaris. "The final fine-tuning can now be on the absolute limit".

Improvements to the turbo-charger have also been investigated, although assessment of the increase in efficiency is still on-going and will be included in the WRC homologation in December if proved to be effective.

The Lancer WRC05s automatic clutch and gearshift have already proved successful during testing and this system will see ’paddles’ adopted on the steering wheel for changing gear, an active gearshift system that negates the need to use the clutch.

Development work is on-going with the center differential and although the aim is to have this ready for Monte-Carlo, the most likely date for the new component is Rally México, in March. Active front and rear differential prototypes have yet to undergo testing and, according to development results in the first quarter of the year, may or may not be implemented into the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05, especially as this active system will be banned in 2006.

In 2004, it was ascertained that gear ratios needed to be improved and longer ratios will be adopted for first, third and fourth gears, anticipated from Rally New Zealand onwards.

"Our target is to finish all the development work for the Lancer WRC05 within the first six months of the season", stated Fornaris. "Then we can really focus on results, podium finishes and our championship aspirations for 2006".

One of the other most significant changes to the Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car will be that it will run on Pirelli tires for the first time.

"We have started testing with Pirelli and are very impressed with their professional approach and the facilities it is putting at our disposal", added Mario Fornaris. "We are in the process of learning the tire range and adapting the Lancer WRC05 to optimize their performance, but from the first results I believe there is big potential with our new partner. We will take advantage of Pirelli’s strong points and, in the spirit of our technical partnership, will help Pirelli to improve its tires feeding them with our car data. Working together on the tire development is very important for us".


Bigger picture
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/motorsports/e/04wrc/05release/photo/05release_lancer.jpg

why cant they use a real WRC car for the photoshoots, they are so stupid!

anyway, I liked the sound of the EVO WRC this year, hopefully that will stay for next year, and more reliability is necessary, and speed, the cars were struggling badly off the start line in spain, and didnt have the acceleration out of corners very good, although I would have said straight line speed was easily as good as other cars

Is it just me, or have WRC cars slowly drifted away from their production counterparts styling wise? I mean, i remember a couple years ago, seeing the first Focus WRC car. It looked just like a focus RS with a roof scoop and other modifications. Older Evo's looked like Evo's, and older subaru's looked like older subaru's. But now they dont look anything like the cars they were based off of. Can anyone honestly tell me that that looks like a stock Evo VIII? How bout the new Focus rally car? The Peugot 307 rally car? The sport has gotten too F1. They depend too much on wings and silly front splitters. It's sad.

Mopar, read last months EVO issue about WRC, and you'll see you're not alone.

As for the EVO, 'bout damn time Mitsu put something worthwhile in.

I think the current World Rally Car formula is garbage. It was designed to be safe, and cost effective. Now WRCars are faster in many conditions than GrpB machines and certainly pricey as hell. The worst thing is, they look pretty much like the road versions, ehich I SUPPOSE to some is a good thing, but for me, I want to see something special and unique. That is the problem with modern rallycars, there is no exoctica. No 911's, no Lancia Rally 037's, or Lancia Stratos............its really too bad.

We are reduced to watching somber looking sedans and hatchbacks with racing colors and overpriced electronics that keeps the cars taking the turns like race cars on a circuit. What I love about rallying is the jumps and drifts in the turns, ......I can watch F1 cars take turns like they are rails, but I wanna see rallycars gettin buck ass wild.

I say ditch awd (blasphemy!!!!) in the WRC and go back to rwd with engines limited to 300 hp (rallying needs no more HP anyway, anything past that is wasted torque) and allow two seaters back in rallying. By doing so you invite manufacturers of cars like the Honda S2000, the Toyota Supra, the Ford Mustang (perhaps a bit large, nevertheless) maybe even a Dodge Viper on tarmac events. Certainly the germans would rise to the occasion as well.

Im sure it will never happen, but it somehow makes so much sense to my fantasy. ;)

What WRC are you talking about? In the one i see, they're drifting and flying over jumps and doing everything crazy as hell. I agree, we need no electronic aids. It's not needed. But we do need to keep the cars somewhat stock looking. It's not about the cars, it's what they do with them.

And cars like the S2000 and such will never make it into the WRC. Too dangerous. Wayyyy too dangerous. It's about racing, not spinning out on every corner. The speeds wouldn't be as high. And a Viper in any sort of rally competition? Come on, thats silly.

