World Rally Championship team Mitsubishi Ralliart WRT

Mitsubishi Ralliart WRT

United Kingdom (Rugby)
Mitsubishi (Factory Team)
In WRC since 1982 until 2005

Mitsubishi Ralliart WRT team in the World Rally Championship

Mitsubishi Motors' engagement with international motorsport began well before the formal establishment of its dedicated performance division, Ralliart. The company first entered an international motorsport event in 1962, securing a victory at the Macau Grand Prix with the Mitsubishi 500 Super Deluxe. This early success laid the groundwork for a deeper involvement in competitive racing. Mitsubishi's commitment to rally racing specifically commenced in 1967, and by 1973, they were a foundational participant in the newly inaugurated World Rally Championship (WRC). This sustained involvement in rallying was strategically vital, serving as a direct platform for Mitsubishi to demonstrate the durability, performance, and advanced engineering inherent in its production-based vehicles to a global audience. A notable early demonstration of this prowess came with the Mitsubishi Lancer 1600GSR, introduced in 1973, which immediately showcased the brand's rally capabilities by achieving a remarkable top-four sweep at the challenging Southern Cross Rally. This early triumph with the Lancer model provided a clear indication of the vehicle's future iconic status in the WRC.

The entity that would become Ralliart, Mitsubishi Motors' renowned high-performance and motorsport division, evolved organically from an already successful independent motorsport operation rather than being a sudden corporate creation. Andrew Cowan, a pivotal figure in Mitsubishi's early rally history and the driver who secured their first international victory in 1972, founded Andrew Cowan Motorsports (ACMS) in 1983. This UK-based operation quickly became Mitsubishi's primary European hub for motorsport activities, particularly rallying. Mitsubishi's enduring relationship with Andrew Cowan, marked by an exclusivity deal dating back to 1972, underscores a pre-existing trust and collaborative foundation. The subsequent establishment of ACMS by Cowan, followed by its formal renaming to Ralliart and simultaneous official partnership with Mitsubishi in 1989, reveals a deliberate and astute strategic progression. Instead of incurring the immense cost and time of building a factory rally team from the ground up, Mitsubishi chose to formalize and integrate an already proven and successful privateer entity. This approach allowed Mitsubishi to immediately leverage established rally expertise, infrastructure, and personnel, significantly accelerating their competitive development in the WRC. This highlights a pragmatic and effective strategy for motorsport investment, prioritizing proven talent and operational efficiency.

The year 1989 marked a significant milestone: Andrew Cowan Motorsports was officially rebranded as Ralliart, signifying its formal integration as Mitsubishi's dedicated performance arm. This strategic move solidified Ralliart's comprehensive mandate, encompassing not only the development and preparation of rally cars for competition but also the creation of high-performance models and parts for public sale. Ralliart's overarching objective was to infuse Mitsubishi's vehicle lineup with adrenaline and to establish an indelible mark in the world of rally racing, effectively serving as Mitsubishi's answer to renowned performance divisions like Mercedes-AMG or Subaru Tecnica International.

The Galant VR-4 Era: Forging a Path in the WRC (1989-1992)

With its formalized structure and clear objectives, Ralliart Europe made its full-time entry into the World Rally Championship in 1989. This commitment signaled Mitsubishi's serious intent to contend for top honors on the global rallying stage. The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 served as the team's primary contender during these formative full WRC seasons. It quickly demonstrated its competitive potential, securing significant victories in its debut year: Mikael Ericsson triumphed in Finland, and Pentti Airikkala clinched a win in Great Britain. The Galant VR-4's consistent performance propelled Mitsubishi to fourth place in the manufacturers' standings in 1989, and further to third in 1990, showcasing the team's growing strength and consistency. Kenneth Eriksson added another notable victory for the team in Sweden in 1991. This period was crucial in establishing Mitsubishi Ralliart as a formidable and rapidly ascending force within the highly competitive WRC landscape.

The Lancer Evolution Dynasty: A Period of Unprecedented Dominance (1993-1999)

The true zenith of Mitsubishi Ralliart's WRC journey began with the introduction of the Lancer Evolution in 1993. This series of vehicles, meticulously developed by integrating advanced technologies refined through competition, would become inextricably linked with Mitsubishi's unparalleled rally success. While the inaugural Lancer Evolution in 1993 secured only two podium finishes without a victory, its inherent potential and the team's commitment to rapid development were immediately apparent. The Lancer Evolution II was swiftly introduced in mid-1994, achieving a significant second-place debut in Greece with Armin Schwarz, and clinching its first victory at the 1995 Rally Sweden, spearheaded by Kenneth Eriksson and Tommi Mäkinen. The Lancer Evolution III followed, proving highly successful, particularly in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), with Eriksson securing a WRC victory at the 1995 Rally Australia. The relentless and continuous evolution of the Lancer, from Evo I through Evo VI, underscored Mitsubishi's unwavering dedication to maximizing performance and adapting to the rigorous demands of WRC regulations.

