Mitsubishi Lancer WRC
Mitsubishi's final World Rally Car, evolving from Group A to WRC regulations.
The Mitsubishi Lancer WRC was a World Rally Car developed by Ralliart, the motorsport arm of Mitsubishi Motors, for the World Rally Championship. Earlier Lancer Evolution models were built to Group A regulations, which put them at a disadvantage against the more advanced World Rally Cars from rival manufacturers.
The first version, often called the Step1, used the familiar 1996 cc 4G63 engine—a powerplant that had been in Mitsubishi’s rally and sports cars since the 1980s. In this form, it produced 300 PS at 5500 rpm and 540 Nm at 3500 rpm. The car made its debut at the 2001 Rallye Sanremo after a short development period, forced by a 1999 agreement with the FIA that allowed Mitsubishi to keep using older-spec Lancers until then. It was based on the eighth-generation Cedia platform, which also underpinned the road-going Evolution VII. The WRC rules gave engineers more freedom than Group A allowed, so they made changes to the engine and its layout—lighter internal parts, a more rearward tilt to improve front weight distribution, a new turbo, and a new exhaust system. The biggest change was to the suspension: both front and rear now used MacPherson struts, and larger wheel arches allowed more suspension travel. The drivetrain stayed the same, however, and when Tommi Mäkinen left the team after 2001, new drivers struggled with the transmission, which demanded an aggressive left-foot braking style. The Step1 was replaced by the Step2 from the 2002 Rally Finland onward.
The Step2, also called the Lancer Evolution WRC2, kept the same 4G63 engine with identical power and torque outputs. It used a six-speed sequential gearbox with a triple-plate carbon clutch and sent power to all four wheels through front, center, and rear active differentials. The suspension remained independent with MacPherson struts and coil springs at each corner. Brakes were vented discs with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston at the rear. Changes from the Step1 included better weight distribution, a lower center of gravity, a revised front air dam for increased radiator airflow, a new intercooler, a new exhaust manifold, a single-scroll turbocharger, and lightened engine components such as the crankshaft and flywheel.
Quick Facts
- Car Name
- Mitsubishi Lancer WRC
- Category
- World Rally Car
- Constructor
- Mitsubishi Motors / Ralliart
- Predecessor
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- Wrc
- yes
- Team
- JPN Mitsubishi
- Length
- 4360 mm
- Wheelbase
- 2600 mm
- Engine Name
- Mitsubishi 4G63T
- Capacity
- 2.0 L
- Configuration
- I4
- Turbo/Na
- turbocharged
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Lancer WRC debuted at the 2001 Rallye Sanremo after a relatively short development, as Ralliart could not introduce it later due to a 1999 contract with the FIA allowing them to run old specification Lancers. The model was based on the eighth-generation Cedia model, of which the road-going Evolution VII is based. The WRC rules allowed more freedom in most areas, enabling changes such as lighter internal engine parts, a more rearward engine tilt, a new turbo and exhaust system, and most significantly, MacPherson strut suspension at both ends with bigger wheel arches for more travel. The drivetrain remained the same as before, and when Tommi Mäkinen left at the end of 2001, new drivers could not get on with this transmission, which required aggressive left-foot braking. The original Evo WRC (Step1) was replaced with Step2 from 2002 Finland onwards.
The Step2 (WRC2) debuted at the 2002 Rally Finland with a 6-speed sequential transmission, triple-plate carbon clutch, and active front, centre and rear differentials. Changes included better weight distribution, lower centre of gravity, a new front air dam, intercooler, exhaust manifold, single-scroll turbo, and lightened rotating engine parts. Suspension offered more travel and rigidity, and the transmission was altered to suit the driving styles of McRae and Delecour. Mitsubishi pulled out at the end of 2002 but used the car for development in 2003, with McRae taking 6th at Rally New Zealand.
In 2004, Mitsubishi returned with the WRC04, featuring over 6000 changes. It used a 5-speed semi-automatic transmission and a new all-wheel-drive system co-developed by Ricardo Consulting Engineers and MMSP. Front brakes were upgraded to 8-piston calipers with 370 mm discs. The car began the season with a completely passive transmission before switching to active differentials. Extensive aerodynamic testing at the Lola Cars wind tunnel produced a new front air dam, wheel arches, and a distinctive rear spoiler. The car suffered mechanical and electrical glitches; in New Zealand both cars retired on the start line of the first stage. Mitsubishi did not complete the full 2004 season, opting out of several events to concentrate on development.
The WRC05 saw no significant changes but was widened by 30 mm due to regulation changes. The ECU and turbo wastegate were updated, aerodynamic alterations improved stability, and steering-mounted gearshift paddles were introduced. Longer ratios were adopted for first, third, and fourth gears. The car showed promise: Panizzi took 3rd in Monte Carlo, and Rovanpera took 2nd at the final round in Australia. Mitsubishi then pulled out of the WRC, returning only through Ralliart UK, which supported private and semi-works entries in 2006 and 2007. At 2006 Rally Sweden, Daniel Carlsson took 3rd place, with teammate Gigi Galli fourth. MML Sports (formerly Ralliart UK) later made developments including updated suspension and transmission, resulting in a car sometimes called the WRC07 that was faster than the WRC05 by 0.5 sec/km.
Reader's Guide
The Mitsubishi Lancer WRC represents the manufacturer's transition from Group A to the more permissive World Rally Car regulations, a move necessitated by the declining competitiveness of the Evolution series against purpose-built WRC rivals. Its development was constrained by a 1999 FIA contract that delayed its introduction until 2001, and its career was marked by frequent mechanical and electrical issues, particularly with the WRC04. The car's most notable characteristic was its demanding drivetrain, which required an aggressive left-foot braking style that only Tommi Mäkinen mastered; after his departure, the team struggled to extract performance from the transmission. Despite these challenges, the car achieved occasional strong results, including podiums at Monte Carlo and Australia in 2005, and a third-place finish for a privateer entry at Rally Sweden in 2006. Mitsubishi's repeated withdrawals from the WRC—after 2002 and again after 2005—prevented sustained development, though MML Sports later improved the car for customer use, producing a version reportedly 0.5 sec/km faster than the factory WRC05. The Lancer WRC ultimately stands as a flawed but ambitious effort that never fully realized its potential in the championship.
Did You Know?
- The WRC04 featured over 6000 changes compared to the Step2 used in 2002 and 2003.
- At the 2004 Rally New Zealand, both WRC04 cars retired on the start line of the first stage due to electrical issues.
- The WRC05 was widened by 30 mm due to a change in WRC regulations.
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