Perhaps you dont remember the days of the Ferrari 308 driven on a stage in anger. All 400hp, rwd of it. In the WRC. Under Group 5 homogalation.

http://www.qv500.com/Ferrari%20308%20P6%201.jpg

Say what you want. I remember rallying before the mess that WRC formula machines are came along. The crowds were more excited, the exhaust note didnt sound like a deflating balloon, the stages and rallies were more LIKE rallying than a rallysprint.

I hardly think its "silly" for me to mention the cars I did in rallying. You say "it's what they do with them" and "It's about racing, not spinning out on every corner." .......Rallying is rallying, not racing. People love rallying for the cars, the atmosphere, to be near them, and to hear them from inches away as they pass. They go becuase the drivers are they're heroes, and the things they do in their machines are larger than life. You know, like beautiful long drifts and jumps. So uh, yeah, take out the slides in the turns, and rallying loses one of its asthetic charms.

A limit on horsepower to a rwd drive formula takes out alot of the 'danger' for an S2000, or a Viper. I was using those paticular cars as examples really, but sometimes one must spell out everything. I seriously doubt a team manager would take a Viper to Finland, or the Acropolis Rally. Haha. But on Tarmac? Why not?

My post was just for conversations sake in the first place. Just a thought. :)

I too know about the 308 Groupe B and it was a very good rally car. Power of the back, light wieght and a small high reving engine, not like a Viper

*sighs* I mentioned the Viper without putting much thought into it. I was reffering to seeing the americans back in rallying. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Is it just me, or have WRC cars slowly drifted away from their production counterparts styling wise? I mean, i remember a couple years ago, seeing the first Focus WRC car. It looked just like a focus RS with a roof scoop and other modifications. Older Evo's looked like Evo's, and older subaru's looked like older subaru's. But now they dont look anything like the cars they were based off of. Can anyone honestly tell me that that looks like a stock Evo VIII? How bout the new Focus rally car? The Peugot 307 rally car? The sport has gotten too F1. They depend too much on wings and silly front splitters. It's sad.

Maybe that's because it isn't based on the EVO!!! ;)

We are reduced to watching somber looking sedans and hatchbacks with racing colors and overpriced electronics that keeps the cars taking the turns like race cars on a circuit. What I love about rallying is the jumps and drifts in the turns, ......I can watch F1 cars take turns like they are rails, but I wanna see rallycars gettin buck ass wild.

I say ditch awd (blasphemy!!!!) in the WRC and go back to rwd with engines limited to 300 hp (rallying needs no more HP anyway, anything past that is wasted torque) and allow two seaters back in rallying. By doing so you invite manufacturers of cars like the Honda S2000, the Toyota Supra, the Ford Mustang (perhaps a bit large, nevertheless) maybe even a Dodge Viper on tarmac events. Certainly the germans would rise to the occasion as well.

Im sure it will never happen, but it somehow makes so much sense to my fantasy. ;)

Toyota would never enter a Supra into competition, just because it wouldn't pay off, just as Honda wouldn't enter an S2000. Mustangs and Viper's wouldn't do rallying just because those car's are mostly sold in the US, where rallying isn't as popular, so they have cheaper ways of promoting their cars.
Guess why we see hatchbacks and family saloons, 'cuz those are the cars mostly bought! That's what the WRC and most other racing series are about, to promote your product!

Maybe that's because it isn't based on the EVO!!! ;)

What is it based on? The normal lancer? It doesn't look like any misubishi i've ever seen.

Hologation rules specify it has to be based on a full production car

Hologation rules specify it has to be based on a full production car
> Or, a car that will be produced within its racing season up to a minimum number of cars (I think it was 400 for Grp B) and its something like 5,000 for modern Grp A, but I dont remember know

and lancer WRC is based on the EVO 9 ideas, which is why it can be rallied in a full season this year, with the likely release of the 9 in 2005 sometime probably (previous seasons were not full entry) - or atleast, that was what I last read! :confused:

Toyota would never enter a Supra into competition, just because it wouldn't pay off, just as Honda wouldn't enter an S2000. Mustangs and Viper's wouldn't do rallying just because those car's are mostly sold in the US, where rallying isn't as popular, so they have cheaper ways of promoting their cars.
Guess why we see hatchbacks and family saloons, 'cuz those are the cars mostly bought! That's what the WRC and most other racing series are about, to promote your product!

The Supra was rallied in the 80's for a time. It handled like a dog and was underpowered. I think its best result was 1st on the 1987 Hong Kong to Bejing Rally and third on the Safari that same year.

I'd just like to see a class for two-seater in rallying again. Wouldn't you guys?

The Supra was rallied in the 80's for a time. It handled like a dog and was underpowered. I think its best result was 1st on the 1987 Hong Kong to Bejing Rally and third on the Safari that same year.