Mitsubishi Ralliart WRC Championship Titles

Tommi Mäkinen's tenure at Mitsubishi Ralliart ushered in an unparalleled era of individual dominance in the World Rally Championship. In 1996, Mäkinen secured his maiden Drivers' Championship, achieving an impressive five victories out of nine rounds with the formidable Lancer Evolution III. He continued his remarkable winning streak, clinching his second consecutive title in 1997 behind the wheel of the Lancer Evolution IV, securing four victories from 14 rallies. The 1998 season proved particularly pivotal, as Mäkinen secured his third straight Drivers' Championship, a testament to his consistency and the car's adaptability, even as the Lancer Evolution IV was superseded by the Evolution V mid-season. He triumphed in Argentina and then swept the final four events of the season. In 1999, with the newly introduced Lancer Evolution VI, Mäkinen achieved a then-unprecedented fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship. His season began with a victory on the car's debut in Monte Carlo, followed by triumphs in Sweden, New Zealand, and Sanremo. This extraordinary feat cemented Mäkinen's legendary status in rallying and firmly established Mitsubishi's place in the sport's pantheon.

While Tommi Mäkinen's individual brilliance consistently delivered Drivers' Championships, the 1998 season represented the ultimate team achievement for Mitsubishi Ralliart: securing their first and only WRC Manufacturers' Championship. This collective triumph was a culmination of Mäkinen's relentless pursuit of victories and the crucial contributions from other talented drivers within the team, most notably two significant wins delivered by Richard Burns. This championship validated Mitsubishi's comprehensive team effort, showcasing the strength of their engineering, strategy, and driver lineup as a cohesive unit. Beyond the towering achievements of Tommi Mäkinen, the success of Mitsubishi Ralliart was also built upon the vital contributions of other highly skilled drivers. Kenneth Eriksson played a crucial role in the early successes of the Lancer Evolution era, securing important victories and podium finishes. Richard Burns' two pivotal victories in 1998 were instrumental in clinching the Manufacturers' title for Mitsubishi, demonstrating the depth of talent within the team. These contributions underscore that while Mäkinen was the undeniable spearhead, the team's overall dominance was a result of a strong, collective effort.

During the peak of Mitsubishi Ralliart's dominance (1996-1999), the World Rally Championship underwent a significant regulatory shift with the introduction of World Rally Cars (WRC cars), which offered manufacturers far greater design freedom compared to the existing Group A regulations. Despite this, Mitsubishi Ralliart made a deliberate and strategic decision to continue developing their Lancer Evolution models under the older, more restrictive Group A rules. The remarkable fact that they achieved four consecutive Drivers' Championships and a Manufacturers' Championship while adhering to these "older" regulations is a profound testament to their engineering excellence. This implies an unparalleled mastery of the Group A platform, where every aspect of the car—from the engine and chassis to aerodynamics and, critically, their advanced four-wheel-drive system—was optimized to extract maximum performance within tighter constraints. This approach suggests a focus on continuous refinement and incremental innovation rather than radical redesign. This technical prowess directly led to the refinement of their four-wheel-drive technology into what became known as Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC), a sophisticated system providing superior driving stability and high steering stability, which was subsequently transferred to their production vehicles. This demonstrates that their rally success was not merely about raw power but about sophisticated, integrated engineering and a deep understanding of their chosen platform. This strategic choice to persist with Group A, rather than immediately adopting the WRC car regulations, showcased Mitsubishi's profound confidence in their Lancer Evolution platform and their exceptional ability to extract peak performance through relentless refinement. Their sustained success against newer, more flexible designs unequivocally proved that innovative engineering and meticulous optimization within established rules could still outperform radical new approaches.

Navigating Challenges and WRC Withdrawal (2000-2010)

Following Tommi Mäkinen's fourth consecutive title in 1999, Mitsubishi Ralliart began to face increasing difficulties in the WRC. By 2000, the Lancer Evolution VI, despite its previous triumphs, found it progressively harder to compete effectively against the newer, purpose-built World Rally Cars fielded by rival manufacturers. Mäkinen managed only a single victory that year, finishing fifth in the drivers' standings, a clear indication that the era of Mitsubishi's dominance was drawing to a close. During this period, the iconic Martini Racing livery, which had been synonymous with Lancia's WRC dominance from 1982 to 1992, transitioned to Ford's M-Sport-run World Rally Team from 1999 to 2002. While these Martini-liveried Ford Focus cars, piloted by star drivers like Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae, achieved several rally victories, including McRae's win at the 1999 Rallye de Portugal, they notably never secured a championship title during this specific period. This highlights the intensifying competition within the WRC and the inherent challenge for any team to maintain consistent championship-winning form indefinitely. Mitsubishi Motors' direct factory involvement in rally competitions, including the World Rally Championship, ultimately ceased in 2010. This decision marked a significant hiatus for the Ralliart brand in top-tier international rallying, concluding a storied chapter in its motorsport history.