Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) dramatically increased its involvement in the SCCA ProRally Championship and will showcase two Open Class Lancer Evolution rally car entries for 2003. Its new factory-backed team, Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America, was announced at the 2003 L.A. Auto show during the World debut of the highly anticipated 2003 Lancer Evolution high-performance sports sedan. The new two-car team will have the full support of Ralliart, Mitsubishi Motor's performance arm, and will be contesting all nine rounds of the 2003 SCCA ProRally Championship.
THE DRIVERS: Mitsubishi has selected two champions to pilot all-new HKS-tuned and Michelin-shod Open Class Lancer Evolution rally cars. Rising star David Higgins will lead the team with his co-driver Daniel Barritt (No. 1). Higgins' talents were affirmed last season when he won both the SCCA ProRally and British Group N Championships.
"Driving for Mitsubishi is a dream come true for me," says Higgins. "They have such a dominant history in rallying and it feels very special to be a part of that continuing success in the sport. And wearing red feels great!"
Rising American star, Lauchlin O'Sullivan, will drive the second Lancer Evolution (No. 6) with veteran co-driver and fellow American Mark Williams at his side. O'Sullivan placed his name on the map by winning the 2002 SCCA ProRally two-wheel-drive (Group 2) Driver's Championship in a nearly stock, front-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Rally Edition. O'Sullivan and Williams are aiming to be the top All-American team in the 2003 ProRally Championship.
THE MANAGEMENT: Xtreme Autos Inc. are managing the team's contract with Mitsubishi Motors North America, via their associates, Co-ordSport, a leading Mitsubishi Motorsport specialist in Europe, and U.S-based rally car preparation shop Vermont SportsCar. Co-ordSport's managing director, Peter Collinson, forged the all-important Anglo-American partnership with Vermont SportsCar, which will provide technical, logistical, and team management support for the Mitsubishi team. All team operations will be based out of Vermont SportsCar's headquarters in Colchester, Vt. Heading the management effort as team director will be veteran rally car builder and president of Vermont SportsCar, Lance Smith. Accomplished WRC-level team manager and former co-driver, John Kennard, will act as team manager. American rally legend John Buffum will play a key role as event coordinator for the team. Buffum has won more than 117 rallies and eleven national rally titles as a driver and six ProRally Manufacturer Championships as a team manager.
"Buffum knows every inch of every road used in the ProRally Championship and his expertise will be invaluable to the team and our drivers," explains Lance Smith.
THE CARS: Team Mitsubishi Motor Sports America's two all-new Open Class Lancer Evolution rally cars are built from the production version of the all-wheel-drive 2003 Lancer Evolution high-performance sports sedan that began arriving at Mitsubishi dealers across the country in February. Each Open Class car features an HKS-tuned engine that produces in excess of 400 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. After winning the car's debut event, this year's Sno*Drift ProRally, David Higgins was overjoyed with the car's combination of balance and power.
"Stunning would be the only word to describe this car. It is very predictable and extremely driver-friendly" explains Higgins. "The car feels more progressive and doesn't want to snap away from you like the Subaru does."
After finishing as the top American on the team's debut, Lauchlin O'Sullivan was just as impressed as Higgins was with how the new cars performed. "They are so strong and I can't believe how reliable they were on their first event," says O'Sullivan. "Their toughness right out of the box is a testament to the strength of the Lancer Evolution road car. I can't wait for a gravel rally!"