I'd just like to see a class for two-seater in rallying again. Wouldn't you guys?
yes, but thats like asking the FIA to bring back International Group B rallying, at least the cars are allowed to rally again now, but not in top class competition, the FIA is trying to kill WRC, so they would never do anything positive like that :(

I know the normally aspirated GrpB cars can compete in BRC, but all the turbos have been doomed to rallycross duty. =/

What is it based on? The normal lancer? It doesn't look like any misubishi i've ever seen.

Yea...

http://www.car-buying-strategies.com/2002-photos/2002-mitsubishi-lancer.jpg

It does have a bigger front bumper and so on, but you can say what it's based on by looking at the front and rear lights.

Newer:

http://www.cars.ru/pics/2003_mitsubishi_lancer.jpg

Err... It's not based off the normal lancer. It's based off that Evolution GSRs they have in Japan.

Yeah, new technology on one of my favorite cars is always good on WRC. But then what does mean when the drivers aren't any good? Panizzi (I think that's how it's spelled) and his partner aren't any good. I wish Gronholm and Makkinen were driving for Mitsubishi again.

It's not always the cars that are important in winning.

The GSR is a Lancer, just cause its got some extra fruit it still a lancer

Err... It's not based off the normal lancer. It's based off that Evolution GSRs they have in Japan.

Yeah, new technology on one of my favorite cars is always good on WRC. But then what does mean when the drivers aren't any good? Panizzi (I think that's how it's spelled) and his partner aren't any good. I wish Gronholm and Makkinen were driving for Mitsubishi again.

It's not always the cars that are important in winning.
dude, Panizzi is possibly the best Tarmac driver, and is getting good on Gravel, at the Spanish WRC 2004, he said, (probably shouldnt make this too public, it was said to only a few people, including me at a pre-rally talk with some of the drivers) and his english is not that good, but he made it clear that he could not win the Spanish WRC in the Mitsubishi, he said it was not fast enough and did not corner as well as the Peugeot that he won the event in for like the 3 previous years. and Galli, well I do not know enought about him, but Daniel Sola, he has a great chance, I saw him at Castle Coombe, and in Spain, he is really nice guy, and has a lot of potential if he gets the right drive.

SubaruKid37, how long you been attending rallies in the WRC? I might have to send you some $$$ to get my hats and whatnot. ;)

SubaruKid37, how long you been attending rallies in the WRC? I might have to send you some $$$ to get my hats and whatnot. ;)
hahaha, my first rally was the 2001 Network Q Rally of Great Britain, then in 2002 I went to Neste Rally Finland and the british wrc again, in 2003 I went to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland and the Wales Rally GB again, and in 2004 I went to the Spanish WRC in Catalunya, and this time I had VIP pass into the Ford enclosure, and part of an exclusive meet with some of the drivers in a night club (press free, VIP entry only :)) just before the official start ceremony, I try to go to an international rally every year now, but this year is going to be difficult :( but for 2006 I am hoping to do the Swedish WRC and maybe one other later in the year. So I have lots of stuff from rallies, and lots of signed things too :)

and I hope to be entering the WRC myself in the near future, I am intending to have a Mitsubishi EVO 6 GrpA rally car by the end of 2007, and then I can drive national events, and then if I am good enough, get some decent sponsors and enter Grp N or maybe Grp A WRC :cool:

I peronally think that the WRC is just fine as it. I love watching the events and the cars are as "buck ass" wild as they can get. Those cars are pulling off some insane speed on gravel roads and sum turns that would make you shat your pants. And in terms of vipers and supras and S2000s.....Get real man. those cars are far from rally worthy. They are completely different cars. Also the reason u see so many 4 door sport sedans and what not has absolutely nothing to do with them being popular imported cars. It has to do with their shape and make up. They have relatively short wheelbases, a very good center of gravity, GROUND CLEARANCE, and yes AWD. U just simply cant toss an S2000 on the gravel and say good luck regardless of what u do to the suspension. Id like to see it catch a few few feet of air and land....I also dont think they need HP limits. If a company can put out a high HP rally car that the driver can control and win races with then by all means do so. Let the rest of the compettion step up to the plate....

Rally AND the WRC had a great time with 2-seaters in rallying. As stated before, I used those examples of car loosely. And horsepower isnt so much important as torque. I really didnt post that to tick ppl off, but it seems that WRC fans are a conservative lot. Most anyway.

Mopar I agree with you the spoorin too F1 here we have WRC cars with added technical regulations and all sorts while in real F1 were taking off wing and downforce and next year smaller engines and power. But hey if they say betta racing im gonna have to believe them